A woman convicted of murdering a sex predator while she was 16 years old has been granted clemency in what is described as a major victory for criminal justice reform. It was “A major victory for human rights advocates,” said ex-prosecutor Preston … [Read more...]
Noncitizens allowed to vote in local San Francisco elections
San Francisco became the largest city in the nation to allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, according to the Los Angeles Times. Noncitizens were only allowed to vote Nov. 6 for a single school board race. That was widely criticized by … [Read more...]
Families band together creating an alliance focused on protecting incarcerated loved ones
Families and friends of prisoners in Florida are joining forces with advocacy groups to create a stronger voice to protect their loved ones’ rights against the state’s correctional institutions, according the Florida Times Union/ Jacksonville.com. … [Read more...]
San Quentin settles lawsuit with psychiatrist over mental health care
A settlement of $822,000 for the plaintiff, Dr. Christopher Wadsworth A lawsuit alleging retaliation against a San Quentin psychiatrist who warned of inadequate mental health care in the prison has led to a settlement of $822,000 for the … [Read more...]
Death penalty dying according to author John Grisham
Seventy-five percent of the 141 prisoners on North Carolina’s Death Row would face radically different prosecutions today under reforms enacted in recent years, The News & Observer reports. “Almost none would get the death penalty. For … [Read more...]
Argument against solitary fails US Supreme Court review
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to solitary confinement, but Justice Sonia Sotomayor sharply criticized prisons limiting outside exercise time. “It should be clear by now that our Constitution does not permit such a … [Read more...]
Day of Empathy highlights the good deeds of prisoners
Criminal justice reformers celebrated the Day of Empathy on March 6, helping focus attention on prisoners and former prisoners who make positive contributions to their communities. “We are here today because we understand that even though crime … [Read more...]
Unlicensed civilians working as paid reserve police officers
At least 3,000 unlicensed civilians are working as paid reserve police officers in Michigan with little or no controls in place, The Detroit Free Press reports. The newspaper reported its investigation showed unregulated, armed civilians are … [Read more...]