Archives for January 2023

Midterm election results suggest support for criminal justice reforms

January 18, 2023 by Joshua Strange

Leading up to this year’s midterm elections, TV ads featured Republicans blaming Democrats and progressive prosecutors for rising crime rates. … [Read more...]

Legal loopholes enable bail bond firms to avoid forfeiture payments

January 18, 2023 by Jerry Maleek Gearin

Some bail bonds companies in a few states pocket the money clients’ paid them instead of paying the court the amount of forfeited bail, the Prison … [Read more...]

New law blocks prosecutors’ use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases

January 18, 2023 by Patrick Demery

California has a new law banning the use of a rap artist’s lyrics to prosecute crimes. Focus of the legislation was Anere Brown, also known … [Read more...]

LAW & POLICY – SF DA reinstates policy allowing juveniles to be charged as adults

January 18, 2023 by C.K. Gerhartsreiter

Newly elected San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins reinstated the policy of charging 16- and 17-year-olds as adults for crimes that she … [Read more...]

VIRGINIA – Federal court ruling protects prisoners’ religious head coverings

January 18, 2023 by Cainen Chambers

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that the Virginia Department of Corrections was violating the religious beliefs of an incarcerated … [Read more...]

IRAN – Fire kills eight in Iranian prison

January 18, 2023 by Bostyon Johnson

A fire killed eight detainees at Iran’s Evin prison near Terhan, which has for decades housed political prisoners as well as those convicted of … [Read more...]

LOUISIANA – Court: Non-unanimous verdict rule not retroactive

January 18, 2023 by Cainen Chambers

A new rule that non-unanimous convictions cannot be used by the state of Louisiana will not apply retroactively, the state Supreme Court has … [Read more...]

Former Oregon prison director to head beleaguered Federal Bureau of Prisons

January 18, 2023 by Anthony Manuel Caravalho

The new head of the scandal-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons says she believes in good government and transparency. Colette Peters told The … [Read more...]

Four states end forcible prison labor

January 18, 2023 by Dante Jones

On Nov. 8, 2022, four states in the union chose to move this country closer to a nation free of forced labor in every way. Over 75% of voters … [Read more...]