San Francisco DA George Gascón San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon, a lead- er in restorative justice and social reform, has challenged the status quo again. At the 14th annual Harry Frank Guggenheim Symposium at John Jay College in New York, the ex-police chief turned prosecutor, described the incarceration of people in both our county jails and state prisons as an entry into the “universities of crime.” “We are more violent, collectively, than the people we’re afraid of,” said Gascon. “We get angry at people and throw … [Read more...] about San Francisco’s DA has challenged the status quo again
Utah professor claims wrongful convictions are minimal in our society
A professor educating future attorneys claims wrongful convictions are quite minimal in our justice system. Viewing the likelihood of wrongful convictions as freakishly low, Paul Cassel, a Professor at the University of Utah’s Law School, has compiled data supporting his wrongful conviction figures. His research placed the range of wrongful convictions in the entire American criminal justice system “at only at 0.016 to 0.063 percent”— or less than one percent. The rate of wrongful convictions has long been a topic of scholarly dispute. … [Read more...] about Utah professor claims wrongful convictions are minimal in our society
Inmate walks out of prison after 27 years of confinement
Ten days into the new year, Quentin Morris walked out of Folsom State Prison. Last August, Governor Brown commuted his sentence to 25 years to life, allowing Morris a chance for a parole date. When released, he had served 27 years for a crime he didn’t commit.. Morris was convicted of shooting at four teenagers in the Pacoima area of the San Fernando Valley in November of 1991, according to the Associated Press. At his trial, one teenager identified Morris as the gun- man despite the fact that the true shooter was masked during the … [Read more...] about Inmate walks out of prison after 27 years of confinement
Wisconsin governor submits proposal to build more prisons
Wisconsin’s Governor Tony Evers, whose campaign pledged to cut his state’s prison population in half, has instead recommended a $259 million expenditure to build more prisons. According to Matt Kettle of MacIver News Service, the governor submitted a proposal to build seven major Department of Corrections (DOC) projects. This is a six-fold increase from his predecessor, Gov. Scott Walker, who recommended $41.68 million in DOC capital financing. “The spending is just mind-blowing,” said state Rep. Michael Schraa (ROshkosh), chairman of … [Read more...] about Wisconsin governor submits proposal to build more prisons
Californians divided over results from criminal justice reforms
A debate is growing on the impact of criminal justice reforms in California. Widely differing views are surfacing on reforms approved by California voters in recent years. That includes Proposition 47 in 2014, that reduced some crimes from felonies to misdemeanors; Proposition 57, which passed in 2016 and allowed prison officials to decide which nonviolent felonies could be reduced to misdemeanors (under Proposition 47), and a 2018 measure allowed many defendants to be released without bail pending trial. Opponents of reform argue that … [Read more...] about Californians divided over results from criminal justice reforms
J.P. Morgan Chase eliminates financing of private prisons
Private prisons leveraged their future by borrowing from banks against future arrests. The immigration-rights movement completed a major goal on March 5, when J.P. Morgan Chase became the first major bank to eliminate the financing of private prisons from their portfolios. Ana Maria Archila, co-Executive Director of the Center for Popular Democracy and Javier H. Valdez, Co-Executive Director of Make the Road New York, wrote of this historic event while reporting for The Nation. The article in The Nation says that 70 percent of … [Read more...] about J.P. Morgan Chase eliminates financing of private prisons
Victim of sexual predator granted clemency for his murder
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 Shipp, who previously opposed parole for Cyntonia Brown, convicted of murder 15 years ago. Shipp’s view was included in an op-ed article USA Today published on Jan. 11. Clemency was approved by Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam. Brown is scheduled for release in August. The case garnered viral … [Read more...] about Victim of sexual predator granted clemency for his murder
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 conservatives. The Times reported that only a little more than 40 noncitizens had registered to vote by Oct. 28. The change carries symbolic force, according to Louis Desipio, a professor of political science at the University of California at Irvine. He said, “It will speak to that sort of … [Read more...] about Noncitizens allowed to vote in local San Francisco elections
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. Two groups representing prisoner’s rights have focused on two main issues, sentencing reform and administrative policy. The groups have fostered a relationship with families of the incarcerated, getting families organized to participate in the process, to ensure their legacies will include the … [Read more...] about Families band together creating an alliance focused on protecting incarcerated loved ones
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 plaintiff, Dr. Christopher Wadsworth, reports the Sacramento Bee. The fast-track career of Dr. Wadsworth, the former Chief Psychiatrist at SQ, was damaged after he informed state officials that reducing beds for the acutely mentally ill would consist of actions that, according to an email … [Read more...] about San Quentin settles lawsuit with psychiatrist over mental health care