Four months after U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions renewed the federal government’s pursuit of mandatory minimum drug sentences for low-level drug crimes in federal cases, California lawmakers on Sept. 12 approved a bill to rein in this type of wasteful, ineffective and extreme drug war policy was at the state level. With a 41 to 25 vote, the California Assembly approved Senate Bill 180, also known as the Repeal Ineffective Sentencing Enhancements Act (RISE Act). The governor signed the bill into law in Oct. “Sentencing enhancements break … [Read more...] about Governor signs drug sentencing reform bill SB 180
Senate Pushes Bill 124 to Reduce Juvenile Solitary Confinement
Legislation that limits the use of solitary confinement at state and county juvenile correctional facilities was passed by the California Senate. It is now before the State Assembly. Senate Bill 124, authored by Sen. Mark Leno, creates statewide standards that encourage the use of less damaging and more effective disciplinary actions. The bill is similar to a settlement recently reached between Contra Costa County and disability rights advocates following allegations of solitary confinement abuses of special needs youth in that county’s … [Read more...] about Senate Pushes Bill 124 to Reduce Juvenile Solitary Confinement