Los gobiernos de México y Canadá firmaron en marzo un acuerdo binacional para crear un modelo que pueda ayudar a la reintegración a la sociedad de jóvenes delincuentes en el estado de Yucatán. Este proyecto pretende involucrar “a las secretarias del estado, asociaciones civiles y demás especialistas en un fin común,” reportó el Diario de Yucatán. El artículo indicó que el equipo canadiense hizo varias visitas a diversas instituciones juveniles con el fin de familiarizarse con “la legislación, metodología de trabajo y operación e … [Read more...] about México y Canadá buscan reintegrar a jóvenes delincuentes
Criminal Justice
Shedding reputation to step into a new role in society
KidCAT Speaks! Editor’s Note: This is the third in a three-part series on the cost of earning a reputation in prison. Richard Solano A person can earn a bad reputation in prison for any number of reasons: being a snitch, a drop-out (former gang member), a child rapist or a homosexual. Prisoners with those reputations are often ostracized, assaulted, extorted or even murdered. On some cases, it can lead to real-world consequences. From the age of 12 to 18, 41-year-old San Quentin in- mate Richard Solano attend- ed 22 funerals … [Read more...] about Shedding reputation to step into a new role in society
Prison nurseries: incarcerating newborns with their mothers
Pregnant women face heart-wrenching consequences when they are incarcerated: not only must they give birth under harsh conditions, but then, most likely, they will be forced to surrender their newborn into the hands of others. Prison nurseries offer some of these women a chance to keep their babies with them, but is that always in the child’s best interest? “Incarcerating babies may strike many as unconscionable,” child welfare advocate Naomi Schaefer Riley said recently in a National Affairs article. “We must grapple with the ethical … [Read more...] about Prison nurseries: incarcerating newborns with their mothers
Alabama prison failed to identify suicidal inmates
An investigation has been launched into suicides by Alabama prisoners, NPR reported. “The Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has the highest suicide rate in the nation, with most such deaths occurring in solitary confinement and solitary-like units,” according to a case summary in the legal fight. The lawsuit was filed by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program. There have been over 200 suicide attempts requiring hospitalization between the filling of the case and January 2019, NPR … [Read more...] about Alabama prison failed to identify suicidal inmates
Virginia believes women’s sanitary products pose a threat to prisons
Female visitors entering Virginia State Prison have been forced to remove certain feminine products to visit their family member or friend, according to the Capitol News Service. But under the new House Bill 1884, which is awaiting approval in the House of Delegates, the Virginia Department of Corrections would have to modify the policy for visitors using menstrual products. The current policy is in place to avoid the smuggling of contraband into Department of Corrections facilities. “If someone chooses to visit a Virginia Department of … [Read more...] about Virginia believes women’s sanitary products pose a threat to prisons
Iranian legal reforms reduce executions
Capital punishment in Iran has roughly been cut in half because of drug law reform, a human rights organization reports. Executions in Iran have also been cut in half after historic law reforms, according to Human Rights Watch and Harm Reduction International. Iran had 225 executions in 2018, of which 91 were for drug offenses. In 2017, there were 507 executions, according to a March 17 story in Current Events. The decrease in drug- related executions is due to new amendments in drug laws, which were motivated in part by … [Read more...] about Iranian legal reforms reduce executions
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
SB 1421 gives public access to police misconduct records
The public now has access to police misconduct records, thanks to a new law. This legislation grants access to the public of all investigations in the use of force and officer misconduct. A state appeals court has ruled the law has immediate statewide impact. Presiding Justice Stuart Pollak and Justices Alison Tucher and Tracie Brown upheld a decision by Superior Court Judge Charles Treat. Police groups in several counties asked the California Supreme Court to take up their case, but the court refused. Michael Rains, the … [Read more...] about SB 1421 gives public access to police misconduct records
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
Popularity for capital punishment is on the decline in the US
The popularity for and sentencing for the death penalty is declining in America, a research paper reports. “The recent history of capital punishment in the U.S. has been marked by declining popularity and usage ... Within the past 15 years, eight states have abandoned the death penalty through legislative repeal or judicial invalidation,” according to theconversation.com website. “Capital punishment has been and continues to be controversial. ... More than 2,700 men and women are under death sentence,” the website … [Read more...] about Popularity for capital punishment is on the decline in the US