New facial recognition technology may be used to target returning citizens. “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” warns the Brookings Institute in a TechTank blog by Nila Bala and Lars Trautman. Most recent news stories focus on the facial recognition technology’s mistakes. For example, the ACLU conducted a test of Amazon’s new technology “Rekognition,” and the software misidentified 28 members of Congress as having a previous criminal record. The Brookings Institute said privacy rights activists claim that in the near future … [Read more...] about Facial recognition technology poses privacy issues
Politics
Unite the People ballot initiative
In 2017, Unite the People, formerly known as We the People Org, began the process of writing a ballot initiative with a goal of releasing the nearly 3,000 Californians locked up for nonviolent third strikes under our State’s mandatory sentencing law. Although we lacked the time or financial resources to move our initiative to the ballot in time for the November 2018 elections, we started a powerful grass roots movement of dedicated volunteers and family members with loved ones who have been unjustly incarcerated. Our immediate objectives now … [Read more...] about Unite the People ballot initiative
Trump touts support of prison reform
President Donald Trump says he is open to passing a new compromise proposal that would combine a prison reform bill with sentencing reform provisions, reports Alexander Bolton for The Hill. “We passed the First Step Act through the House, and we’re working with the Senate to pass that into law. And I think we’ll be able to do it,” Trump said at a meeting with inner city pastors. Democrats, however, cannot see Trump embracing criminal justice reform just yet due to his tough-on-crime election platform. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) seems … [Read more...] about Trump touts support of prison reform
Bills pending in the CA legislature
AB 665 — Veterans who were convicted of a felony prior to January 1, 2015 who may have suffered various PTSD or other emotional issues as the result of their service to petition for a recall of sentence under specified conditions. This bill passed the legislature but is currently held in the Senate Appropriations Suspense file, pending budgetary action to provide funds for implementation. SB 1242 — Adds language requiring additional conditions to grant parole be codified, including demonstration of remorse and insight, reasonable time … [Read more...] about Bills pending in the CA legislature
One member of Black liberation group paroles
Black activist Debbie Sims Africa overcame a decade of parole denials and finally received her freedom after serving nearly 40 years within Pennsylvania’s prison system. Africa and eight other MOVE members were all jointly convicted of a policeman’s murder in 1978. MOVE is a political organization founded in 1970s Philadelphia to protest rampant police brutality. The officer died during a raid on MOVE’s residential headquarters, detailed in a recent workers.org article. Africa, now 61, is the first of the “MOVE 9” to be … [Read more...] about One member of Black liberation group paroles
Protestors aim to block pilot video visitation program for inmates
Five people were arrested for protesting jail video visitation in Durham, N.C. The Inside-Outside Alliance members demonstrated at a county commission meeting, according to an article by Virginia Bridges for the community news website, newsobservers.com. “We don’t have confidence we will be able to keep (Sheriff Mike Andrews) from making it video only,” said one of those arrested, Joe Stapleton, 27, youth pastor at Cornerstone Community Church. The five were charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and inciting a riot, all … [Read more...] about Protestors aim to block pilot video visitation program for inmates
Governor Brown pardons more than 850 since taking office
Gov. Jerry Brown has given more than 850 pardons since 2011. This trend contrasts with the three prior governors, who granted a total of 28 pardons, reported Laurel Rosenhall of CAL Matters. Clemency applications sent to the governor describe youth indiscretions, lives of poverty, drug addiction, drug deals, accidental shootings and drunken driving. Applications also describe transformations showing devotion to living clean, steady jobs, responsible parenting and sobriety. Governor Brown’s actions reflect a swing back in favor of mercy as in … [Read more...] about Governor Brown pardons more than 850 since taking office
Obama Supports Growing ‘Black Lives Matter’
‘Those who retort “all lives matter” to the movement’s slogan are missing the point’ “Black Lives Matter” is not just another meaningless slogan that caught the attention of mainstream media across the nation. President Barack Obama recently had to defend it against critics who claim it’s divisive, according to the New York Magazine. “African-Americans are stopped, frisked, harassed, brutalized and killed by police at rates far higher than other racial groups,” which is systemic racism that can’t be adequately explained, the magazine … [Read more...] about Obama Supports Growing ‘Black Lives Matter’
Governor Vetoes Media Access Bill
Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed a bill that would have expanded media access to specific prisoners. “Giving criminals celebrity status through repeated appearances on television will glorify their crimes and hurt victims and their families,” Brown wrote in his veto message of AB 1270, sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, D-San Francisco. Current prison policy allows reporters to conduct random interviews with inmates, but they cannot specify which inmate to interview. “The cost of implementing and monitoring this expansive new level of … [Read more...] about Governor Vetoes Media Access Bill
Excerpts from Van Jones’s Speech
My name is Van Jones. I used to work in the White House. And now I don’t. What I said [when I was here before] I say again: you guys are needed. I had a suspicion before, but I have a certainty now. I was blessed to work in Washington D.C.…I was in the cockpit for six months. I got a chance to see all those reports that get written, all that data. I got a chance to see all the information up close. We’re in economic and ecological peril. But we have a great pilot. Barack Obama volunteered to be the captain of the Titanic after it went down. … [Read more...] about Excerpts from Van Jones’s Speech