COVID-19 LOCKDOWN
Because of the COVID-19 situation at the prison, the San Quentin News newsroom has been shut down and staff members have been unable to meet to create new issues. The articles in this online issue were written by incarcerated staff members before the shutdown. This online version of the paper was published with the assistance of former San Quentin News incarcerated staff members, who have been … [Read More...]
Wrongful Conviction Heading for Settlement
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt cleared the path for settlement negotiations in a wrongful conviction lawsuit brought by Lamont McIntyre—a man who served 23 years for a crime he did not commit. “Because we knew there was evidence that was never placed in front of a court—before we just signed off on a claim—-we had an obligation to the new court to collect and review all of the evidence. … [Read More...]
Investigation of LAPD falsifying documents leads to larger scandal
Lady Justice The elite Metro Division of the Los Angeles Police Department is under investigation for falsifying documents that identify people as gang members, newspaper stories report. The probe was prompted by a mother who said police improperly identified her son as a gang member. The resulting preliminary investigation uncovered discrepancies between video recording of police stops … [Read More...]
Prison bans on literature becoming more commonplace nationwide
Prison officials throughout the country are restricting reading materials in prison libraries. The state of Florida has banned 20,000 titles, and Texas has banned 10,000 titles, claiming that the prohibited reading material could stir up disorder. Officials say there has been an uptick of drug smuggling via books, whose pages can be soaked with synthetic marijuana of other potentially … [Read More...]
USC Law Professor fights to give lifers a second chance
Law professor Heidi Rummel fights to give thousands of men and women a second chance—many of them sentenced decades ago to life-terms for crimes committed as youths. As co-director of the University of Southern California’s Post-Conviction Justice Project (PCJP), Rummel teaches and leads a team of certified law student interns. They represent incarcerated clients in courtrooms and parole … [Read More...]
Anti-semitic judge frequently used racial slurs
By Brian Corder Journalism Guild Writer A Jewish Death Row prisoner’s execution won a reprieve after allegations that the trial judge was anti-Semitic and frequently used racial slurs. The reprieve came six days before the scheduled execution of Randy Halprin, The Associated Press reported. Halprin was a member of the “Texas 7,” a group that escaped from a South Texas prison in 2000. … [Read More...]
Campaign under way to raise the age for criminal prosecution
A campaign is under way to increase from 18 to 20 the age where young people accused of crimes are processed as juveniles instead of adults. “Young adults would benefit more from the juvenile system and early diversion programs than adult incarceration,” said Stephanie James, president of the Chief Probation Officers of California. “Such diversion programs have proven successful, and have been … [Read More...]
Prison law libraries provide inadequate access to legal resources
Across the country, prisoners and their advocates contend that prison law libraries provide inadequate access to legal resources, according to an article by Law360. The United States Supreme Court established that prisons must provide inmates with “adequate law books or adequate assistance from persons trained in the law” in the 1977 case Bounds v. Smith. But, most states provide only limited, … [Read More...]
State prosecutors not complying with Brady Law
Thousands of people have gone to prison or face criminal charges based on questionable testimony from law enforcement officers, USA Today reports. “At least 300 prosecutors’ offices are not taking steps necessary to comply with the Supreme Court mandate” that prosecutors must tell anyone accused of a crime about all evidence that might help their defense at trial, the newspaper reported Oct. … [Read More...]
Prison and Jail phones monitored by AI
A new artificial intelligence (AI) system targets key words and phrases during monitored phone calls from inside prisons and jails, according to an ABC News article. Sheriffs’ and wardens’ nationwide use AI technology to aid in unsolved crimes such as drug smuggling, attempted suicides and violence in real time. Legally mandated warnings precede every phone call to inform the patrons their … [Read More...]
Feds are seeking recall of more than 3,000 released prisoners
President Trump After the release of more than 3,000 federal prisoners, the Justice Department is trying to recall their sentences and lock them back-up, according to a Washington Post article. Trump, along with the Congress and the Senate, passed a bill back in 2018 signing-off on releasing those prisoners who had possessed minimum amounts of crack cocaine. They qualified for early parole … [Read More...]
California gun safety laws reported strongest in nation
California leads the nation when it comes to strongest gun safety laws and innovative programs to reduce gun violence, according to a Juvenile Justice Information Ex-change article. Giffords Law Center compiles an annual Gun Law Scorecard that ranks California at the top. A significant factor is the decline in overall gun deaths and homicides at the state level. Nationwide gun … [Read More...]
Raise the Age Law help young accused avoid trial in adult courts
North Carolina’s new Raise the Age law now prevents many non-violent youth offenders under the age of 18 from being mandatorily sent to adult court, according to news reports. These new referrals to juvenile court will provide youths 16 and 17 more opportunities to receive rehabilitative services and counseling. It also gives them the chance for their records to remain confidential, reported … [Read More...]
New transparency law goes into effect for public disclosure
By Steve Brooks, Journalism Guild Writer A new police transparency law went into effect in early October, leading to the public disclosure of Santa Clara County Sheriff Deputy David Tempra’s firing over a 2015 beating death. Tempra was fired for lying about the death of Michael Tyree, a mentally ill inmate. Deputies Rafael Rodriguez, Matthew Farris, and Jereh Lubrin were arrested and … [Read More...]
Upcoming federal execution of intellectually disabled man
By Vincent O’Bannon, Journalism Guild Writer An intellectually disabled man scheduled for execution in January claims it would violate his constitutional rights. He is Alfred Bourgeois, one of five prisoners chosen by the U.S. Justice Department to be put to death in January 2020. Bourgeois’ lawyers claim his execution would violate his 8th Amendment rights against cruel and … [Read More...]
Florida can’t use restitution or fines to stop ex-felons from voting
By Kerry Rudd, Journalism Guild Writer A federal court ruled that Florida cannot deny felons the right to vote based on their inability to pay fines or restitution. “In his order, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle of the Northern District of Florida halted the implementation of SB 7066, which required felons to pay all restitution, fines and fees before they are eligible to vote,” … [Read More...]
SB 136 goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020
Oct. 8, the Repeal Ineffective Sentence Enhancements (RISE) Coalition celebrated Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature on SB 136: The RISE Act. The legislation, authored by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), dismantles a sentence enhancement that adds an extra year to an individual’s base sentence for each prior prison or felony jail term they already served. "Our coalition has been doing work to … [Read More...]
Inaccuracy of court records deprives people of constitutional rights
Many African Americans’ court testimony is inaccurately transcribed, according to a recent Criminal Legal News story. A recent study published in the Linguistic Society of America journal, Language, found that court reporters frequently misunderstand and misquote speakers of African American English (AAE) during court proceedings, an issue that leads to widespread deprivation of … [Read More...]
Is "civil death" still warranted in a civilized society?
By Alfred King, Journalism Guild Writer Rhode Island considers anyone sentenced to life in prison to be “civilly dead,” meaning they have no civil rights. The law dates back some 100 years and stems from ancient English common law. New York has a similar law but does not enforce it, Mother Jones reported July 30. Prisoners declared civilly dead cannot sue or raise complaints about … [Read More...]
Innocent man freed after 43 years in prison
Botched lineups and erroneous forensic evidence played major part in wrongful conviction An 81- year- old man once sentenced to death has been freed after 43 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, the Death Penalty Information Center reported. Charles Ray Finch, was released from Greene Correctional Institution in Maura, North Carolina on May 23, 2019. The release was ordered … [Read More...]
Ex-felon joins judicial commission
Wrongfully convicted Hakim Crampton recalls his generation was told while growing up that “We were going to be dead or in prison. And we believed it,” he said to reporter Ashley Graham of WLNS in Jackson Michigan. Crampton was in prison for 15 years until he was granted parole after proving his innocence. Like the biblical man Joseph, who rebuked false accusations and wound up working … [Read More...]
Multiple exonerations follow deputy’s arrest
A recently fired Florida sheriff’s deputy was arrested for planting false evidence in cars he had pulled over. Some 120 convicted persons were exonerated once the actions of Zachary Wester were discovered. “There’s no question that Wester’s crimes were deliberate and that his actions put innocent people in jail,” said Chris Williams of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). … [Read More...]
Conditions unsafe for the incarcerated in some southern prisons
Many prisons in the South lack air conditioning and this creates life-threatening conditions in heat spells, the Prison Policy Initiative reports. “The lack of air conditioning in Southern prisons creates unsafe -- even lethal --conditions,” the report stated. “Prolonged exposure to extreme heat can cause dehydration and heat stroke, both of which can be fatal.” Some courts have ruled that … [Read More...]
California legislators want to streamline re-entry
New "one-stop" program would acknowledge many hurdles for returning citizens Congresswoman Karen Bass Congresswoman Karen Bass is spearheading legislation to create a one-stop reentry program, as well as criminal justice reform, according to the Los Angeles Sentinel. “There should be a place where you can get your ID, sign up for benefits, get connected to medical services, get … [Read More...]
California law paves the way for ex-felons to serve on juries
Formerly incarcerated have hopes to fill jury boxes The California jury system came a major step closer to fairly representing their communities and the criminal defendants they deliberate over thanks to newly signed Senate Bill 310. Starting in 2020, most former felons who have served their time and been discharged from parole or probation will no longer be excluded from jury service. … [Read More...]
Changes coming to San Francisco County jail – free phone calls
Two dramatic changes are coming to the San Francisco CountyJail–free phone calls for prisoners and reduced markups for commissary items. “These fees are overwhelmingly paid for by the friends and families of the incarcerated, especially low income women. It was a clear equity issue,” said the mayor’s spokesperson, Jeff Cretan. Mayor London Breed’s office estimated the elimination of … [Read More...]
Realignment may have created more dangerous county jails
Since the U.S. Supreme Court ordered California to overhaul its overcrowded prisons in 2011 and realignment reforms were implemented, inmate-on-inmate homicides have risen 46 percent in county jails statewide. Killings have tripled and even quadrupled in several counties, according to a report by Jason Pohl and Ryan Gabrielson of the Sacramento Bee. Pohl and Gabrielson speculate that … [Read More...]
Congress looks at equalizing courtroom dynamics
Bill introduced to bring defense budgets more in alignment with prosecutors A bill was introduced at the national level by presidential hopeful Senator Kamala Harris that addresses the unfair advantage prosecutors have over public defend- ers in criminal cases. In May, California’s ex-attorney general introduced a bill called The Ensuring Quality Access to Legal Defense Act (EQUAL … [Read More...]
Governor Gavin Newsom reversed 46 parole grants
It’s still too early to tell if Governor Gavin Newsom marches to his own drum— or if his tenure coincides with Governor Brown’s agendas, reported Anita Chabria and Taryn Luna for the L.A. Times. Since taking office Gov. Newsom has stopped 46 paroles for murderers. This marks a steep increase from the actions of former Gov. Jerry Brown, who only reversed 28 parole grants for murderers in 2018. … [Read More...]
Innocent man exonerated after spending 45 years in prison
A Michigan man became the longest-serving inmate to be cleared of a crime after serving 45 years for a murder he did not commit. The state awarded Richard Phillips $1.5 million for the wrongful conviction. Michigan law provides up to $50,000 per year for every year a wrongly convicted person spends in prison. He was not paid for the 45 years because 15 years also involved an armed robbery … [Read More...]
Court rules on legality of pot possession in prison settings
Felony violations out but rules violations remain —By, Alfred King, Journalism Guild Writer Possessing small amounts of marijuana in a California prison is no longer a felony, a state appeals court has ruled. The court ruling was based on Proposition 64, which legalized recreational use of marijuana in California. “Possession of less than one ounce of cannabis in prison or a similar … [Read More...]
Suit alleges indifference over known health risk for prisoners
By, Alfred King, Journalism Guild Writer A group of California inmates who contracted valley fever are appealing their damage lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court. The suit names 14 former and present state officials who “just didn’t take it seriously,” said Benjamin Pavone, lead attorney for the 117 currently and formerly incarcerated people who contracted the disease. Most cases are mild … [Read More...]
Jurists look to San Quentin
Alameda Public Defenders seek input during forum Prisoners seeking to understand the role of public defenders invited Alameda County Public Defender Brandon Woods to San Quentin to talk about his vision for public defense. He said he is working to make significant changes to improve defense outcomes. The purpose of the Sept. 6 forum was to “promote public safety by building a bridge … [Read More...]
Pennsylvania under scrutiny after prisoner dies in custody
Family of deceased raise questions about cause of death in legal action against prison administrators Everett Palmer Jr. died in custody from injuries that York County Prison in Pennsylvania deemed were self-inflicted, reported The Washington Post. “There was so much mystery and unanswered questions in a way that violates every policy and procedure the state has,” said Lee Merritt, a civil … [Read More...]
Removal of books from prison library seen as attempt to censor black history
The Danville Correctional Center in Illinois has removed more than 200 books from its library, volunteers from the Education Justice Project and Illinois Public Media confirmed. The books were removed from a library in the facility’s education wing. Rebecca Ginsburg, director of the Education Justice Project at the prison, said she felt a pit in her stomach when she realized the books had been … [Read More...]
Prosecuted Louisiana warden pleads guilty to fraud charges
A former Louisiana prison warden has pleaded guilty to federal fraud and conspiracy charges. “He’ll pay for it ... prison time will be recommended under the [federal] guidelines,” said David Joseph, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana. “And he will pay restitution for the crimes.” Cain, 51, faced 17 counts of wire fraud and a single count of conspiracy, reported … [Read More...]
Court finds support for re-sentencing un-persuasive
A sentencing court denied the head of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s recommendation that it reduce Juan Felipe Melendez’ 16-year sentence due to good behavior. “I felt terrible because my mom was there,” Melendez said. “The time has been harder on her than me. Every time I talk to her, she’s crying.” California Penal Code 1170(d) 1 gives CDCR, District … [Read More...]
Golden opportunities arise from California’s recent changes in sentencing
Craig “Qadree” Birch, 53, was serving a term of 40-years-to-life under California’s Three Strikes Law before his sentence was recalled by the sentencing court for his “exceptional conduct.” Under the newly passed Assembly Bill 2942, he was re-sentenced to 27 years and paroled from San Quentin in May. Birch was arrested in September 1994 in Sacramento County and convicted in March 1995. He … [Read More...]
California legislature advances bill to compensate victims of involuntary sterilization
Women Advocates of CCWP and CLRS supporting Bill Pending legislature aims to compensate victims of an old California policy that once resulted in forced or involuntary sterilization on individuals deemed unfit to reproduce. Under California’s eugenic sterilization program, state institutions from 1909 to 1979 legally sterilized certain disabled or mentally ill persons—without valid consent. … [Read More...]
California’s dark secret: prisoners sentenced under prior guidelines have little hope of ever being released
Some men serving life sentences in California say they’re “political prisoners.” While there’s technically no legal definition for the term, some facts and evidence suggest they may be right. At San Quentin State Prison, there are men who have served 40-plus years, continuously. These men are survivors of carceral Darwinism, having lived through changes in state politics, parole laws, parole … [Read More...]
Arizona rethinks its ban on prison literature
The state of Arizona lifted its ban on the book Chokehold after gaining national attention for banning the book written about the US criminal justice system policing Black men. “An uproar over the ban of Chokehold: Policing Black Men, including threats of a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union, prompted Arizona prison officials to review a publication blacklist and reverse suspending … [Read More...]
California’s out-state prisoners brought back
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced that it has ended the practice of housing prisoners in out-of-state facilities. But San Quentin inmates who have served time in private lockups say those prisons are much better than California institutions, even though they dislike the separation from their families. “I was pissed off when I found out I was coming back to … [Read More...]
Landmark Prop.57 ruling: In re McGhee
Petitioner Tijue Mcghee with his legal guide Rudy Wilkins A California appeals court has ruled that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has improperly denied parole hearings to thousands of incarcerated individuals. Approximately 4,450 non- violent offenders who were denied parole consideration due to in-prison rules violations will now be eligible for early … [Read More...]
USSC denies stay of execution because of constitutional issues
Over the last three months, six executions in the United States have been stayed or rescheduled because of constitutional issues regarding the method of execution or who can be present in the death chamber, according to Reuters. At the helm of this controversy is the state of Alabama, according to recent articles featured in Reuters and Mother Jones. Christopher Price was scheduled to be … [Read More...]
Nevada introducing bill for the formerly incarcerated to vote
Nevada Democratic Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson is introducing a new bill that would restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated men and women. According to The Nevada Independent, the 90,000 Nevadans who were not able to vote in the 2016 election because of their prior convictions may now have the right to vote in the upcoming election in 2020. “I believe when we have folks involved in … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
San Francisco DA office to dismiss pot convictions dated back to 1975
San Francisco DA George Gascón The San Francisco District Attorney’s office said it will dismiss more than 9,000 marijuana-related convictions dating back to 1975, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. DA George Gascón announced this step following the legalization of marijuana in California two years ago. “It’s incumbent that we, as law enforcement leaders, continue to evolve how we … [Read More...]
Judge rules against unnecessary sleep intrusions
A federal judge has ordered Santa Rita jailers to stop unnecessarily disrupting the sleep of female prisoner for “pill call” at 2:30 a.m. and breakfast at 4 a.m. “No one can argue with the proposition that detainees with medical needs should get their prescription, but why 2:30 a.m.?” U.S. District Judge James Donato commented. He added that the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office offered no … [Read More...]
ÂN XÁ GIẢM ÁN
Từ Văn Phòng Thống Đốc Những ai đã bị kết tội hình sự và đang thụ án tại Califor- nia có thể nộp đơn xin thống đốc giảm án. Để đưa ra quyết định giảm án, Văn Phòng Thống Đốc sẽ cẩn thận duyệt đơn theo những điều kiện dưới đây: • Tầm ảnh hưởng của lệnh ân xá trên cộng đồng nếu đơn được chấp thuận có thích hợp với việc an ninh công cọng và công lý hay không. • Thời điểm, hoàn cảnh, và án phạt … [Read More...]
ÂN XÁ
Những ai đã từng bị buộc tội tại tiểu bang California có thể nạp đơn xin ân xá. Thống đốc tiểu bang California không thể ânxá chobấ tcứaibị buộctội ngoài tiểu bang hay liên bang. Có hai cách để nạp đơn xin ân xá tại California: Một là Giấy Chính Nhận Cải Huấn (Certificate of Rehabilitation) và thứ hai là xin Trực Tiếp Ân Xá (Direct Pardon). Đơn xin Ân Xá Qua Giấy Chính Nhận Cải Huấn (Par- … [Read More...]
People who have been convicted of a crime may apply for a commutation
People who have been convicted of a crime and are currently serving their sentence in California may apply for a commutation (reduction of sentence). In deciding whether to grant a commutation, the Governor’s Office will carefully review each commutation application and consider: • the impact of a commutation on the community, including whether the grant is consistent with public safety and … [Read More...]
Applying for a Governor’s pardon in California
Two distinct processes available to California prisoners From theGovernor's Office: People who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply for a gubernatorial (Governor’s) pardon. The Governor of California cannot grant a pardon for a conviction from another state or a federal proceeding. There are two ways to ap- ply for a pardon in California: a Certificate of Rehabilitation and … [Read More...]
Two California Supreme Court justices against capital punishment
Two California Supreme Court justices have joined the debate against capital punishment. “California’s death penalty is an expensive and dysfunctional system that does not deliver justice or closure in a timely manner, if at all,” Justice Goodwin Liu wrote in a published opinion. The opinion upheld the death sentence of Thomas Potts, convicted of two murders in 1998. Liu’s opinion was … [Read More...]
Florida DAs charge fentanyl dealers with murder in cases of overdose
A woman overdosed and died in jail. As a result, another faces first-degree murder charges. On Sept. 7, 2018, 24-year- old Jeniffer Patrick was riding in a car with her 49-year-old boyfriend when they were stopped by Marion County sheriff deputies, who found drugs and syringes in the car. Patrick was arrested and booked into the Marion County Jail in Ocola, Fla., where she was then … [Read More...]
AB32 would prohibit contracts with private prisons
California would phase out the use of private prisons under pending legislation. AB32 would prohibit new contracts with private prisons and phase out existing contracts over four years, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The measure was introduced by Assemblyman Rob Bonta, D-Alameda. Bonta said he introduced the bill because corporations that run private prisons put making money for … [Read More...]
CDCR agrees to legal settlement over disciplinary documents
“I spent five years to get them to dismiss the write-ups which should never have been filed in the first place” The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) agreed to pay an inmate $8,400 in a legal settlement for disciplinary and non-disciplinary documentation the inmate claimed were false and retaliatory. The settlement agreement, entered in April 2018, also required … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
As hunger strikes continue in ICE detention centers court issues decree to stop force feeding certain individuals
Flag of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement A judge has ordered the federal government to stop force-feeding detainees on a hunger-strike at an El Paso, Tex., immigration processing center. “This is a win for us,” said Louis Lopez, one of the attorneys representing Malkeet Singh and Jasvir Singh. Both men are seeking political asylum. “They have a First Amendment right to … [Read More...]
California legislators consider voting rights for parolees
Right To Vote This year, California legislators will decide whether a constitutional amendment to restore voting rights to people on parole can be on the ballot for the 2020 elections. According to an article in the Sacramento Bee, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 6 (ACA 6), also known as the Free the Vote Act, was introduced by Assemblyman Kevin McCarty. ACA 6 will pave the way for a … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
California Death Row prisoner qualifies under new felony murder rule
Demetrius Howard is on California’s Death Row for a crime in which he did not kill anyone. He was never accused of firing a shot, but based on California’s felony murder rule then in effect, he was eligible for a death sentence due to his participation in the crime, reported The Appeal. The felony murder rule was revised in 2018 so that participants in a crime do not face a death penalty unless … [Read More...]
Alabama Death Row inmate loses memory
The U.S. Supreme Court ordered a second look at the case of a Death Row prisoner who says he no longer remembers his crimes. Prisoner Vernon Madison suffered a series of strokes which impaired his memory, CNN.com reported Feb 27. The court ruled previously that no one can be executed who doesn’t understand why. Madison was convicted for the shooting death of a Mobile, Ala. police officer … [Read More...]
Some law enforcement and victim advocates oppose Proposition 57
Some police and victim advocates claim a recent court ruling could lead to the early release of many violent and sex offenders, reports the Times Herald. The case involves Gregory Gadlin, serving 35 years to life for assault with a deadly weapon. He was also convicted previously of forcible rape in 1984 and forcible child molestation in 1986. The 2nd District Court of Appeals ruled in … [Read More...]
Santa Clara jails to improve conditions after lawsuit
Santa Clara County has agreed to improve jail conditions for disabled prisoners. The action came in response to a lawsuit filed by Disability Rights Advocates, Prison Legal News reports. “It’s important that persons with disabilities have the accommodations that they need to function safely in a jail setting,” said DRA staff attorney Michelle Iorio in a press release. “We are glad that Santa … [Read More...]
Florida restores voting rights to more than a million
More than a million former Florida prisoners have regained the right to vote, thanks to a ballot initiative. As of January, released prisoners could simply fill out the existing application, signing under oath that their voting rights have been restored, reported the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida in an Associated Press (AP) article. The ballot initiative approved in November … [Read More...]
Shifting the way we count incarcerated persons
A new law will give California prisoners political power by counting them as residents of their home communities rather than in the communities where they are incarcerated, according to The Pew Charitable Trusts. The practice, which will be implemented after the 2020 census and subsequent redistricting process, is expected to shift political power from conservative rural areas toward more … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
Advocacy group for the incarcerated finds home in Oakland
An organization established 40 years ago to advocate for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people recently relocated to Oakland, reports Carla Williams on oaklandnorth.net. “If we don’t protect Oakland, we won’t have an urban community to call our own,” said Dorsey Nunn, executive director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children (LSPC). He was referring to the fact that Black people … [Read More...]
Once facing a lifetime behind bars, some now offered a chance at freedom
Juveniles sentenced to die in California prisons now have the chance to go home—if they can prove they have rehabilitated. To help them achieve that goal, two attorneys are providing workshops to help juvenile offenders prepare for the Board of Parole Hearings that will determine their fate. “(Elizabeth) Calvin and (Heidi) Rummel are working to help those still behind bars prepare for … [Read More...]
Collateral consequences of incarceration still linger
Jay Jordan’s story is an example of the barriers the formerly incarcerated face when trying to make a new life outside of prison. He was paroled in 2011 following seven years in prison. He filled out 30 applications as a barber, a skill he learned while locked up. He remained unemployed. Everywhere he went, his past convictions stopped employers from even considering him, reports Kay Wicker for … [Read More...]
Jóvenes encarcelados encaran discriminación en sentencias
Las herramientas para evaluar - el riesgo que representan los ofensores fueron diseñadas para disminuir prejuicio a la hora de dictar una sentencia, sin embargo podrían estar causando discriminación contra los infractores juveniles, reporta Wendy Sawyer del Prison Policy Initiative. Esta evaluación toma en consideración muchos factores que pueden incrementar el riesgo de estas personas, los … [Read More...]
Subtle tactics to dismiss Black jurors in CA trials
Some prosecutors may be using subtle tactics to dismiss Black jurors, despite laws against such racial bias in jury selection, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. You could call it the “O.J. Strategy.” Rather than addressing race overtly, these prosecutors ask jurors whether they agreed with the controversial 1995 acquittal of O.J. Simpson. Simpson, a Black football star, was charged … [Read More...]
Some states seeking input on wrong parole decisions
Some states are still seek- ing input from the wrong people on parole decisions a Prison Policy Initiative report maintains. The report says the wrong people are prosecutors and crime victims. In California, prosecutors and victims must be notified when a person is being considered for parole. Yet the only information they can provide to parole commissioners is about the crime itself and who … [Read More...]
Prisoners contributed their input on criminal justice reform
Participants sitting in a small circle share their personal experiences in the San Quentin Protestant Chapel Criminal justice reform took center stage at a San Quentin State Prison forum that brought together inmates, social justice advocates, formerly incarcerated citizens and public officials. “Reform has to change, as we all together are changing,” said Assemblymember Timothy Grayson, … [Read More...]
Thu Hồi Án Phạt
Dựa theo luật California Penal Code 1170(d) mới được ban hành, hầu như tất cả tù nhân ở California đều có thể hội đủ điều kiện được tòa xét lại án và giảm án. Phương thức luật mới này cũng đã được ghi rỏ trong sách quy luật dành cho tù nhân, sách California Code of Regulations (CDCR), Title 15, section 3076, Recall of Commitment Recommendation Circumstances. Quy luật án phạt mục … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
Prominent attorney notes First Step Act is insufficient
Opponents of President Trump’s new criminal justice reform say that the new law doesn’t do enough and will set a bad precedent. “Donald Trump claims he’s taking a step toward desperately needed criminal justice reform but he’s not,” wrote Keith Wattley in an Op-ed in The New York Times. Wattley is a prominent criminal justice advocate and attorney in California. At issue is the … [Read More...]
Recall of sentence may allow time reduction for prisoners
Nearly all California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) prisoners may be eligible to have a court reconsider and reduce their sentence, according to new rules. The prisoners’ rulebook outlines the procedure in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 15, section number 3076, Recall of Commitment Recommendation Circumstances. California Penal Code Section … [Read More...]
Propuesta de Trump busca marcar a los inmigrantes como carga pública
La nueva propuesta de la administración de Trump para renovar el Sistema de Inmigración en América “con base al mérito” (merit-based), pone en peligro el sueño Americano de los inmigrantes. La determinación del Presidente Trump para renovar el sistema migratorio de América parece no tener límite. La reforma migratoria bajo la administración de Trump inicia con una propuesta para volver a … [Read More...]
Louisiana strikes down one of the last remaining Jim Crow laws
Louisiana’s justice system is moving into the 21st century after voters struck down one of the last remaining Jim Crow laws allowing juries to convict people with split verdicts, according to NOLA. com/The Times-Picayune. Louisiana was the only state in the nation where a verdict of 11-1 or 10-2 from a 12-person jury could result in a person receiving a … [Read More...]
Judges balk at President’s immigration policy changes
Some judges are balking at immigration policy changes ordered by the Trump administration. The new policies include having immigration judges speed up their cases to meet quotas or face being fired The New York Times reported Sept. 7. The objections involve a series of changes that the judges’ bosses in the Justice Department say are aimed at chipping away at a backlog of 732,730 … [Read More...]
Marsy’s Law measure to expand victims’ rights
A ballot measure meant to expand the rights of victims of crime passed in six more states in November, according to an article by Forbes. Known as “Marsy’s Law,” the measure gives victims certain rights, including notice of criminal proceedings related to the crime and presence at those proceedings. “It is gratifying to know that innocent victims of crime in these six states will … [Read More...]
President Trump’s federal appointments lack diversity
President Donald J. Trump has secured lifetime appointments for dozens of federal judges who do not represent the diversity of the American public, according to an article by NPR. The Republican-controlled Senate has confirmed President Trump’s nominations for a group of judges that consists mostly of White men. “Of his 48 appellate nominations, none are African- American,” said Vanita … [Read More...]
Jueces federales y estatales buscan prohibir los arrestos en los juzgados
En un esfuerzo para garantizar la seguridad de la comunidad inmigrante en los tribunales de justicia, ex-jueces estatales y federales solicitan al Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) la prohibición de arrestos en las cortes de justicia. Escuelas, hospitales, y lugares de adoración han estado prohibidos para los oficiales federales de inmigración por 25 años. Ahora un grupo de … [Read More...]
La nueva ley conocida como 1170 beneficiará a muchos internos en prisiones de California
Español Casi todos los prisioneros del Departamento de Correcciones y Rehabilitación (CDCR) de California pueden ser elegibles para que un tribunal reconsidere y reduzca su sentencias, por medio de recomendaciones del liderazgo de CDCR, o de las agencias de las fuerzas del orden, acuerdo al Código Penal de California 1170 (d). Reglamentos de las prisiones describen el procedimiento en … [Read More...]
Argument against solitary fails US Supreme Court review
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to solitary confinement, but Justice Sonia Sotomayor sharply criticized prisons limiting outside exercise time. “It should be clear by now that our Constitution does not permit such a total deprivation in the absence of a particularly compelling interest,” Sotomayor wrote in her opinion, Courthouse News Service reported Oct. … [Read More...]
Bondsmen seek to overturn SB 10
A coalition of bondsmen has gathered signatures seeking to overturn California’s bail reform law, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The coalition said it submitted 200,000 more signatures than the 365,888 verified registered voter signatures required to place the repeal on the 2020 state ballot. “The bail industry and its corporate insurance backers have spent millions qualifying … [Read More...]
Wake Forest University gains experience with Prison Letter Project
Wake Forest University law students are providing North Carolina prisoners legal help through its Prison Letter Project and gaining experience in the process. The letter program is a part of the school’s Pro Bono Project. The school’s law library is the only publicly accessible law library between the state capitol and the Tennessee border. “We’re not allowed to give them legal advice … [Read More...]
Federal judge rules Houston officials intentionally destroyed evidence
When Houston city officials erased crucial data from top police commanders’ computer drives, they intentionally destroyed evidence, a federal judge has ruled, according to the Houston Chronicle. The evidence is believed to be relevant to a 2016 class-action lawsuit that accuses officials of false imprisonment when people were jailed for days following warrantless arrests between January 2014 and … [Read More...]
Risk assessment tools designed against youth offenders
Risk assessment tools designed to decrease prejudice in sentencing may be causing discrimination toward youth offenders, reports Wendy Sawyer for the Prison Policy Initiative. These risk assessment tools score people based on many factors that can add to risk, including criminal history and age. Judges use them when sentencing, and parole boards rely on them to determine parole … [Read More...]
CA court orders new board hearing for youth offender William Palmer
A California State Court of Appeal ruled that the Board of Parole Hearings (Board) denied parole without considering the youth of William Palmer, who committed kidnapping for robbery as a juvenile. The court ordered the board to give Palmer a new parole hearing and consider his age at the time of the crime. “Considering the Board’s statutory obligation to give “great weight” to those (youth) … [Read More...]
Canadians favor death penalty
A Canadian newspaper editorial cites a 2016 survey that says 58 percent of Canadians favor the return of the death penalty. The editorial board of the Ottawa Sun took issue with Amnesty International Canada (AIC) criticizing Florida’s use of the death penalty. Canada abolished capital punishment in 1976 — the same year the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty. The last execution … [Read More...]
La crisis en Honduras obliga a muchos ciudadanos a emigrar
La crisis humanitaria que se vive en honduras ha obligado a una caravana de hondureños a iniciar su éxodo hacia los Estados Unidos. La pobreza, desempleo y la violencia, son algunas de las razones principales por las cuales los inmigrantes están abandonando su país. “La mayoría de los integrantes de la caravana tienen en mente una nueva vida en los Estados Unidos,” informó The New York … [Read More...]
Youths held in juvenile detention on the decline in US
The number of youths held in juvenile detention is declining in the United States. The total number of youths in confinement declined 58 percent over the period of 2000 to 2016, while the number of facilities holding youths in custody dropped 42 percent in the same time period, according to “Juvenile Residential Facility Census Databook,” a 2018 report from the U.S. Department of … [Read More...]
Brown signed two laws giving the public more access to police records
In 2017, police officers shot and killed 172 people in California. The police didn’t have to make public any records that could help distinguish between self-defense and murder. Recently Gov. Jerry Brown signed two laws that give the public increased access to police records. “Californians have a right to know when officers are dishonest, use deadly force,” said Sen. Nancy Skinner ( D-Berkeley) … [Read More...]
Nevada Supreme Court rules prisoners not receiving healthy food
Prisoners of Nevada filed a lawsuit claiming food provided by the state is unhealthy. The state Supreme Court agreed with prisoners in their ruling that prison officials are not providing a healthy diet, according to NevadaAppeal.com. Prisoner Robert Stockmeier’s lawsuit contended corrections officials failed to report that the diet wasn’t healthy, failed to show standards for determining … [Read More...]
Sovereign citizen avoids paying taxes and ends up in contempt
A tax protester has been held in federal prison for contempt of court more than a year after he refused to respond to an IRS summons, the Dallas News reports. Federal court reported the summons was issued by U.S. District Judge Reed O’Conner ordering Ronald Conner, a 55-year-old truck driver, to answer questions about his finances and provide records to begin the collection … [Read More...]
State v. Gregory ruled unconstitutional
Abolition of the death penalty is likely in the near future, a constitutional law professor says. “The American death penalty lurched one step closer to its eventual demise” because of a Washington State Supreme Court decision in October, Garrett Epps wrote in an article for The Atlantic. “In State v. Gregory, the state court held that the death penalty, as imposed in the state of Washington, … [Read More...]
Class action over surrendered Access MP3 players
The Florida Department of Corrections (FDOC) is facing a lawsuit from at least one inmate, and possibly a class action suit involving scores of other inmates, all of whom were forced to surrender their legally purchased MP3 files and media players to FDOC authorities, according to Ben Conark of the Florida Times- Union. In February, inmate William Demler, age 74, who is incarcerated at the … [Read More...]
Incarcerated women bringing #MeToo movement to prisons
Women on the outside are doing their work to bring incarcerated women into the #MeToo movement. According to a piece from The Fire Inside, the newsletter for the California Coalition of Women Prisoners (CCWP), more than 80 percent of incarcerated women are survivors of sexual abuse or violence. The piece asserts that the threat of sexual abuse increases when women are behind bars and usually these … [Read More...]
Accidental overdoses prosecuted as felony-murder under new laws
Two months after her fiancé’s funeral, Kimberly Elkins pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Elkins, now 49, used fentanyl to deal with chronic pain. One day, she shared a fentanyl patch with her fiancé, Aaron Rost, and they overdosed. She woke up that night, but he didn’t. She was sentenced to four years in prison in Minnesota for his death, according to the New York Times. “I struggle really hard … [Read More...]
CDCR issues new regulations for non-violent three-strikes offenders
California set a nationwide trend in sentencing reform when, in 2012, voters passed an initiative that reduced the sentences for non-violent three strikers. The result: thousands of prisoners serving life sentences got out of prison. Other initiatives in 2014 and 2016 chipped away at the Three Strikes Laws. Thousands more prisoners earned release. The latest development comes from an appeals … [Read More...]
SB 1437 eliminates felony-murder rule
Due to a change in the felony-murder rule, starting Jan. 1, codefendants will no longer automatically be considered guilty of murder for participating in crimes such as armed robbery. The law is retroactive. On Sept. 30, with a stroke of his pen, Gov. Jerry Brown made Senate Bill 1437 the law. The bill presented by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) states that prosecutors can no longer hold … [Read More...]
Cómplices ya no serán considerados automáticamente culpables de asesinato
A partir del 1 de Enero del 2019, debido a un cambio en la regla de asesinato agravado, los cómplices ya no serán considerados automáticamente culpables de asesinato por participar en crímenes como el robo a mano armada. La ley es retroactiva. El 30 de Septiembre, el Gobernador Jerry Brown convirtió la Proposición 1437 del Senado en ley. La proposición presentada por la Senadora Nancy Skinner … [Read More...]
Mental health bomb-shell report on care inside state prisons
The chief psychiatrist of California’s prison system is accusing state officials of misleading both a federal court and lawyers for prison inmates fighting to improve mental health care inside state prisons, according to court documents. Dr. Michael Golding sent the 160-page report to the court-appointed federal receiver overseeing reforms inside California prisons. Golding filed the report … [Read More...]
Arizona crisis for low-level drug offenders
Arizona is wasting millions of dollars by imprisoning low-level drug offenders and failing to treat drug addicts, a recent report concludes. “Arizona imprisonment crisis removes thousands of people from the economy and costs tax- payers more than $1 billion each year (for the state Department of Corrections budget)-preventing the state from investing in other critical priorities like education, … [Read More...]
New CA laws may erase pot convictions
If other counties follow San Francisco’s lead, district attorneys’ offices across the state can erase pot convictions under California’s new legal marijuana laws. “Our vision is to help government clear all eligible criminal records starting with convictions under Prop. 64,” said Jennifer Pahlka, executive director of Code for America, a non-profit with the goal of making government more … [Read More...]
Thay đổi mới trong luật cố sát
Vì sự thay đổi trong luật cố sát, bắt đầu vào ngày 1 tháng 1 năm 2019, các đồng phạm liên quan với hung thủ thật sự sẽ không còn bị kết tội giết ngừơi vì tham gia vào những trọng tội chẳng hạn như đánh cướp bằng vũ khí. Luật này sẽ bao gồmtấtcảcácvụáncũ. Vào ngày 30 tháng 9 năm 2018, Thống Đốc Jerry Brown đã ký và biến SB 1437 thành luật. Đạo luật này được viết bởi Thương Nghị Sĩ Nancy Skinner … [Read More...]
Senator and author share challenge of passing SB 1437
It’s hard to get laws changed, even harder to make any revisions applicable to people already serving their time, nevertheless Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) retroactively transformed California’s felony-murder law with the help of the Re:store Justice organization and others. “Retroactivity was the hardest part, yet it was essential because how can we fix the law, how can we tell people … [Read More...]
Courts may be better than parole board at determining parolee risk
When a court orders the release of a lifer on parole, statistics show the parolee does not return to prison. But when the Board of Parole Hearings (BPH) releases a lifer, some wind up back behind bars. Why this discrepancy exists remains a mystery, but it is confirmed by recently released statistics from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Some inmates serving life … [Read More...]
Como expresar remordimiento
Sugerencias de como mostrar remordimiento. Cuando se trata de expresar remordimiento muchos de nosotros, (lifers), fallamos en la manera que lo expresamos ante la Junta de Audiencias de la Prisión (el Board of Prison Hearings [BPH]) y en lo que en realidad los comisionados quieren escuchar. Aunque verdaderamente sintamos remordimiento. Por lo tanto muchos reclusos deben de hacer una … [Read More...]
Immigrant requests for asylum face four year backlog
President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement program is failing due to a four-year asylum hearing backlog, an opinion article in The Hill contends. It is the immigration enforcement program’s policy to deport undocumented im- migrants to their country of origin, unless they express a “credible fear” of returning. An asylum officer assigned to the claim determines whether “credible fear” is … [Read More...]
Facial recognition technology poses privacy issues
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 … [Read More...]
Suit alleges Tennessee neglected diabetic inmates
Tennessee’s largest prison, Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility, now faces three lawsuits filed on behalf of prisoners suffering from diabetes. The inmates were allegedly unable to access insulin during prison lockdowns, the Nashville Tennessean reported. In a prisoner complaint form, inmate Douglas Dodson described several nights during a three-week lockdown during which he and about 60 … [Read More...]
Texas warden demoted after instituting quotas
A Texas warden was demoted and transferred following the discovery of a disciplinary quota scheme used in the Ramsey Unit of the Texas prison system, as reported by the Houston Chronicle. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice terminated more than 500 disciplinary cases after an investigation revealed that four state facilities implemented a disciplinary quota in which officers were required to … [Read More...]
Servicemen sentences overturned
Two servicemen on military Death Row had their sentences overturned this summer, reports the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC). U.S. Air Force veteran Andrew Witt and Vietnam War veteran Robert Fisher both had attorneys who failed to present mitigating evidence of mental health issues and trauma in their initial trials. Witt was sentenced in 2005 for murdering an airman and his wife. After a … [Read More...]
Oklahoma has highest incarceration rate in U.S.
Oklahoma has passed Louisiana as the state with the highest incarceration rate in the country, a new study reports. Oklahoma’s incarceration rate is 1,079 per 100,000 population. Louisiana’s is 1,052 per 100,000, the Prison Policy Initiative study reported in May. The Associated Press story reported Oklahoma also incarcerates at a higher rate than all countries with a population of at least … [Read More...]
New technology aids police oversight
New technology exposes an old and persistent problem of the criminal justice system — false testimony by the police. “Behind closed doors, we call it testilying,” a New York City police officer, Pedro Serrano, told The New York Times. “You take the truth and stretch it out a bit.” Policing experts anticipate that access to smartphones, security cameras and police body-cams would greatly reduce … [Read More...]
Fentanyl more lethal than other opioids
Deaths related to the opioid fentanyl tripled in California between 2016 and 2017, according to a new report. “We’re really on high alert,” Rachael Kagan, spokeswoman for the San Francisco Department of Health, told Soumya Karlamangla of the Los Angeles Times. Fentanyl has historically been less present in California than other parts of the United States. Experts say that’s because most heroin … [Read More...]
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 … [Read More...]
Marijuana convictions can be erased
If other counties follow San Francisco’s lead, district attorneys’ offices across the state can erase pot convictions under California’s new legal marijuana laws. “Our vision is to help government clear all eligible criminal records starting with convictions under Prop. 64,” said Jennifer Pahlka, executive director of Code for America, a non-profit with the goal of making government more … [Read More...]
SQ holds symposium addressing immigration
A symposium held at San Quentin State Prison discussed how restorative justice should shape U.S. immigration policy. “The first step is our country taking accountability—a lot of the reasons why people are fleeing violence in their countries is because of what this country has done,” said guest speaker Nayeon Kim, a paralegal who works on immigration issues for the Lawyers Committee for Civil … [Read More...]
1,475 immigrant children lost
Months before the most recent border-crossing crisis, CNN reported that the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) was unable to locate nearly 1,500 immigrant children it had placed with sponsors in 2017. The Office of Refugee Resettlement reached out to 7,635 unaccompanied children in the final months of last year to check on them, but they could not “deter- mine the whereabouts of 1,475 children.” … [Read More...]
Unarmed killing sparks deadly force law conversation
‘Under current law, an officer can assume they are armed, and kill them if they flinch’ The questionable killing of Stephon Clark, an unarmed Black man in Sacramento, by a barrage of police bullets may be the catalyst to raising the legal threshold on when police can use deadly force. The police responded to a car break-in. They chased Clark into his dark backyard. An officer shouted “gun” and … [Read More...]
Suit alleges GEO operates ‘deadliest immigration center’
Eight Central American refugees have filed a federal lawsuit against the GEO Group, and the city of Adelanto in Riverside, reports Robert Kahn for Courthouse News Service. The lawsuit alleges that the GEO Group operates the “deadliest immigration center in the country,” and subjected persons locked up to inhumane treatment and abuses, such as assault and battery, pepper-spray attacks, intentional … [Read More...]
Sex registry wrongly labels children
The goal of the sex registry is to prevent sexual assault, but it is not working, according to a Reason Magazine article by Lenore Skenazy. A child is more likely to end up on a sex registry than to be molested by someone on it. “Only a tiny fraction of sex crimes against children are committed by people who are on the registry,” according to George Mason University sociologist Roger Lancaster, … [Read More...]
Prosecutors accepting guilty pleas: no executions
It’s now been four years since a Georgia jury handed down a death sentence. In the majority of the capital punishment cases, prosecutors are allowing the alleged suspect to enter a guilty plea in exchange for a life-without-parole sentence, reported Bill Rankin in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Many of Georgia’s district attorneys still strongly support capital punishment. According to state … [Read More...]
Trump wants $1.2 billion to lock up more illegals
President Trump is asking for $1.2 billion to add 15,000 more beds to private prisons to lock up illegal immigrants. California detention centers have run out of space to detain immigrants, AZPM News reported May 29. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports that detention centers for immigrants were up more than 40 percent from the past year. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has ordered his … [Read More...]
Pipeline protester takes plea deal
Standing Rock activist Red Fawn Fallis recently accepted a federal plea deal in order to avoid facing trial for the attempted murder of a police officer that took place at a Dakota Access Pipeline protest, according to the website unicornriot.ninja. Authorities claim that Fallis fired three shots at them during her arrest while protesting against construction of the North Dakota pipeline in … [Read More...]
Overworked Texas correctional officers adopted unsafe practices
Mentally exhausted correctional officers practiced unsafe work habits, which led to the murder of a correctional officer and inhumane treatment of inmates at Telford maximum-security prison in Texas. Understaffing forces the officers to cut corners and work too much overtime, according to sources of The Texas Tribune. The prison has the state’s highest rate of assaults on staff and following the … [Read More...]
Largest private prison population
The United States has the world’s largest private prison population, according to a study by The Sentencing Project. The study compares America’s growing private prison industry to government-run prisons and found that increased profiting from incarceration is tied to prison building, inmate population growth, and lower wages for guards, which resulted in decreased institutional safety. According … [Read More...]
Kentucky voting rights may change for ex-felons
Kentucky’s practice of permanently stripping away the voting rights of citizens convicted of felonies may soon change, according to Attorney Ben Carter in an opinion-editorial in The Courier-Journal. Currently three states, Florida, Kentucky and Iowa, permanently strip voting rights. Only Vermont and Maine do not strip voting rights at all. All the other states temporarily strip voting … [Read More...]
India adopts capital punishment for child rape under twelve
In April, India passed a law permitting the death penalty for rape of a child under 12, reigniting an international debate over capital punishment. In India, only four people have been executed in the past 13 years. Three of those executed were convicted of terrorism and one for rape of a minor, Chaitanya Mallapur reported for the Business Standard News. Sentence Of the 109 prisoners sentenced to … [Read More...]
Inadequate diet for the month of Ramadan
Muslims in Alaska and Washington state prisons are having a hard time fulfilling one of the pillars of their religion: fasting during the month of Ramadan, according to articles in the Juneau Empire and Huffington Post. Two federal courts have ruled in favor of the Muslim inmates who have filed lawsuits in both states, alleging inadequate meals and feeding during Ramadan. Lawsuits were filed by … [Read More...]
Florida Corrections considers replacing visits
The Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) is considering limiting inmates’ visits, claiming that there is not enough funding to cover the amount of staff it takes to oversee jail visiting rooms. According to the Tampa Bay Times, the DOC in Florida is allowing a private contractor to implement a program that will charge inmates and their families a fee to have video phone calls to their … [Read More...]
Drones over prisons
After years of trying to keep drones from flying over South Carolina prisons, an unmanned aircraft with four propellers whizzed up several hundred feet in the air at the unveiling of the corrections officials’ plan to use drones to watch prisoners, according to the US News and World Report. “I think you’re seeing the future of corrections, right here,” said Department of Corrections Director Bryan … [Read More...]
Technology makes your smart phone a snitch
A tech-tidal wave is hitting the criminal justice system, transforming faces into license plates and your smart phone into a snitch. These new technologies allow criminal-justice systems unparalleled surveillance capacity of vast amounts of data. The Economist magazine anticipates the future in the technology report “Justice Data Detectives.” DATA FOR DETECTIVES Technology has changed the … [Read More...]
Court order gives defense lawyers a raise
Court-appointed lawyers in Wisconsin are getting a raise in an order meant to address a chronic lack of attorneys willing to take on public defense cases. In May, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered that private attorneys assigned to defend cases must be paid $100 an hour—up from $70—beginning in 2020. While defense lawyers welcome the higher rate they say it may not reach far enough, as the … [Read More...]
Cell phones being monitored in jails and free world alike
The government spies on incarcerated citizens who use illegal cellphones in correctional facilities. Those aren’t the only people government officials spy on. They are also listening to and tracking free citizens, according to Criminal Legal News (CLN). The technology used is called a cell-site simulator, also called a “stingray.” This device directs a cellphone to connect to it instead of a cell … [Read More...]
Kern Valley upgrades smoke detection equipment
Kern Valley State Prison (KVSP) is the latest California facility to upgrade its smoke detection technology to improve the safety of inmates and staff. Traditional in-duct smoke detectors are prone to accumulate dirt and dust that can cause the fire detection system to malfunction and issue false alarms. This can become such a nuisance that officers begin to ignore the alarms or disconnect them … [Read More...]
Fast-food blunder sends Kentucky narc to prison
A fast-food receipt exposed a Kentucky police detective’s corruption and led to the investigation that shutdown the drug task force, the Louisville Courier Journal reported. The detective served five months in jail. Kyle Willett went through a McDonald’s drive thru, purchased sweet tea and a cheeseburger, and then went to work. Outside a UPS global shipping hub, he took a package to his car, tore … [Read More...]
Virginia disputes ACLU charges of harsh solitary
The solitary confinement program in Virginia’s prisons is chastised in a new ACLU report for its inhumane conditions, according to the Washington Post. Disciplinary segregation, special housing and administrative segregation are also considered to be solitary confinement by the ACLU. “It simply doesn’t matter what you call it. The impact of the practice on people is exactly the same,” said Claire … [Read More...]
Vegan meals could be an option
All 35 of California’s prisons may have the option to serve its 120,000 inmates vegan meals if Senate Bill 1138 passes, said CBS Sacramento. State Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, revealed legislation that ensures California inmates, and those in hospitals and nursing homes, the option to choose whether they want to eat meat or plant-based meals. The bill would require prisons to change their … [Read More...]
Trump pardons legendary heavyweight champ Jack Johnson
In May, President Trump pardoned Jack Johnson, the legendary first black world heavyweight boxing champion. His legacy had been tarnished by a racially-tainted criminal conviction from 1913. An all-White jury convicted Johnson under the Mann Act, a law that barred transporting women and girls across state lines for sex. He had travelled with a white woman across state lines and served 10 months … [Read More...]
Public safer when released inmates supported
With 95 percent of people in America’s prisons and jails getting out eventually, a new study finds that public safety benefits by reuniting them with their families, helping them with housing, employment, and healthcare. An Overview of Offender Reentry found that family ties provide the “greatest tangible and emotional support to offenders as they reenter the community. Former offenders who are … [Read More...]
Supreme Court grants new trial based attorney’s assertion of client’s guilt
The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered a new trial, despite evidence of the man’s guilt, in a case where the defendant testified he is innocent while his lawyer argued he is guilty. Robert McCoy was charged with three counts of murder in Louisiana. The three victims were his estranged wife’s family members. Lewinston police apprehended McCoy in Idaho a few days later. McCoy pleaded not guilty and … [Read More...]
FBI Stings entangle victims and perpetrators
Under the guise of stopping sexual predators and human trafficking, the FBI coordinates annual sting operations with local law enforcement agencies. The FBI states its “primary goal is to recover children” through Operation Cross Country (OCC), an operation it has conducted for over a decade. The line between victim, bystander or perpetrator is blurry for these operations, states Reason … [Read More...]
Reform policies have cut down on overcrowding
Prison construction and overcrowding is down due to the State of California implementing smart and effective prison reform policies, reports Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ). “The long overdue task of replacing ineffective over-incarceration with smart justice in the nation’s most populous state is finally underway,” CSJ reports. Data collected from the study show a 10 percent drop in … [Read More...]
Plea bargain challenges are not barred to defendant
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that plea bargains do not prohibit defendants from challenging the constitutionality of their convictions. The decision held that even though a guilty plea waives a defendant’s right to appeal their case or challenge the sentence, it does not waive their right to question the state’s right to charge them in the first place. Criminal Legal News reported the case as … [Read More...]
More women and mothers winding up behind bars
As the female population behind bars continues to rise nationally, so does the number of mothers. Consequently, their children face traumatic and lengthy separations from their primary caregiver, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. “When you incarcerate women, you incarcerate the whole family,” said Lavette Mayes, a woman who spent more than a year in Cook County Jail because she had no … [Read More...]
More inmates taking meds for mental health issues
The number of offenders in county jails on psychotropic medications increased 25 percent in 45 California counties in the past five years, reports California Health Policy Strategies (CHPS) for Kaiser Health News. The Kaiser Health News report shows that a shortage of community-based treatment centers have made county jails a warehouse for mentally ill people. A separate report by the Council On … [Read More...]
Lack of felons’ ability to vote strips away fundamental rights
A campaign is under way to restore voting rights to convicted felons, according to The Wall Street Journal. “Let’s fight to stop this nonsense,” said Damon Stackhouse, a 41-year-old New Jersey native, who was eager to cast a ballot during the previous midterm elections but later learned under state law, because he’s still on parole, he could not vote. Stackhouse had a decade-old conviction of … [Read More...]
Fewer re-entry resources for poor and people of color
Poor people and people of color have fewer resources to deal with mental and physical health problems when released from prison, The Atlantic reported. Instead of having measures to help the vulnerable manage their well-being, society punishes those battling addiction and mental health issues with more time in prison, exacerbating the problems further, the story stated. “African American families … [Read More...]
Prison death a mystery after year-long investigation
One year and a transparent investigation later, the death of inmate James Leonard Acuna remains undetermined. Acuna’s decomposing body had been found in a cell he shared with another inmate at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility, at least two days after he passed, reported Patch. “The fact [Acuna] made bad choices and was paying his debt to society doesn’t mean he should have been neglected,” … [Read More...]
139 prisoners nationwide were exonerated in 2017
Ledura Watkins spent more than 41 years in a Michigan prison before being cleared of a murder he did not commit. He was just one of 139 exonerations in 2017, according to a recent report. Texas and Illinois led the nation with the most exonerations, 23 and 21 respectively, according to The National Registry of Exonerations. California had nine exonerations for that year. Most were handled by … [Read More...]
Voting rights for people with criminal convictions
Who in California currently has the right to vote? Eligible voters are citizens of the United States, 18 years of age or older as of Election Day. But, what if you’ve been arrested or have a conviction? “Many Californians mistakenly believe a criminal conviction keeps them from voting. Politicians bet on that fact to win elections,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). So, … [Read More...]
New bill keeps youth offenders out of adult prisons
Human Rights Watch (HRW) continues to back legislation that gives youthful offenders a second chance at life after committing serious crimes. Most recently, law changes in California have allowed offenders who were under age 25 when they committed the crime to seek a sentence review after serving between 15 and 25 years— depending on the category of crime. HRW is now working on new legislation … [Read More...]
Use of force bill underway
State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) plans to introduce a bill that would require the public disclosure of investigations of serious uses of force within police departments, including police shootings. Some of the most rigid laws that block the public from police personnel records are in California. California’s rules are so tough that last year a state appellate court ruled the Los Angeles … [Read More...]
Prison reform could free 30,000 inmates says CSJ
A series of criminal justice reforms, if adopted, would allow California to return 30,000 inmates to their communities. Each year, California spends a combined $20 billion in state prisons and county jails, according to Safe And Sound: Strategies To Save A Billion In Prison Costs And Build New Safety Solutions, a report by Californians for Safety and Justice (CSJ). “That’s a 500 percent increase … [Read More...]
Private prison labor in question
In Washington, D.C., a group of 18 Republican congressmen are trying to convince the Trump administration to shield private prisons from lawsuits alleging immigrant detainees are forced to work for a wage of $1 a day, The Washington Post reported. At least five lawsuits have been filed against private prisons, including The GEO Group and CoreCivic, over issues including detainee compensation. … [Read More...]
Pregnant prisoners shackled
Pregnant female prisoners – even those in the midst of labor – must suffer the indignity and discomfort of mandatorily being shackled and handcuffed by San Diego County Sheriffs, according to a recent Voice of San Diego news article. “Drug-overdose deaths drove a decline in U.S. life expectancy in 2016 for the second year in a row…” THE WALL STREET JOURNAL Dec. 21, 2017 2013 legislative bill … [Read More...]
Mississippi’s approach to ‘making America safe again’
Jackson, Mississippi’s approach to making America safe again mandates that any conviction that involves possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime should result in a five-year enhancement of federal prison time. Project EJECT is the means by which U.S. Attorney Michael Hurst executed his plan to remove violent offenders from communities, reported the Jackson Free Press. “Today is a new … [Read More...]
Lawsuit alleges Sheriffs misused food funds
Stories about Alabama sheriffs getting rich off of money allocated for jailed inmates’ food have sparked a lawsuit by two advocacy group, according to WBRC FOX6 News. “Our ultimate goal is to make sure money earmarked for jail food is spent on jail food,” said Frank Knaak, executive director of Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, one of two organizations that brought the suit. “There have been … [Read More...]
Florida’s prison commissary prices “highway robbery”
Outside advocacy groups joined with Florida’s prisoners in a protest called Operation PUSH to bring attention to the state’s long history of overcharging for basic canteen items, while simultaneously underpaying its inmate workforce, reported a PolitiFact Florida article. “One case of soup on the street costs $4,” PUSH said in an anonymous website statement. “It costs us $17 on the inside. This … [Read More...]
China furloughs 1,300 pre-screened inmates
Roughly three decades after a furlough program was retired, the Chinese Ministry of Justice granted some prisoners a temporary release to attend family reunions with their loved ones for the country’s Spring Festival holiday in February, according to the China Daily. Approximately 1,300 prisoners from 300 penitentiaries around the country were screened to participate in the release … [Read More...]
Libertad condicional ya possible
California esta experimentando un aumento en el número de presos que reciben su libertad condicional, informo un Reporte de la Universidad de Stanford. La tasa de concesión de libertad condicional incremento de un 8 a un 25 por ciento entre los años 2008 y 2015. “El Comité de Audiencias (Board Parole Hearing), ha sido percibida como un medio para controlar la población en las prisiones estatales”, … [Read More...]
FAMM supports resentencing
Support is growing for criminal justice reforms, a leader in the movement reported. “There is a general understanding across the country that too many people are going to prison for too long, and that is a consensus that wasn’t there 10 years ago,” Julie Stewart said in an interview with The Crime Report. “We are headed in the right direction.” Stewart is founder of Families Against Mandatory … [Read More...]
Prop 47 savings underestimated
California Governor Jerry Brown’s 2016-17 budget underestimates the promise of Proposition 47 by over $100 million, according to the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Proposition 47 reclassified certain nonviolent drug and petty-theft related offenses from felonies to misdemeanors. The money supposedly saved was intended to enhance rehabilitation efforts at the county level. Brown’s 2016-17 budget … [Read More...]
News Quotes November 2017
“There were more than 61,250 technical parole violators in 42 state prison systems as of early 2017,”reports The Marshall Project. Seven states, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York and Pennsylvania, have more technical violators than the remaining 35 states combined. ttp:/www.themarshallproject.org/2017/04/23 Los Angeles Police Department doled out almost $81 million … [Read More...]
Transgenders get new items
A federal judge has ordered California prisons to provide certain transgender inmates special female items for free, reports the Christian Post. Currently, female transgender inmates in men’s prisons are allowed to have sandals, T-shirts and walking shoes, and to purchase specialty undergarments. U.S. District Judge Jon Tigar’s order extended that list to include nightgowns and scarves. The order … [Read More...]
Right to Police Transparency
Eric Garner’s high-profile death has led to an increase in police transparency due to the New York City Police Department agreeing to settle a freedom of information request lawsuit. Garner was selling loose cigarettes on Staten Island when Officer Daniel Pantaleo used a chokehold that killed Garner. “The department’s approach to transparency had been under public scrutiny. … There has long been … [Read More...]
New Sex Offender Registry limits
Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that allows low-level sex registrants to be removed from a lifetime law enforcement registry. The new law will keep violent offenders on the list, reports the San Francisco Chronicle. Under the new law, 90 percent of the state’s sex registrants will no longer be required to register as sex offenders for life. The measure is Senate Bill 384 by Sen. Scott Wiener, … [Read More...]
Sacramento County jails targeted by the Prison Law Office
Suit alleges systemwide deficiencies lead to mistreatment of prisoners The Prison Law Office and Disability Rights California attorneys filed a federal law- suit last year alleging mistreatment of inmates and poor jail conditions in the Sacra- mento County jails, according to The Sacramento Bee. In this lawsuit it is alleged that the county jail is understaffed and fails to provide adequate … [Read More...]
US Appeals Court rules on deportable convictions
For the purpose of deportable convictions, a carjacking conviction in California does not always qualify as a violent crime, according to a recent federal court decision. The United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit held that carjacking under California Penal Code 215(a) does not qualify as a crime of violence under federal law because the state statute does not require “physical force capable … [Read More...]
Tulsa county jail’s mental health pod a step in the right direction
The Tulsa, OK, county jail used to place their mentally ill inmates in the same bare cells as everyone else. Now, the jail sports a new mental health pod, where some of those inmates can access a more relaxed and therapeutic environment, according to a report from the Tulsa World. That is a step up, proponents say, but it’s not a solution. The root of the problem, David Van Risseghem of the … [Read More...]
Trump’s federal staff cuts hurt
President Trump initiated a hiring freeze and applied federal staff cuts that have appeared to be counterproductive to correction officers, staffers and prisoners. Since January 2017, when the hiring freeze came into effect, there have been 6,000 positions cut nationwide, according to a VICE News article. The current inmate-to-correctional officer ratio has nearly doubled from 4.4 to 1 in 2015 to … [Read More...]
Transgender suing Massachusetts challenging placement all-male prison
A transgender woman is suing the Massachusetts Department of Correction for requiring her to serve her sentence in an all-male prison. In the lawsuit, the 52-year-old inmate alleges she was groped and taunted by inmates and correctional officers, reports Jezebel. According to the Boston Globe, the suit states that the inmate—identified only as Jane Doe—“has been subjected to constant humiliation.” … [Read More...]
USSC rules bail hearings undocumented immigrants
The U.S. Supreme Court in early March ruled 5 to 3 in the case of Jennings v. Rodriguez that the Immigration and Nationality Act does not permit regular bail hearings for undocumented immigrants detained by U.S. immigration officials, according to The Atlantic. The five justices of the majority ruled that the Immigration and Nationality Act statute does not permit bail hearings for immigration … [Read More...]
Several new policies to help hire formerly incarcerated
In spite of the negative stigma of a felony conviction, new policies developed by local, state and federal officials will encourage employers to hire the formerly incarcerated, according to a Rand Corporation report. Policies such as “Ban the Box,” certificates of rehabilitation, the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and Department of Labor Reintegration of Ex-Offender grants, even with … [Read More...]
NY’s pilot inmate package program not well received
Earlier this year, New York state suspended a pilot program forcing families of inmates to buy from a limited number of private vendors when sending care packages to their loved ones. New York began its own private care package pilot program at the start of the year at Taconic, Greene, and Green Haven Correctional Facilities. The plan was to extend it to all state facilities, according to a … [Read More...]
New 50-bed mental health facility in Southern California
The state’s prison system plans to build a new 50-bed mental health facility in Chino for Southern California inmates. ICE reported “24,476 of the 185,507 inmates in the federal Bureau of Prisons system were not citizens…” THE NEW YORK TIMES Dec. 22, 2017 Working, drawing and preliminary plans are budgeted in at $3.6 million and will probably be completed at the end of 2019,” Bill Sessa, spokesman … [Read More...]
Massachusetts Republican governor signs criminal reform
Republican Gov. Charlie Baker has signed a major criminal justice reform bill that had overwhelming Republican and Democratic support, reported Boston Herald. “This is a huge victory for justice and shows what we can accomplish together,” said State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, (D-Boston). “Years and years of advocacy by community leaders, legislators and powerful Black and Brown grassroots … [Read More...]
Lawsuit challenges mandatory checks for SHU inmates
California lawsuits are challenging frequent mandatory checks of inmates in Security Housing Units, claiming they cause unconstitutional health problems according to a California Patch article. “It’s torture,” said Penny Schoner, who attended a February rally in San Francisco in support of the prisoners. “If you were in a cell 24 hours day and being awoken every half hour night and day, what could … [Read More...]
Former prisoner files sexual harassment suit
A former female prisoner at the Denver Women’s Correctional Facility has filed a federal sexual harassment civil claim against Colorado prison officials and her former supervisor, the Denver Post reported. The supervisor left his job but was never charged with the assaults, Susan Ullery reported in the legal filings. More than a third of millennial say that if a man compliments a woman’s looks it … [Read More...]
Florida reduces in-person visits with more video
Florida never seems to pass up the opportunity to make a bad situation worse, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Are prison video calls a convenience or a scheme to make money for prison officials? Florida ignores criminal justice reform and spends around $2.4 billion annually on its prison system, which in this situation means reducing in-person visits, according to Times columnist John Romano. … [Read More...]
Female correctional officers win lawsuit for hostile work environment
Female correctional officers have won a $20 million settlement of a lawsuit claiming sexual harassment and a hostile work environment in federal prisons. The settlement also includes 20 pages of procedural changes to improve employee safety, including improved training about sexual harassment, better monitoring for processing incident reports, and removing front pockets from inmate clothing to … [Read More...]
Colorado requests $30 million to re-open prisons
The Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) is requesting more than $30 million to re-open two state prisons due to a rising prison population, according to Bethany Blankley of Watchdog.org, reprinted in the Pueblo Chieftain. If this request is granted, CDOC will reach an operational budget of close to $1 billion. Some advocates point to the state’s “war on drugs” policy for the rise of the … [Read More...]
California’s next governor faces executions
California’s next governor could be forced to make a life-or-death decision that the state’s top executive hasn’t faced in over a decade; whether to spare an inmate facing execution. There are nearly 750 people on death row at San Quentin State Prison, more than any other state, and decisions made by the next governor will help set the pace of executions going forward. Five of the top six top … [Read More...]
CA Supreme Court juvenile sentence cruel and unusual punishment
Sentencing a juvenile to 50-to-life for rape and kidnapping may be cruel and unusual punishment, according to a recent California Supreme Court decision. Defendants Leonel Contreras and William Rodriguez were convicted in a joint trial of kidnapping and sexual crimes they committed as 16-year-olds. Rodriguez was sentenced to a term of 50 years to life, and Contreras was sentenced to a term of 58 … [Read More...]
CA bills aim to reform law for juveniles and adults
Sacramento, CA —On April 4, the California Senate Public Safety Committee voted to pass Senate Bills 1392 and 1393, half of the Equity and Justice Package, authored by Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) and Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens). The two Senate leaders are joint authors on bills that together seek major justice reforms for juveniles and adults. “Mass incarceration is a massive … [Read More...]
Aging cons fear parole after incarceration
Aging cons who survived the causes and consequences of long-term incarceration are being released from prison cross the country. They are paroled into a society full of high-speed diverse technology while still carrying the stigma of an ex-felon, and the transition is not easy. That was the focal point of a recent report from the Urban Institute. The 2017 report, “A Matter of Time: The Causes and … [Read More...]
Clean water for Massachusetts prisoners
Advocates in a Massachusetts community are raising money to supply prisoners with bottled water at the state’s MCI-Norfolk facility due to complaints of terrible drinking water at the institution, according to a WBUR News article. “People will tell you that you need clean drinking water to survive” Prisoners say the water is smelly and looks like black tea. “People in the community shouldn’t have … [Read More...]
Pennsylvania $325,000 for 37 years in solitary
A Pennsylvania inmate who spent 37 years in solitary confinement has been awarded $325,000 in a settlement, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Arthur Johnson of Philadelphia, who spent more than half his life in solitary confinement, filed a lawsuit claiming that his 37 years spent alone in a small cell amounted to cruel and unusual punishment and violated his right to due process under the … [Read More...]
Parolees’ hard transition from stigmatized past
Convicted felons continue to be stigmatized by their criminal past, particularly when they search for legitimate work. But employers are facing a growing, nationwide pressure to change their anti-felon hiring policies. Upon reentry, finding and maintaining employment becomes the main factor that determines an inmate’s success or recidivism. The “ban the box” movement seeks to abolish the yes or no … [Read More...]
Nebraska inmate dies from double bunking in solitary
The death of a Nebraska inmate in solitary confinement prompted the state to take measures to end double-bunking in its isolation unit. Terry Berry Jr., 22, was murdered by his cellmate Patrick Schroeder, 40, who was already serving a life sentence for murder at Tecumseh State Prison. Berry was at the end of his sentence and ready to be paroled. He was described as a “very talkative and … [Read More...]
San Francisco offers safe injection sites
If you can’t stop using heroin, San Francisco is willing to violate state and federal law so you can do it safely. In July, the city plans to open two sites that will allow shooting up under secure conditions. “I’m fully supportive of the city moving forward, just like we did with needle exchange before it was technically legal,” state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) said in a San Francisco Chronicle … [Read More...]
Police continue to shoot about 1,000 people a year
987 people were fatally shot by police officers in 2017 Police across the country shot and killed approximately the same number of people in 2017 as they did in each of the previous two years. Because there is no official nationwide tally of fatal police shootings, The Washington Post took charge and has compiled the most accurate accounting of these incidents – 2,945 shooting deaths in all since … [Read More...]
Former prisoners working where once housed
Across the country, former prisoners are finding jobs in the prisons where they were once housed yet still run into employment obstacles, according to the Marshall Project. At least 30 states have hiring policies for former inmates. New programs, such as the New Mexico Returning Citizen Program, are being created to help the transition from inmate to state employee. “At the beginning it wasn’t … [Read More...]
Bureau of Justice Statistics issues 2016 prison report
The federal government has been tracking prison populations across the nation since 1926. This year marked the 91st time the Bureau of Justice Statistics issued a report detailing its results. Key findings: This was the third consecutive year that the number of prisoners with sentences of more than one year in prison declined. There are an estimated 1,505,400 prisoners in state and federal … [Read More...]
Black incarceration on the decline
The percentages of Blacks and Whites being incarcerated are converging. Nationally, Black incarceration rates are dropping, while Whites are on the increase, according to a Marshall Project analysis of yearly reports by the Federal Bureau of Justice Statistics. The report found that between 2000 and 2015, the imprisonment rate of Black men dropped by more than 24 percent. At the same time, the … [Read More...]
Advocates raise issues regarding incarcerated women
Issues regarding incarcerated females have been raised by five female criminal justice advocates at the 2018 American Conservative Union’s Conservative Political Action Conference. The title of the CPAC panel: “Dignity for Incarcerated Women: Is It Really Necessary to Shackle Women in Labor?” Intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime. One in three women and one in … [Read More...]
Santa Clara DA discusses solutions to crime
Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen did something few prosecutors would have the guts to do. He went inside San Quentin and walked across its prison yard, in order to sit down with several inmates to talk about ways to keep the streets free of crime. Rosen’s Feb. 16 visit was not his first. In 2014, he and several members of his staff attended a San Quentin News forum — the topic was … [Read More...]
A path of criminal justice takes an educational turn
Corporate executives and administration officials have a high turnover rate, but secretaries tend to stick around, and some have interesting stories. Ms. Garcia, the office technician for Robert E. Burton Adult School at San Quentin, almost became a parole officer. She studied criminal justice in college because something in society caught her attention. “I wanted to work with parolees because … [Read More...]
NEWSBRIEFS Florida
Florida — The state’s felon voting policies have been ruled overly “arbitrary” by a federal court. Currently, felons have their voting rights permanently revoked; their rights can only be reinstated by waiting at least five years after completing their sentence and having their case decided by a four-person clemency board led by the state’s governor. Florida represents the most widespread case of … [Read More...]
US Senate focusing on alleviating mass incarceration
In early February, national government officials grappled with trying to implement cost-effective strategies to alleviate mass incarceration. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is focusing on reducing sentences for nonviolent drug offenders and facilitating reentry for the formerly incarcerated. Columbia University’s Justice Lab discovered that since the 1980s, an increase in county supervision … [Read More...]
Prisoners seek hepatitis C treatment
California prisoners filed a federal court class action lawsuit in Sacramento to receive a curative treatment for hepatitis C, after doctors refused patients treatment citing that they were not sick enough, the disease is too far advanced, or that the drugs cost too much, reported the Sacramento Bee. California’s prison health care staff refused to provide 18 incarcerated hepatitis C patients with … [Read More...]
Study shows rural jails add to mass incarceration
A national study shows that between 1970 and 2013 the number of people held in jail before their case was resolved increased at a rate of 436 percent. The 2017 Vera Institute of Justice study “Out of Sight: The Growth of Jails in Rural America” also shows that a growing number of rural counties are renting out jail space for federal and state prisoners and prisoners from neighboring counties. The … [Read More...]
Prisoners arraigned via Court video
The use of court video arraignments inside California prisons is gaining endorsements and could become a permanent part of the prison system, according to Inside CDCR. Kern County Prison Court (KCPC) is one such video program that serves several prisons within its county. “64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in pretrial custody … [Read More...]
Prison psychiatrist double dips working for CDCR
Prison psychiatrist Anthony Coppola earned more than $540,000 in 2016 while “double dipping” at two government agencies, a state prison in Tracy and an Alameda County jail, the Sacramento Bee reports. Coppola’s attorney, Brian Crone, said the psychiatrist was doing nothing wrong because the chief of mental health and the prison warden at Tracy knew what he was doing. Coppola split his workdays … [Read More...]
In-person visits could come back to Denver jails
In-person visits could be returning to Denver jails after more than a decade of inmates relying on videos to stay connected with family and friends. “Drug overdoses have now surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 55.” THE NEW YORK TIMES Dec. 22, 2017 Community members and jail officials have started discussing how and when to allow inmates to have … [Read More...]
Billing inmates $600 by medical provider-CCHCS
Men who received treatment from hospitals outside the prison were surprised to receive medical bills along with a notice that they had to pay for those services. A 2006 federal court order put California prisoners’ medical care in the hands of the California Correctional Health Care Services (CCHCS). CCHCS’s budget includes more than $350 million for services inmates cannot get in prison … [Read More...]
Canada loosening policy on prison assisted suicide
The Canadian prison system has loosened its policy for terminally ill inmates to receive medically assisted death. Prison watchdogs call for a more humanitarian and compassionate parole option. Canadian prisons are filling with more sick, mentally ill and elderly inmates, according to a report cited by CBC News. Correctional Investigator Ivan Zinger said the 2017 guidelines for medically … [Read More...]
Alabama fails mentally ill inmates in solitary
Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC) has failed to fix its practice of housing prisoners with “serious mental illness” in solitary confinement, a practice deemed unconstitutional and in violation of a 2017 court order. Twenty-one patients with “serious mental illness” have yet to be released from solitary, and United States District Judge Myron Thompson, as part of a trial to address solitary … [Read More...]
2011 Realignment had modest impact
California’s 2011 Realignment plan reduced the state’s prison population, increased county jail population and had a modest impact on recidivism, according to a study seven years later. “One goal of Realignment was to reduce California’s persistently high recidivism rates,” the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) report states. “Overall, we find Realignment had modest effects on … [Read More...]
Trump credited with expansion of hate groups
A recent report credits President Donald J. Trump’s administration with boosting the recruitment and expansion of hate groups in America. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC) Year in Hate and Extremism report identified 954 hate groups in America, more than 600 of which are devoted to some type of White supremacy. “President Trump in 2017 reflected what White supremacist groups want to see: a … [Read More...]
New research disputes “Risk Assessment”
New research disputes the accuracy, fairness and limits of so-called “risk assessment” tests used by corrections departments to predict an offender’s likelihood to recommit crime. In a January article for Science Advances magazine, analysts revealed the results of two critical studies that debunk the predictive algorithms behind the Correctional Offender Management Profiling for Alternative … [Read More...]
Female parolees’ hard road to successful re-entry
Following her parole, Davina, 50, got a temporary job on a website contract, but her parole officer insisted that she find full-time work because, he said, contract work is “too non-traditional,” reported Alejandra Molina in the Riverside Press-Enterprise. Another woman was called “lazy” by her parole officer for attending a trade school and not finding full-time work three months after her … [Read More...]
California aims to restore the right to vote for felons
California is joining the nationwide trend aimed at restoring the right to vote to convicted felons. A nonprofit called Initiate Justice is seeking support for the Restore Democracy Act, which would restore voting rights to everyone incarcerated and on parole in California. If it gets enough signatures to get on the ballot and is passed by the voters in this November’s election, it would restore … [Read More...]
New California youth offender bills
California legislators are introducing two new bills that will affect accomplices of felony murder and youth offenders under SB 260, 261, and AB 1308. The first bill, SB 1437, introduced by Senator Nancy Skinner, will set forth new guidelines for sentencing (certain) accomplices of murder. “This bill would prohibit malice from being imputed to a person based solely on his or her participation in … [Read More...]
Robot Chatbot Lawyer for Refugees
Robolawyer-chatbot tool to complete anti-deportation and immigration paperwork. The use of robolawyer-chatbots promises to be a significant advance in social justice, its supporters say. As with Airbnb and Uber, new artificial intelligence technologies have transformed many industries in the past few years. Now they are seeking to transform legal dealings with government as well. From traffic … [Read More...]
Deportation Crimes Explained
In Trump’s first six months of 2017, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrested more than 65,000 immigrants, up 37.6 percent from the same period last year, reports The Washington Post. Almost three out of four of those arrested have criminal records. Immigration advocates question whether ICE is truly prioritizing the most serious criminals. “We see a ton of people deported for … [Read More...]
Domestic Violence 15 Percent of Violent Crime
Intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime. “The key question concerns the relationship between threats and actual violence,” reported the Wall Street Journal on a new study of domestic violence. “To me, threats are clues,” said Dr. T.K. Logan, author of the study. “We tend to dismiss them because there are so many. We should hone in, not tune out.” She believes the … [Read More...]
LAPD Settlement's Soar
[Los Angles Police Department (LAPD) Los Angeles Times Cmdr. Michael Hyams Kash Delano Register Bruce Lisker LAPD Foothill Division] The Los Angles Police Department (LAPD) doled out almost $81 million in the last fiscal year to settle lawsuits, the Los Angeles Times reported. Two of the settlements amounted to approximately $24 million for men who were wrongly convicted of murder and spent more … [Read More...]
Questions linger over informant program
Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckus denied the existence of an informant program in his county’s jail to a “60 Minutes” correspondent, the Huffington Post reported. The District Attorney’s Office faces three investigations over the use of informants, whose credibility has been brought into question. However, Rackauckus told “60 Minutes” correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi that informants … [Read More...]
Video calls replace contact visits at many institutions
A growing trend to end in-person visits throughout the nation has had a huge impact on inmates and their families, forcing them pay $12.99 for a 20-minute video call, according to, Shannon Sims in The Guardian. A study by The Prison Policy Initiative shows that 74 percent of U.S. correctional facilities that implement video calling end up either reducing in-person visits, or eliminating them … [Read More...]
Texas executes Mexican regardless of disapproval
The state of Texas executed a Mexican national despite international outcry and his repeated claims of innocence, according to a news report. The state also denied a request for new DNA testing of the victim. Ruben Cardenas Ramirez claimed innocence of the rape and murder of his 16-year-old cousin from 20 years ago in the Rio Grande Valley, reports the Houston Chronicle. Cardenas professed … [Read More...]
CDCR ordered to rewrite regulations for Prop. 57
Sacramento County Superior Court judge Allen Sumner preliminarily ordered prison officials to rewrite the early parole regulations consistent with Proposition 57’s language. Sumner ruled the state of California erred when writing regulations that didn’t specifically exclude some non-violent sex offenders from early parole consideration, reports The Associated Press. The voter-approved … [Read More...]
New law stops interrogating juveniles
A new law makes it illegal for peace officers to interrogate youths 15 years old or younger without first allowing them to consult with an attorney. “The bill would require that a youth 15 years of age or younger consult with legal counsel in person, by telephone, or by video conference prior to a custodial interrogation and before waiving any of the above specified rights,” the bill states. The … [Read More...]
Lawyer says: ‘Get prepared for freedom’
The path to freedom is narrow for the men and women incarcerated in California’s prisons, Stanford law professor Mike Romano told an audience of about 150 inmates, on Jan. 19, in San Quentin’s Catholic Chapel. “I know it’s very difficult for Mike to come here and tell you these things,” said Kevin “Bilal” Chatman, who accompanied Romano with two of his staffers. “I had six life sentences and 150 … [Read More...]
Court aids sex offenders seeking early parole
California’s latest attempted to regulate who qualifies for early parole consideration hit a snag when its Superior Court ruled that the state cannot automatically exclude sex offenders from the list of eligible people. Under Proposition 57, voted into law in November 2016, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) can make nonviolent offenders eligible for parole … [Read More...]
Vietnam war allies’ children face deportation
Children of American allies that fought alongside U.S. troops in Vietnam are facing deportation if they have a felony conviction. Prior to the Trump administration, many Vietnamese children of war did not have to fear deportation due to a unique U.S.-Vietnam repatriation agreement that limits the removal of individuals who came to the U.S. prior to 1995, according to Asian American Press (AAP). … [Read More...]
California’s skyrocketing prison budget
California leads the rest of the nation in prison spending with a skyrocketing prison budget, according to a report by PolitiFact. During Gov. Jerry Brown’s 16th and final State of the State Address, he lectured legislators on California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s budget. CDCR’s spending budget has ballooned from around $40 million in 1970-71 to $12 billion this year. Prison … [Read More...]
Overburdened public defenders
“You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided to you.” We have all heard the Miranda rights promise more times than we can count, either when catching a case or on TV where cop shows dominate. They always arrest their man and promise a fair trial. The police arrested Shondel Church for felony theft in 2016. They read his Miranda rights and his Missouri … [Read More...]
U.S. Supreme Court upholds prosecution’s rights to share info
How much evidence is the prosecution required to disclose to defense counsel? The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a standard that continues to allow district attorneys and police to be selective with the information they choose to share with defendants. In Turner v. United States, the Court affirmed the 1990 murder convictions of seven men — despite the prosecution’s failure to reveal evidence that … [Read More...]
Cell-phone violations take away family visits
NOTICE OF PROPOSED REGULATORY ACTION California Code of Regulations Title 15, Crime Prevention and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Article 7. Visiting 3177. Family Visiting (Overnight). Section 3177 initial paragraph through (b) remains unchanged, but is shown for reference. New Subsection 3177(b)(1)(B) is adopted to read: (B) Inmates convicted as a minor of a violent … [Read More...]
State’s sex offender registry has low recidivism rate
New statistics show a low recidivism rate for some registered sex offenders in the state of Pennsylvania, a newspaper reports. “It’s really clear that all of the evidence and all of the data show that most sex offenses are committed by first-time offenders,” said Emily Horowitz, professor of sociology and criminal justice at Saint Francis University, quoted in the article. Court … [Read More...]
No Bans, No Walls, Sanctuary for All!
Since Trump took office, the federal government has escalated its attacks on immigrant communities. Banning entry to the United States for people from eight countries, eliminating DACA, and increasing the number of ICE arrests by 43% are just some of the ways that the Trump administration has implemented its anti-immigrant agenda. On the other hand, communities have come together in many … [Read More...]
Louisiana prison reforms release 1,400 inmates
Louisiana has launched major prison reforms with the release about 1,400 inmates who were serving time for non-violent and non-sex offenses, reported the KLFY Newsroom. The releases on Nov. 1 came after Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a package of 10 criminal justice reforms to reduce the state’s prison population by 10 percent. The reforms will scale back the parole/probation population by … [Read More...]
Lawyer urges defendant to plead guilty in capital case
In the summer of 2011, defendant Robert McCoy met with his lawyer Larry English to discuss how to plead in a capital case, The New York Times reported. English told McCoy that he wanted him to concede to killing the mother, stepfather and brother-in-law of his estranged wife. Others committed the crimes, McCoy told English, and he wanted to clear his name. However, English said in a sworn … [Read More...]
Court rules in favor of marriage for two prisoners
The Nebraska State Supreme Court reversed a lower court’s decision approving two state prisoners’ marriage to one another, according to The Associated Press. Paul Gillpatrick and Niccole Wetherell filed suit against officials of the Nebraska Department of Corrections for repeatedly denying them an opportunity to marry at either one’s prison or via video. The couple has been engaged since 2011. The … [Read More...]
Campaign aims to revamp parole policies
A nationwide campaign is under way to reform parole policies in American prisons, according to Truthout. More than 60 grassroots organizations across the nation are challenging the way parole commissioners focus heavily on the nature of the crime instead of whether the inmate poses a danger to the public at the time they meet the board. “Parole boards are so deeply cautious about releasing … [Read More...]
Arkansas Supreme Court face lawsuit by Black judge
Arkansas’ Supreme Court justices are defendants in a federal lawsuit filed by a Black circuit court judge after he halted the executions of nine prisoners because the manufacturer’s drug was never intended to be used in capital punishment. CNN reported that Judge Wendell Griffen, a Baptist pastor, was pulled off death penalty cases by the justices because he participated in a Good Friday rally … [Read More...]
Arizona Tent City shut down
Arizona’s infamous Tent City outdoor inmate lodging touted by former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has finally collapsed under new Sheriff Paul Penzone, reported The New York Times. “This facility is not a crime deterrent,” Penzone said in a news conference. “It is not cost-efficient. And, it is not tough on criminals. That may have been the intent when it was first opened, and there was a … [Read More...]
Wrongfully convicted of a sex crime cleared after eight years
A man who spent eight years in prison for a sex crime he did not commit has finally been cleared, the Northern California Innocence Project reports. “It took 24 years, but the truth finally came out,” said Paige Kaneb, co-counsel for Ed Easley. The Shasta County case turned after the adult victim, molested at age seven, admitted she wrongly accused Easley to protect a cousin. “It took 24 years, … [Read More...]
Study shows government uses distorted data to justify policies
A recent study by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) explains how the government uses distorted data to justify its policies. The study focused on the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), which is cited by elected officials and the media as a legitimate source of information. The Center was founded by White nationalist John Tanton and serves as an anti-immigrant think tank, reported the … [Read More...]
Inmate locator allows public to access prisoner information
Expanded information about the men and women incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is now available to the public on the CDCR-run “Inmate Locator.” The Inmate Locator on the CDCR website allows anyone to search for an inmate by name or CDCR number. The Inmate Locator provides: An inmate’s CDCR number An inmate’s age Where the inmate is housed (with a … [Read More...]
Black immigrants in fear of deportation
As federal raids become a daily occurrence, Black immigrants are living in fear. They undergo more scrutiny than other migrant groups across the nation — the result: one in five face deportation, according to a recent Pew Trust article. “We’re worried,” said Patrice Lawrence, policy coordinator for the UndocuBlack Network. “The (Trump administration is) putting people’s hearts and minds in limbo. … [Read More...]
CLEMENCY PROJECT
Three criminal justice organizations are campaigning for more clemency initiatives. “The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and Families Against Mandatory Minimum (FAMM), backed by the Foundation for Criminal Justice ((FCJ), have launched the State Clemency Project and are deploying core staff and infrastructure to support clemency initiatives focusing on state inmates,” … [Read More...]
Governor signs drug sentencing reform bill SB 180
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 … [Read More...]
Prosecutors have great power over criminal cases
Prosecutors have taken over as “rulers” of the criminal justice system, curbing the influence of judges, a federal judge says. Draconian laws in recent years have shifted sentencing powers to prosecutors, wrote U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff in an article for the Northwestern University Law Review. The change evolved because “defendants fear the immense sentences they face if convicted at … [Read More...]
A question of law and prison investments
Ethical questions are being raised about an immigration judge whose husband has invested in private prisons, Mother Jones magazine reports. The issue involves Chief Judge Linda R. Reade, whose husband, Michael Figenshaw, bought between $30,000 and $100,000 worth of additional private prison stocks before a massive immigration raid (in 2008) on a kosher slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa, the … [Read More...]
Politicians work toward protection for young illegal immigrants
The battle over immigration policy continues as some politicians work toward protecting immigrants who illegally entered the U.S., according to two recent Los Angeles Times articles by Sarah D. Wire and Jazmine Ulloa. Referring to young immigrants brought here as children, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan said, “There are people who are in limbo. These are kids who know no other country … and don’t … [Read More...]
Immigrant rights groups express concern about sanctuary city raids
Immigrant rights groups are concerned that the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) is targeting sanctuary cities. Sanctuary regions are jurisdictions in which local law enforcement agencies focus on public safety instead of on immigration enforcement. In late September, ICE arrested 498 undocumented immigrants in a nationwide operation that focused on sanctuary cities, or cities … [Read More...]
Alabama restores voting rights without notification
Alabama recently passed a law to restore voting rights to most of its citizens with felony records. A federal judge, however, ruled that this new law does not require the state to notify them. Tens of thousands of Alabama ex-felons were prohibited from voting before Gov. Kay Ivey signed House Bill 282 into effect in May. They may never know that the right to vote has been reinstated unless they … [Read More...]
The lasting effects of the Willie Horton trial
Politicians and law enforcement agencies use the names of crime victims to stir up public outrage in an attempt to undermine prison reform efforts and promote laws that enhance sentences. This method of manipulating the media harkens back to the case of Willie Horton, according to a Los Angeles Times op-ed by John Pfaff. In the presidential campaign of 1988, George H.W. Bush used Willie Horton’s … [Read More...]
People’s Fair Sentencing & Public Safety Act 2018
WeThePeopleorg.com, a new organization, plans to file the People’s Fair Sentencing & Public Safety Act of 2018, an initiative to stop the waste of billions of dollars spent keeping non-violent, rehabilitated people in prison for life. “We’re hoping to clean up where Proposition 57 failed the will of the people,” said WeThePeople.org.com, President Tom Loversky. “It wasn’t air-tight and … [Read More...]
Initiate Justice advocating for prisoners’ voting rights
A campaign is under way to restore voting rights to California citizens in prison or on parole. If passed, the Voting Restoration and Democracy Act of 2018 initiative would stop the practice of taking away the voting rights of those incarcerated or on parole. “We need the people who are most affected by the laws to have the ability to vote,” said Taina Vargas-Edmond of Initiate Justice. “There are … [Read More...]
DACA repeal is a nightmare for Dreamers
President Donald Trump’s announcement to repeal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) is a nightmare for Dreamers, according to withdreamers.com. An estimated 800,000 undocumented immigrants (Dreamers) will be in danger of deportation without the DACA protection. Deferred action is a legal term used to refer to the federal government’s discretion in enforcing deportation against … [Read More...]
Jerry Brown grants commutations to LWOPs
As he is reaching the end of his final term in office, Gov. Jerry Brown has granted nine commutations. The Aug. 18 commutations allowed five people serving Life Without Parole (LWOP) sentences a chance to show their suitability for release in front of a parole board, according the California Coalition for Women Prisoners organization (CCWP). Mary Elizabeth Stroder, who works closely with the … [Read More...]
Three criminal justice organizations campaign for more clemency initiatives
Three criminal justice organizations are campaigning for more clemency initiatives. “The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM), backed by the Foundation for Criminal Justice (FCJ), have launched the State Clemency Project and are deploying core staff and infrastructure to support clemency initiatives focusing on state inmates,” … [Read More...]
Harsh choice between restraints or a violent cellmate
Officers forced him into a cell with another prisoner in the same restraints Be shackled for days in tight restraints or share a cramped two-man cell with a crazy, violent person? That’s the choice many prisoners have been forced to make at the federal penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. A former inmate’s lawsuit led to an investigation into Lewisburg’s Special Management Unit (SMU), where … [Read More...]
Supreme Court rules on concealing evidence by DA's and cops
How much evidence is the prosecution required to disclose to defense counsel? The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a standard that continues to allow district attorneys and police to be selective with the information they choose to share with defendants. In Turner v. United States, the Court affirmed the 1990 murder convictions of seven men — despite the prosecution’s failure to reveal evidence … [Read More...]
Missouri board accused of malicious behavior in parole hearings
Parole board members in Missouri face accusations that they played outrageous games and openly mocked the prisoners who came before them seeking to be paroled. Two persons on the seven-member panel reportedly would choose an irrelevant word or song title, and then keep score of how many times they could each use it or get the prisoners to say it during their interviews. This alleged pattern of … [Read More...]
Prop 47 reduces overcrowding and saves over $100 million
California Proposition 47, the 2014 voter initiative that reduced certain low-level property and drug-related crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, has significantly reduced the jail and prison population by 18,000 with 40,000 fewer convictions, saving taxpayers $103 million dollars in prison and jail related costs, reports the Bay Area News Group. This $103 million in savings will go to cities … [Read More...]
New investigation shows prisons are unhealthy
Based on a new investigation, the health of many of the United States prisoners is being affected by polluted prisons throughout the nation. Nearly 600 federal and state prisons are built within three miles of an environmentally contaminated site, and more than 100 of those are only one mile from a site on the National Priorities List, according to a Mother Jones article that reported on the … [Read More...]
Prisoners find love on the internet
In the age of mass incarceration, lonely prisoners have found creative ways to connect with the outside world. Correspondence using pen and ink pen-pal services are no longer the only option prisoners use to communicate. Low-cost dating services through the Internet have created a $3 billion dollar dating industry that’s keeping pace with mass incarceration, according to Bloomberg … [Read More...]
Lower crimes bring on gentrification
With the appearance of falling crime rates in the majority of inner cities, households with higher incomes are moving into more low-income neighborhoods, according to a report funded by the Annie E. Casey and the Open Society Foundations. From 1991 to 2012, the national violent crime rate fell by 49 percent. Crime rates fell even more significantly in low-income neighborhoods, the report revealed. … [Read More...]
States offer probation to ease prison overcrowding
Many states are shortening probation terms and offering probation more often as an alternative to prison. The reality of prison overcrowding and budget problems is forcing states to look at easing the burden by changing sentencing guidelines for low-level offenses so that probation is an option. The Pew Charitable Trusts, an organization that funds research and analysis, follows and reported on … [Read More...]
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents target illegal immigrants
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are targeting courthouses to arrest illegal immigrants, reports James Queally, of the LA Times. As President Trump’s political platform promised, ICE agents have ramped up their efforts to rid the nation of illegal aliens. According to Virginia Kice, an ICE spokeswoman, there are several reasons ICE agents have turned toward courthouse arrests. “In … [Read More...]
Legislation seeks to overturn law barring ex-offenders from obtaining professional licenses
Legislators in Illinois, Kentucky and Nebraska are seeking to overturn laws prohibiting ex-offenders from receiving many kinds of professional licenses. “Illinois is among a handful of states reconsidering their licensing rules...giving men and women...a chance...(and) it’s drawing support across the political spectrum as lawmakers try to get more people with criminal records into jobs,” the Pew … [Read More...]
Court rules against FCC price-caps on calls
Inmates’ families and advocates have lost another battle to place a cap on the price of in-state telephone calls made from prison. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit voted 2-1 to strike down regulations that would have prevented phone companies from charging high prices for intrastate phone calls made by inmates. “The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) … [Read More...]
Sanctuary Yes! Criminalization No!
Sanctuary cities, sanctuary campuses, sanctuary churches-we’re hearing these terms a lot in the news lately with the current administration’s all out attacks on immigrant communities. Sanctuary is defined as a place of refuge or protection, traditionally within a religious space or building. Now as President Trump promises to “Make America Great Again” by criminalizing immigrants and banning … [Read More...]
Palestinian prisoners protest conditions at Israel prison
Thousands of Palestinian prisoners are objecting to prison conditions at Ofer Prison, according to an article, “Israeli Extremists Taunt Hunger-Striking Palestinian Prisoners with BBQ,” by Mint Press News. Nearly a quarter of the Palestinian prisoners held by Israel are participating in the open-ended hunger strike, according to the Ma’an News. The inmates were taunted with the smell of barbecue … [Read More...]
Prisoners sew their lips shut in protest
A group of Afghan prisoners has sewn their lips closed to protest serving their sentences outside their home provinces, according to an online story by Ayesha Tanzeem at voanews.com. The movement started when 300 prisoners, who are being held just outside of Kabul, went on a hunger strike against a presidential decree that denies them the right to do their time near their homes and families. Of … [Read More...]
Accused give up their constitutional rights to dodge jail
“64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in pretrial custody because they cannot afford bail. Jail Profile Survey, http://www.bscc.ca.gov/ Many Californians accused of crimes give up their constitutional right to fight these charges because a guilty plea will get them out of jail. In a 2017 study by Human Rights Watch, “Prosecutors … [Read More...]
USC law students are changing the legal landscape for the incarcerated
Law school students are changing the legal landscape for the incarcerated serving life sentences in California. Inmates’ prison terms and life sentences are being altered under the direction of Professor Michael Brennan and co-director Heidi Rummel. They are with the University of Southern California Gould School of Law’s Post-Conviction Justice Project, said spokesperson Gillen Silsby in a recent … [Read More...]
Essie Justice Group advocates behind and outside the walls
Women whose lives have been impacted by having incarcerated loved ones banded together as a sisterhood called Essie Justice Group. During a visit to San Quentin State Prison, they talked about how they support each other without judgment and advocate for changing the system and the community. “64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in … [Read More...]
Body-worn cameras mean to catch bad behavior on both sides
Police departments across the country are using unreasonable force during interactions with people from minority communities. Even those who have or are perceived to have mental illness are targeted. A 2017 study by the Vera Institute of Justice stated, “Police departments are beginning to view body-worn cameras, the majority of which are typically placed on the upper placket of an officer’s … [Read More...]
Federal judge speaks against mandatory minimums
Retired federal Judge Shira A. Scheindlin reported that mandatory minimum sentencing made her feel more like a computer than a judge. “Mandatory minimums were almost always excessive, and they made me feel unethical, even dirty,” Scheindlin wrote in the Washington Post. Sentencing guidelines assign crimes a place on a grid. Seriousness of the crime, number, and nature of prior convictions produce … [Read More...]
Aug. 19th march will challenge 13th amendment practices
Historically, Black and Brown people have been especially affected by mass incarceration A major demonstration is scheduled for the nation’s capital to protest “the new slavery” in America — the use of free labor in prisons. The Millions for Prisoners Human Rights March is planned for Aug. 19, to challenge the rarely acknowledged exception clause in the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. … [Read More...]
Bipartisan members of Congress voice support for public safety and reducing recidivism
Numerous bipartisan members of Congress are urging continued support of three programs aimed at increasing public safety and reducing recidivism, the Justice Center reports. Ninety-two members of the House of Representatives urged continued funding for the Second Chance Act, signed into law in 2008. It has made more than 800 grants in 49 states to improve re-entry programs. Sixty-eight House … [Read More...]
SB620 would let judges waive gun enhancements
Senate Bill 620, currently before the California legislature, if passed, will provide judges the power to waive gun enhancements. Currently, gun enhancement laws, Penal Code 12022.5 and 12022.53, require mandatory additional terms of three years to 25-to-life for each victim. These enhancements often mean serving long consecutive sentences for crimes committed with a firearm. For example, an armed … [Read More...]
Public comments can help boost good-time credits
New plans to give time reduction credits for nearly every inmate statewide Thanks to a recent ballot measure, California will soon be drafting new plans to give time reduction credits for nearly every inmate statewide. Your voice could help shape those changes. “Once the draft regulations are published, there will be a 45-day written public comment period,” said Taina Vargas-Edmond, Founder and … [Read More...]
Texas sheriff scales back on immigrant deportation
Sheriff Sally Hernandez of Travis County, Texas, made good on her campaign promise of scaling back her cooperation with federal immigration officials to screen inmates for deportation, reports the Texas Tribune. “The public must be confident that local law enforcement is focused on local public safety, not on federal immigration enforcement,” Hernandez said. She said that her jail is not a place … [Read More...]
Law enforcement implements new use-of-force policy
Law enforcement agencies across the nation are being encouraged to employ a new use-of-force policy that stresses “de-escalation,” reports Tom Jackson of the Washington Post. A new model policy recommends that police departments declare “It is the policy of this law enforcement agency to value and preserve human life,” Jackson reported. The new policy states: An officer shall use de-escalation … [Read More...]
MAC is barred from intervening in inmates’ personal complaints
MAC Corner There are often incidents or situations that can disrupt the life of a state prisoner. At San Quentin, the men in blue have several options to address the issues that affect them. Mainliners often approach the Men’s Advisory Council (MAC.) Many are unaware that by state law, the MAC is an advisory body which acts as a liaison between prisoners and staff. By state law, the MAC is … [Read More...]
California Senate bill inmates receive contraceptives
California inmates will be allowed to receive contraceptives based on a new law. A California senate bill introduced by Sen. Holly Mitchell enables female prisoners to request contraceptives. The legislature passed senate bill 1433, and Governor Brown has signed it, reported the Los Angeles Sentinel’s online news service. “The state has both a principled and economic stake in supporting the … [Read More...]
Private prison industry to grow despite court rulings on conditions
The private prison industry is looking forward to an increase in business despite an earlier decision by the U.S. Justice Department to end the use of private prisons due to well-documented inhumane conditions and deaths, reports The Daily Beast. President Trump’s vow to lock up and deport all illegal immigrants signals a rebound for private prisons and detention centers, the Feb. 6 website story … [Read More...]
Millions of dollars await crime victims
Program tracks down 12,201, awards them $11.2 million. Because millions of dollars in collected restitution funds often go unclaimed by crime victims, Minnesota created the “Unknown Victims Unit” in 2010. It tracks down crime victims to get them their money, reported KARE 11 Investigates. State officials said that since the unit was created they have been able to locate 12,201 victims. They had … [Read More...]
Unreliable data impedes policy making
Incomplete and inconsistent data on Americans of Latin origin seriously hampers justice system policy making, according to The Urban Institute. “No one knows exactly how many Latinos are arrested each year or how many are in prison, on probation or on parole,” the Institute said in a report funded by the Public Welfare Foundation. This failure means Latinos are underrepresented in justice-system … [Read More...]
Call for Proposition 47 funds to be re-directed
California should use more of the millions of Proposition 47 savings to fund community groups that help addicts kick drug addiction and get off the streets, says a self-described third-generation convicted felon. Vonya Quarles seeks housing and employment programs for the nearly 4,700 people who have been re-sentenced and released from state prison as required by the passage of Proposition 47, … [Read More...]
U.S. has 5 percent of the world’s women but 30 percent of its female inmates
Female prison populations have been increasing rapidly in past decades. Explanations, according to several studies, often overlook many of the factors that contribute to this increase, rendering women’s sagas invisible. Numbers produced by the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics show that since 2010 the women corrections population has grown annually by an average rate of 3.4 … [Read More...]
Ireland takes a look at mothers in prison
In Ireland there is a clear need for incarcerated mothers to maintain children and family relationships, according to a National University of Ireland report cited in a Probation Journal article. “Being found guilty of a crime is not synonymous with being a bad parent. Also noted, there is no good reason to equate offending behavior with bad parenting,” authors Sinead O’Malley and Carmel Devaney … [Read More...]
A nation’s wealth does not spare women from violence
In eight of the world’s wealthiest countries, women undergo death by violence at rates as high, or higher, than men, despite declining levels of violence overall, according to the study, “A Gendered Analysis of Violent Deaths” done for the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In rich countries like Austria, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Slovenia and … [Read More...]
Only eight U.S. prisons allow infants with their mothers
Across the United States, there are just eight prisons that allow infants to remain with their mothers who are serving sentences. According to the Associated Press, Bedford Hills Correction Facility is a maximum security prison where 24-year-old Jennifer Dumas is serving a two-year sentence for attempted burglary along with her 6-month-old daughter, Codylynn. Dumas is one of 15 mothers and 16 … [Read More...]
Aboriginal women jailed for defending themselves
In Western Australia, Aboriginal women are being incarcerated at a high rate for responding with violence to unreported domestic abuse at home, according to “Violence in the Lives of Incarcerated Aboriginal Mothers in Western Australia,” a study by Mandy Wilson, et al., published in Sage Journal. In 2016, 51 percent of incarcerated Aboriginal women were in prison for violent offenses, compared to … [Read More...]
Firefighters receive more than praise from local ministry
Female inmates working at a Malibu fire camp annually receive donated gift bags from a local prison ministry. Members of Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Thousand Oaks collect cosmetic and hygiene items, candy, snacks, and other available treats and necessities for the women year-round, according to a Thousand Oaks Acorn article by Becca Whitnall. Each winter, the gift packages are put together … [Read More...]
Italy’s rehabilitation method: public interaction
Italian-style rehabilitation includes public interaction with prisoners to change attitudes about the incarcerated. And that’s served up with risotto and amuse-bouche dishes of cheese mousse with mustard, curry and dill, according to a March 2016 article in the New York Times. Italy is facing the same challenges as California with prison over-crowding. Italy repealed its harsh drug laws, which … [Read More...]
Unconstitutional policing conducted by US police departments
The country is engaged in a critically important conversation about community-police relations, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report. Some of the more than 18,000 police departments across the United States are engaging in unconstitutional policing, according to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Pattern and Practice Police Reform Work report published in January. Their … [Read More...]
Prisoners strike to end ‘prison slavery’
Inmates at dozens of prisons across the county were on strike calling for reform to end the practice of slavery in prison, The Intercept reported. “There are probably 20,000 prisoners on strike right now, at least, which is the biggest prison strike in history, but the information is really sketchy and spotty,” said Ben Turk, in September 2016. Turk represents the Incarcerated Workers Organizing … [Read More...]
California’s first Latino AG leads fight against presidential policies
California Gov. Jerry Brown has appointed Congressman Xavier Becerra to be the new California attorney general, reported The Guardian. Becerra is leading the state’s court battles with President Donald Trump over climate change, immigration and more, the newspaper story reported. Becerra is a 24-year veteran of Congress. He graduated from Stanford University with a law degree and also worked in … [Read More...]
Over $180 billion a year spent on mass incarceration
Half the money spent on running the correctional system goes to pay staff The system of mass incarceration costs the government and families at least $182 billion every year, according to a report by the Prison Policy Institute. “64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in pretrial custody because they cannot afford bail. Jail Profile … [Read More...]
Trump’s victory means private prison growth
Donald Trump’s presidential victory has breathed new life into the for-profit prison industry. After the Department of Justice announced phasing out privately run jails in August, shares in CoreCivic, formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), and GEO Group dropped, but the day after the election CoreCivic traded as much as 60 percent higher before settling to 34 percent, and GEO … [Read More...]
President’s deportation policy could increase prison population
America’s prison population is likely to rise for the first time in nearly a decade if President Donald Trump keeps his promise to detain and deport millions of immigrants, The Associated Press reports. Such a policy would benefit private for-profit prison companies, the story added. After Trump commented on immigrantion policies, their stock prices jumped, according to a Nov. 23 AP … [Read More...]
Mayors and police chiefs push back against deportation policies
Mayors and police chiefs are pushing back against President Donald Trump’s proposed deportation policies. “I don’t intend on doing anything different,” said Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “We are not going to engage in law enforcement activities solely based on somebody’s immigration status. We are not going to work in conjunction with Homeland … [Read More...]
Tehachapi gets upgrades with security and medical clinics
Tehachapi State Prison inmates may soon find themselves under new security cameras, according to a Tehachapi News article. “By knowing they (inmates) are on camera, they will generally be less likely to do something inappropriate” stated Lt. Brian Parriott. Due to an inspection of the prison, a Kern County Grand Jury recommended that California Correctional Institution (CCI) in Tehachapi repair … [Read More...]
Parents awarded $750,000 for wrongful death
There was a documented serious mental illness in Duran’s prison records The parents of an inmate were awarded $750,000 for their son’s wrongful death after he was pepper-sprayed by a correctional officer in 2013. When inmate Joseph Damien Duran refused to release the feed port to his cell, Officer Roy C. Chavez pepper-sprayed his face and neck. Duran was using a breathing tube in his throat at the … [Read More...]
Daughter sues CDCR over father’s negligent death
Hugo “Yogi” Pinell’s daughter is suing the California prison system, claiming her father was murdered because of negligent supervision, according to a Courthouse News article by Nick Cahill. Allegra Casimir-Taylor claims her father was “released into the general population despite the fact that they (prison officials) knew that he was targeted by other inmates. They were aware of multiple credible … [Read More...]
GEO Group to open re-entry center in SF’s Tenderloin District
The Geo Group, one of the largest prison companies in the United States, will open a third re-entry center in the Bay Area, reported SF Weekly. The new San Francisco SoMa facility joins the Male Community Re-entry Program and will house up to 80 inmates who are close to the end of their sentences and will be released in the Bay Area. They will be required to wear electronic ankle monitors at all … [Read More...]
Schools using Restorative Justice practices
American schools and criminal justice systems are using Restorative Justice (RJ) more and more as a remedy to keep people from going to prison, reports Rebecca Beitsch of Pew Charitable Trusts. Restorative Justice is a practice that originated in ancient cultures. Schools and courts are using it as an alternative to punishment. It’s designed to make offenders accountable for their crimes and bring … [Read More...]
Pope Francis supports clemency
In early November, Pope Francis appealed to world governments to mark the end of the Year of Mercy by extending clemency to deserving inmates, according to the National Catholic Reporter. “Every time I visit a prison, I ask myself: ‘Why them and not me?’ We can all make mistakes, all of us. And in one way or another, we have,” he said, departing from his prepared text, humanizing both himself and … [Read More...]
March 2017 News Briefs
1. Alaska — Lawmakers adopted a measure to limit prison growth and reduce recidivism, The Sentencing Project reports. The legislation expands alternatives to incarceration, reduces jail terms for misdemeanors, reclassifies drug possession as a misdemeanor, reduces felony-sentence ranges, expanded parole eligibility, streamlines releases for persons sentenced for first-time nonviolent offenses, and … [Read More...]
‘Debtors’ Prison’ policy scrapped
Due to a lawsuit filed last fall by the ACLU on behalf of Jayne Fuentes, the Benton County Commissioners of Richland, Wash., decided to end their “debtors’ prison” policy, reports Rick Anderson for the Los Angeles Times. The lawsuit was based on a U.S. Supreme Court precedent that bans the jailing of defendants for being too poor to pay a fine. Fuentes, who was convicted on three counts of minor … [Read More...]
Re-imagining new uses for shuttered prisons
Shuttered prisons across the nation are given new life by private developers, non-profits and community leaders as economic development and social benefit centers. “In recent years, entrepreneurs, elected officials and community leaders in a handful of states have re-imagined sites that once incarcerated prisoners for new uses,” The Sentencing Project reported in a December policy brief. Since … [Read More...]
Probe finds culture of racism at HDSP
At High Desert State Prison (HDSP) the correctional officers see the inmates as “little more than wild animals” reports Don Thompson for The Associated Press. “Black inmates were disproportionately likely to face discipline and use of force,” according to the AP. In 2015, the Inspectors General’s Office found there was a “culture of racism” created by officers. Corrections Secretary Scott Kernan … [Read More...]
PPI advocates for inmates’ well-being
When it comes to jail and prison procedures, the Prison Policy Initiative (PPI), an advocacy organization in Northampton, MA, has led the way in fighting for real changes in policies that affect the well-being of inmates. In its 2015-16 annual report, PPI celebrated successes. The organization led a campaign for legislation that would protect in-person visits in California jails and juvenile … [Read More...]
California tries once again to stamp out prison cell phones
After years of failure, California’s state prison system is taking a new approach to stamp out contraband cellphones. According to The Associated Press (AP), the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) is equipping its prisons with close to 1,000 scanners, metal detectors and “hidden” security cameras to curb the use of illegal cellphones. Among some of the new hardware to … [Read More...]
Survey finds crime victims want more say in convictions
In the past 10 years, one in four people in the U.S. has been a victim of a crime. A recent survey found crime victims wished for prosecutors to consider their opinion about what it takes to recover from the criminal acts committed against them, even if it resulted in fewer convictions. According to Crime Survivors Speak Report, such survivors also preferred that more resources be allocated toward … [Read More...]
Oak Glen firecamp reopens to house long-term jail inmates
Storied San Bernardino fire camp Oak Glen has signed a contract with the state to provide minimum-security beds for long-term jail inmates at the state’s 160-bed camp. Bill Sessa, a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) spokesperson, said the plan is part of new legislation aimed at reducing the prison population, according to an article by Harvey Kahn of IECN. “People … [Read More...]
Two views of how Prop. 47 is working out:
Positive: Barriers to employment were reduced Proposition 47 has allowed many former offenders access to better jobs and opportunities. The voter-approved initiative downgraded drug possession and some thefts from felonies to misdemeanors. “This wave of new workers will inevitably benefit the economy, but it also decreases the likelihood of re-arrest,” USA Today reported. “According to recidivism … [Read More...]
Employment still the biggest obstacle for parolees
One of the biggest obstacle prisoners face upon release is finding a job. This applies to both violent and nonviolent offenders. “Recently the American Bar Association estimated that there are 44,000 different barriers to re-entry at the state and federal level,” said Dominik Taylor, a staff attorney with Root and Rebound, an Oakland-based nonprofit organization that offers re-entry support. A … [Read More...]
Louisiana lacks funding in juvenile LWOP sentencing hearings
‘The state public defender’s budget has been “stagnant” at about $33 million’ Louisiana public defenders lack funding to represent life-without-parole (LWOP) juvenile offenders at sentencing hearings, the New Orleans Advocate reported. In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against laws mandating LWOP for juveniles as unconstitutional in Miller v. Alabama. Subsequent rulings made it retroactive. … [Read More...]