1. California (The Hill) – Governor Newsom says he will veto any bill that hinders current collaborations with ICE; that includes Assembly Bill 15, which prohibits the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from detaining, holding, providing release information, or transferring any individual to immigration authority or facility. Under Newsom’s governorship, over 10,000 people have been transferred into ICE custody after their prison sentences were completed.
2. Washington (The Seattle Times) – A new bill has been introduced to address the overcrowded prisons and cost per individual. The Judicial Discretion Act (House Bill 1125) empowers judges to have discretion when adjusting sentences. Qualifications to receive a modified sentence include ten years of incarceration, extensive rehabilitative efforts, and a low risk of recidivism. Officials in Washington’s State Department of Corrections noted that the overcrowding is affecting the delivery of programs and services.
3. Arizona (Arizona Capitol Times) – Two proposed bills provide for oversight of the state corrections system. House Bill 2553, introduced by Rep. Walt Blackman (R), would create the Independent Corrections Ombudsman. Sen. Shawnna Bolick’s (R) Senate Bill 1507 takes a look at the department’s budget and spending. John Fabricius, Dream.org organizer said oversight has been a long time coming. “We’re at the place where we cannot kick the can down the road anymore, and we have to do something different in terms of how we operate the Department of Corrections,” Fabricius said.
4. Texas (New York Daily News) – Elizabeth Holmes, founder of Theranos, said she wants to get involved in criminal justice reform post-prison. While in prison, Holmes is drafting a bill to reinforce the presumption of innocence. “This will be my life’s work, said Holmes. “Human beings are not made to be in cells.” Her scheduled release date is 2032. Holmes plans to return to the healthcare tech industry. “There is not a day I have not continued to work on my research and inventions, said Holmes.
5. Arkansas (Axios Arkansas) – High incarceration and crime rates, and overcrowding in prisons have prompted the filing of six bills. The bills propose to pull $100 million from the state’s sales taxes. The goal is to focus resources on reducing crime and to improve services for individuals post-release. Another bill would allow jails in neighboring counties to enter into partnership agreements to build or expand facilities in order to house the almost 2,000 people sentenced to prison as they await their transfer to prison.
6. Louisiana (Axios New Orleans) – A new state policy allows corrections officials to execute death row inmates using nitrogen gas. “We will carry out these sentences and justice will be dispensed,” said Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, who noted that the restart of executions is a “promise kept” for crime victims. The U.S. Supreme Court has denied appeals over the use of nitrogen gas.
7. Illinois (WTTW (PBS)) – A new order from Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke will remove over 82% of individuals with gun possession and other nonviolent charges from going to alternative programs. The Restorative Justice Community Courts have already lost half of their caseload due to the decision. Upon completion of the RJCC program, a charge would be dismissed and arrest and court records would be expunged. Removing the option of RJCC means people will be charged with a felony and face possible incarceration.
8. Ohio (The Ohio Capital Journal) – As state legislatures and governors are putting together their corrections budgets, they are having trouble balancing investments in public safety with slowing revenues. Pennsylvania’s budget proposes closing some facilities. The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in North Dakota has begun using a waitlist-style admissions system due to overcrowding in both prisons and jails. “Our population is exploding,” said Michele Zander, the department’s chief financial officer. “There’s no room, even in the county jails. It’s hard to find spots.”
9. Florida (First Coast News) – Highway Patrol troopers and Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers will be able to interrogate, arrest, detain, and transport people to ICE detention facilities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has offered to train and authorize troopers in “The Jail Enforcement Model” and “The Warrant Service Officer program” which will allow officers to enforce federal immigration orders during routine traffic stops.
10. Pennsylvania (Associated Press) – Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has proposed shutting down the Rockview state prison, which holds 2,100 people, and Quehanna boot camp, which holds 350 prisoners. The governor said the state will save over $100 million in the future with these closures. However, the union that represent the prison staff said “it will fight the closures and warned that closing two prisons will endanger officers and inmates.” The public will have the chance to chime in for two months before the final decision is made.
