- Texas (The New York Times) – The day before his scheduled execution, Robert Roberson was summoned to testify in front of the house committee. Roberson’s lawyers say he did not kill his 2-year-old daughter. The summons to the legislative branch was the first time an execution was halted. The Texas Supreme Court found that legislators had acted outside the scope of their power, which clears the way for Roberson’s execution to proceed.
- Oklahoma (News On 6) – The Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Advisory Council reported in September that Oklahoma County Jail populations are the lowest since the 1990s. The new restoration center and diversion hub are two reasons for the decrease. City police have also increased their “cite and release” practices. “All of those things together, along with the behavioral care center and new jail, are going to give us so many more options on diverting people away from incarceration and into treatment and accountability programs…,” said Timothy Tardibono, executive director of the advisory council.
- Minnesota (Associated Press) – A man convicted of murder and sentenced to life was found innocent after serving 16 years. Edgar Barrientos- Quintana was released after the Conviction Review Unit found key evidence that exonerated him. “Nothing can give Mr. Barrientos-Quintana back those 16 years, and for that, we are so sorry,” said Mary Moriarty, an attorney for Barrientos-Quintana.
- Missouri (Associated Press) – A Missouri man was executed for murdering a woman in 1998, even though her family and the prosecutor objected. Marcellus Williams’s attorney noted bias in his trial’s jury selection and the handling of evidence in the case. However, Governor Mike Parson (R) said the case had “languished for decades, revictimizing Ms. Gayle’s family over and over again.” NAACP President Derrick Johnson noted that the execution was another lynching of an innocent Black man.
- Alabama (Associated Press) – Federal oversight is being almost completely discontinued at Julia Tutwiler Prison in Wetumpka after nine years. “I am thankful for the men and women who are dedicated to our mission,” said John Hamm, a commissioner with Alabama Department of Corrections. Known violations at the prison were disregard of the ban on cruel and unusual punishment, according to a federal lawsuit, which called state officials “deliberately indifferent” to the problems. The Alabama Department of Corrections disputed the allegations in both cases.
- South Carolina (Associated Press) – The state Supreme Court issued an order to cease issuing death warrants until January 3 in recognition of the holidays. “Six consecutive executions with virtually no respite will take a substantial toll on all involved, particularly during a time of year that is so important to families,” according to a lawyer for the inmates. However representatives for the state declared that executions during the holidays have happened in the past, including five executions between December 1998 and January 1999.
- Pennsylvania (The New York Times) – Investigators uncovered harassment of employees, and substandard healthcare at one of the country’s busiest medium-security transport hubs, run by the federal Bureau of Prisons. The report also uncovered violations of policy and standard medical practices, including patients taken off antidepressants without a doctor’s consultation, noted the report. The bureau’s director Colette S. Peters noted changing from a standard lockup to a transfer hub has major impacts on staff positions at the facility, but the matter is being investigated.
- New York (The New York Times) – A Federal Judge in New York gave the Department of Correction leaders an order demanding them to produce a plan of receivership for the violent and dangerous Rikers Island complex. Attorney Alan Howard Scheiner, a lawyer for the corrections department, noted the progress made over the past year. However, Judge Laura Taylor Swain gave the department 45 days to come up with a vision of receivership, because lives of staff and residents “continue to be in danger.”
- New York (WABCEyewitness News) – A new law seals the records of some people with felony convictions eight years after their release from incarceration. Only certain crimes qualify; the exceptions are crimes of sex, murder convictions, and Class A felonies. Sealing the records will allow people the chance of finding employment. “The best crime-fighting tool is a good-paying job,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. Individuals with a misdemeanor can have their record sealed either three years after their conviction or release from prison.
