Maryland (Associated Press) – A wrongful conviction costed the state $3 million. Governor Wes Moore offered up an apology to the man who served 31 years in prison. “On behalf of the entire state, I’m sorry for the failure of the justice system, More said. A law judge also found that the man is entitled to the current median household income or $94,991 in addition to the nearly $3 million dollars for thefalse imprisonment.
Illinois (The New York Times) – 90 adults who were detained as juveniles claim guards sexually abused them according to a state lawsuit. Jerome Block, a lawyer for the plaintiffs hope these lawsuits lead to criminal charges. “Our clients more than anything want the sexual abuse in juvenile detention centers to stop,” said Block. The department of Juvenile Justice said that they are taking the accusation seriously, bt had no comment on active litigation.
New Hampshire (Associated Press) – New legislation aims to require certain violent felons to go before a judge to aquire a name change. The bill will provide victims and family members a voice in the matter. “As a mom it was a big safety concern to me to think that somebody could commit a violent felony, murder somebody, and then just go ahead and change their name, said Rep. Katelyn Kuttab who drafted the bill. Changing a name becomes complicated when it decreases a person’s right to move on after paying for their crime, according to the report.
Georgia (Associated Press) – The state of Georgia is requiring jailers to check immigration status to provide assist the federal immigration law. The bill was signed into law stating officials check with ICE to see if prisoners are illegal. “If you enter our country illegally and proceed to commit further crimes in our communities, we will not allow your crimes to go unanswered,” said Governor Brian Kemp. Local jails will also be required to apply for a 287(g) agreement with ICE eventhough President Joe Biden’s administration has been relaxed toward the program. According to the report, judges still have discretion to set low bail based on the person’s ability to pay as per the current law.
California (The Sacramento Bee) – Prosecutors aree that by bringing people home from prisons can make communities safer. As of this year Assembly Bill 2942 has allowed close to 500 people to be reunited with their families and resentenced. The bill does automatically grant re-sentencing, however a judge still reviews several factors including people working hard to better themselves, remorseful, focusing on education and vacation, along with leadership programs while incarcerated. “By bringing home more people who deserve a second chance, we can build safer, stronger communities across California for generations to come,” the article said.
Philadelphia (The Philadelphia Inquirer) – A death row man received $16 million dollars after spending 25 years in solitary confinement. A judge called his conviction a “grave miscarriage of justice”. Of the $16M payout three million was ordered from two detectives the jury found “engaged in malicious or wanton misconduct”. Lawyers for Jimmy Dennis claim his plead deal came after years of torture. “It is an unspeakably horrible experience, said Dennis’s lawyer Paul Messing. Adding that he “don’t know how he and others have survived it.
New York (NBC New York) – Body cameras worn by employees in New York City’s Department of Correction have been haulted after one caught fire and burned a captain working in The Rikers Island facility. The suspended model is Vievu LE-5. “The safety of our staff is paramount, which is why I am removing all body-worn cameras from service out of an abundance of caution while we investigate,” said Corrections Commissioner Lynelle Maginley-Liddie.
Washington (Associated Press) – The federal Health and Human Services Department informed a change in legal status of medical marijuana. The move will allow marijuana to fall into a lesser regulated category after being reviewed by the White House. However President Joe Biden asked HHS to review the classification level “where appropriate, consistent with medical and scientific evidence,” according to Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary.
Schedule three drugs are more accessible for studies, but there are still barriers but some researchers are optimistic. “Reducing the schedule to schedule three will open up the door for us to be able to conduct research with human subjects with cannabis” said Susan Ferguson, director of University of Washington’s Addictions, Drugs & Alcohol Institute in Seattle.
