A Republican congressman introduced a bill to end life-without-parole and defacto life sentences for children in the federal criminal justice system. The bill, known as HR 6011, was introduced by congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.), according to an opinion piece published on September 16 in The Hill by Marc Levin (vice president of criminal justice policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and its Right on Crime initiative) and Jody Kent Lavy (executive director of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth). “Should it pass, HR … [Read more...] about HR 6011 a bill to end children’s life without parole
life sentence
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 sentences and who were later denied release by the state parole board eventually took their cases to court and successfully gained their … [Read more...] about Courts may be better than parole board at determining parolee risk
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 introspección personal de su[s] crimen [es]. Esta examinación debe incluir: asumir responsabilidad, mostrar remordimiento y hacer … [Read more...] about Como expresar remordimiento
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 United States Constitution. Johnson, who was released back into the general prison over a year ago, after a U.S. district court judge ordered … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania $325,000 for 37 years in solitary