criminal-justice-reform5.575 min read
"First Step Act Falls Short: Inmates Face Extended Sentences"
1 year ago•Source: NBC News
Criminal Justice Reform News
The latest criminal justice reform stories, summarized by AI
Featured Criminal Justice Reform Stories
View original source
2.225 min•2 years ago
Decades of Injustice: Black Man Finally Exonerated After Half a Century Behind Bars
Glynn Simmons, an innocent Black man, spent 50 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. He is now eligible for up to $175,000 in compensation from the state for his wrongful conviction, but a bill in Oklahoma aims to limit compensation to $50,000 for every year spent in prison. Simmons, who is currently battling cancer, is relying on GoFundMe donations to cover his living expenses and medical treatments. He plans to use his remaining time to advocate for reforming the criminal justice system and preventing others from experiencing the same injustice.
More Top Stories
2
NYC Takes Historic Step: Banning Solitary Confinement in Jails
NBC News•2 years ago
3
"Emotional Meek Mill witnesses historic probation reform bill signing in Pennsylvania"
New York Post •2 years ago
More Criminal Justice Reform Stories
"Meek Mill Joins PA Governor to Sign Historic Probation Reform Bill"
Rapper Meek Mill became emotional while discussing his personal experience on probation at the signing of a new probation reform bill in Pennsylvania. The bill aims to prevent minor technical violations from sending individuals on probation back to jail. Mill, who spent years on probation, shared how he risked going back to jail for technical violations such as taking his son to school across state lines. The legislation instructs judges to have a presumption against confinement for minor technical violations and emphasizes second chances. Mill's emotional speech highlighted the need for reform in the criminal justice system and his own journey to overcome the label of being a felon.
Michigan Implements Comprehensive Juvenile Justice Reforms
Michigan has enacted a package of 19 bipartisan bills aimed at transforming the state's juvenile justice system. The legislation focuses on keeping young offenders out of the court system and detention by providing more funding for community-based help, such as family counseling and mental health treatment. Other reforms include eliminating fines and fees for juvenile defendants, providing state funding for attorneys to represent young people who can't afford legal help, and establishing an Office of the Child Advocate to investigate complaints about juvenile justice facilities. The changes were recommended by a task force and are set to take effect on October 1.
Illinois Leads the Way: Abolishing Cash Bail to Address Racial Disparities
Illinois will become the first state to abolish cash bail as a condition of pretrial release, with the Pretrial Fairness Act taking effect on September 18. The new law aims to address the disproportionate impact of cash bail on communities of color, as studies have shown that Black and Latino individuals tend to receive higher bail amounts than their white counterparts. Critics argue that cash bail policies perpetuate an unfair system, while proponents claim it ensures defendants show up for court. The change in Illinois has faced opposition from law enforcement, but supporters hope it will lead to a more equitable criminal justice system.
Behind Bars: The Masterminds of San Quentin's Artistic Renaissance
ForwardThis Productions, the first film and TV production job training program located inside San Quentin State Prison, is providing incarcerated men with the opportunity to learn filmmaking skills and tell their own stories. The program aims to disrupt the cycle of recidivism by offering employment training and image-shaping, with the goal of creating a pipeline for incarcerated individuals to find jobs in the industry. The initiative has attracted support from Hollywood figures and is part of a larger effort to transform San Quentin into a rehabilitation center. The men in ForwardThis are using their firsthand experience to challenge stereotypes and create authentic portrayals of prison life through their films.
"Over 122K prisoners held in solitary confinement in U.S. per new report"
A new report by Solitary Watch and Unlock the Box, based on the most recently available government data, estimates that about 122,840 people in federal and state adult prisons and federal and local jails were placed in restrictive housing, or solitary confinement, for 22 hours or more on a given day in mid-2019, amounting to about 6% of the total U.S. prison and jail population at the time. The report is the first of its kind and aims to become a benchmark for tracking the practice, as cities, states, and the federal government weigh how to limit its use. The report also highlights the disproportionate impact of solitary confinement on Black, brown, and Indigenous people.
Calls for Bail Reform After Release of Ralph Yarl Shooting Suspect
The release of Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man charged with shooting a Black teenager, has prompted calls for bail reform in Missouri. Lester was able to pay $20,000 and be released within the same afternoon, while the vast majority of people in jail in Clay County are there awaiting trial. Advocates argue that cash bail upholds racism and white supremacy, criminalizes being poor, and inflates jail populations. Critics want to see changes to Missouri's cash-bail system, including the elimination of cash bail and a shift towards risk-based assessments. Illinois became the first state to eliminate cash bonds in 2022.
Zoom Leads to Reinstatement of Adnan Syed's Murder Conviction
An appeals court in Maryland has temporarily reinstated the conviction of Adnan Syed, the subject of the first season of the podcast Serial, for the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee. The decision was made due to a procedural error that denied Lee's family the opportunity to attend the hearing in person. The court's ruling requires a redo of the original hearing, which is unlikely to change the ultimate outcome as prosecutors have already dropped all charges against Syed. The case highlights the importance of prioritizing victims' rights in the criminal justice system.
"California's New Vision for San Quentin: From Prison to Rehabilitation Center"
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced plans to transform San Quentin prison into a rehabilitation center, with a focus on restorative justice and preparing inmates for reentry into society. The facility will be renamed the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and the more than 500 inmates serving death sentences there will be moved elsewhere. The plan is part of a decades-long transformation of the state’s sprawling prison system, which went under federal receivership in 2005 after a court determined prison medical care was so lacking it amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. Newsom is allocating $20 million to launch the plan and hopes to complete it by 2025.
Newsom unveils new vision for San Quentin State Prison after acknowledging past failures.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced a $20 million plan to transform San Quentin State Prison from a maximum-security prison into a rehabilitation and education center. The plan aims to reduce recidivism rates in the state and improve public safety. The prison will be renamed San Quentin Rehabilitation Center and will borrow rehabilitation practices from places such as Norway. An advisory group made up of criminal justice, rehabilitation, and public safety experts will advise the state on the transformation. The plan is building off the success of other rehabilitation programs in San Quentin, which is known for its own accredited liberal arts degree program, a popular podcast "Ear Hustle," and the inmate-produced newspaper the San Quentin News.
San Quentin prison to undergo rehabilitation-focused transformation.
California Governor Gavin Newsom plans to transform San Quentin prison into a rehabilitation center for less-dangerous prisoners, where they will receive education, training, and rehabilitation. The facility will be renamed the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center, and the more than 500 inmates serving prison sentences there will be moved elsewhere in the California penitentiary system. The move follows Newsom's 2019 moratorium on executions and dismantling of the prison's gas chamber, as well as his 2022 announcement that some inmates would be moved from San Quentin to other prisons. The plan is inspired by Norway's approach to incarceration, which focuses on preparing people to return to society and reducing recidivism.