All Posts - Page 220 of 221

22 Jan Rehaif v US Defines “Knowingly” Under Federal Law

Posted at 09:01h in Ending Mass Incarceration

The U.S. Supreme Court addressed what the term "knowingly" means in a criminal statute in Rehaif v United States.

20 Jan U.S. Has First Execution of Woman since 1953 Though Mental Competency Questions Persisted

Posted at 10:53h in Death Sentences, Decriminalizing Mental Illness

In early 2021, the U.S. executed a woman for the first time since 1953. And they did the execution without a mental competency hearing. How?

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15 Jan Minimal Progress with Solitary Confinement in 2020

Posted at 09:47h in Decriminalizing Mental Illness, Emphasizing Rehabilitation, Ending Mass Incarceration, Prisons

While the end of 2019 held promise for solitary confinement reform, 2020 painted a less optimistic picture.

15 Jan HR 4488 is Latest move on Solitary Confinement

Posted at 09:15h in Decriminalizing Mental Illness, Emphasizing Rehabilitation, Ending Mass Incarceration, Prisons

The Solitary Confinement and Reform Act of 2019 seems doomed to the same fate that Richmond’s previous bills suffered. There is a clear and urgent need to establish national standards around the use of solitary confinement.

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29 Dec Voters Rejected California Cash Bail Reform in 2020

Posted at 21:37h in Cash Bail, Ending Mass Incarceration, Prisons

Californians could have made California the first state in the country to completely eliminate cash bail through reform. But its efforts stopped dead in their tracks in November 2020. CA voters rejected the move, opting instead for the system currently in place.

29 Dec North Carolina Courts Struggle with Mental Illness

Posted at 21:18h in Decriminalizing Mental Illness, Ending Mass Incarceration, Prisons

Mental illness cases involving diminished-capacity defenses are procedurally complex and often result in underwhelming outcomes. And justice reform and mental health advocates are often left wishing for more. Two recent North Carolina cases illustrate the “we can do better” mindset well.

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29 Dec Community Supervision Act Helps At-Risk Prisoners

Posted at 20:52h in Challenges After Release, Emphasizing Rehabilitation, Ending Mass Incarceration, Prisons, Supervised Release

Under the Emergency Community Supervision Act, the government would release vulnerable individuals from prison. Then, it would place them in community supervision while COVID-19 continues to present a national health emergency.

29 Dec First Step Act of 2018: Two Years Later

Posted at 19:39h in Emphasizing Rehabilitation, Ending Mass Incarceration, Mandatory Minimums, Prisons, Supervised Release

The First Step Act was a bipartisan project several years in the making. The goal of the bipartisan effort was simple but important. It aimed to reduce the number of people in federal prisons while maintaining public safety.

29 Dec Is a “Tone of Voice” Jury Challenge Race-Neutral?

Posted at 17:40h in Ending Mass Incarceration, Prosecutors

Defendants in criminal cases have a constitutional right to a jury of their peers. But courts have made it clear that they don't have the right to a jury of their own race. So, when a prosecutor strikes a juror for their “tone of voice,”

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29 Dec North Carolina Second Chance Act Joins National Trend of Justice Reform

Posted at 17:06h in Challenges After Release, Emphasizing Rehabilitation, Ending Mass Incarceration, Prisons

The North Carolina Second Chance Act gives people with nonviolent criminal records an opportunity to have misdemeanors and low-level felonies expunged from their records.