13 Jun Excluding People With Criminal Records from Serving on Juries
The danger of racially homogenous juries is well-documented, but laws that exclude people with criminal records from serving on a jury whitewash juries by default.
Author: Ronnie K. Stephens
09 Jun Pride and the History of Police Violence Against LGBTQ Communities
Pride may have its origins in an event that transpired more than 50 years ago, but community members continue to experience brutality and discrimination from police departments.
03 Jun Explainer: People with Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System
Incarceration rates for people with disabilities far exceed incarceration rates for the general public. This is especially true for those with cognitive disabilities, and disproportionately affects people of color with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are also more vulnerable to police violence, and to sexual assault
28 May Trauma and Abuse of Incarcerated Juveniles in American Prisons
According to the Children’s Defense Fund, the American justice system arrests and detains almost 2,000 people under the age of 18 every single day. In 2018, more than 700,000 children were arrested. On any given night, facilities house over 40,000 children and about 1,000 are
25 May George Floyd and Criminal Justice Reform: One Year Later
On May 25, 2020 former officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. Video of the incident sparked nationwide protests and public demand for justice reform. One year later, Floyd’s name has become synonymous with criminal justice reform, from new laws that ban chokeholds to omnibus bills
24 May Explainer: Incarceration Rates vs. Crime Rates
Based on recent research, though, high incarceration rates have little impact on crime rates. Lower incarceration rates do, however, correlate to lower crime rates.
23 May Los Angeles’ New D.A. Is Leading Local Justice Reform from the Front
Former police officer George Gascón set himself apart early in his career. Now, Gascón is serving as the Los Angeles District Attorney, where he can help set policy.
20 May JONES V. MISSISSIPPI Upholds Life Without Parole for Children
The United States Supreme Court denied the appeal of Brett Jones,. Jones killed his grandfather in self-defense when he was 15 years old. The opinion, delivered by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, stands for the proposition that judges should have discretion to sentence youth offenders as they
14 May Explainer: The School to Prison Pipeline and What It Costs Our Youth
The school to prison pipeline perpetuates mass incarceration and generational trauma, and it disproportionately affects students of color.
14 May Explainer: The Cycle of Intergenerational Incarceration
Intergenerational incarceration is a term used to describe when family members from more than one generation enter the justice system. For example, a father and son who both spend time in prison experience intergenerational incarceration.