Washington County Jury Acquits Joshua George in Son’s Death Case
After a four-day trial, a Washington County jury found Joshua George not guilty of homicide, aggravated assault and child endangerment in the 2021 death of his 6-month-old son, Oliver.
Vanguard social justice articles involving criminal justice reform
Advocates Sue Trump Administration over Policy of Re-Arresting Immigrants without Legal Justification
Civil rights advocates have filed a federal class-action lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing immigration officials of unlawfully re-arresting and detaining immigrants who were previously released after being determined not to be dangerous or flight risks.
Georgia Man Challenges Indictment after County Clerk Charged with Destroying Records
Federick Donyell Woodard, an inmate at Smith State Prison in Georgia, has filed a legal motion challenging his indictment in Cobb County after the county’s court clerk was criminally charged with destroying government records, arguing that the indictment is void due to missing records, withheld evidence, and other misconduct.
Steinberg Institute Releases Progress Report on Vision 2030 Plan
The Steinberg Institute released its yearly progress report for Vision 2030, an ambitious plan to transform California’s mental health and substance use care systems, which hosted a symposium, launched an Ideas to Action convening series, and recognized individuals through its Champions program.
California Ends ‘Endless Probation’ for Youth under Landmark Reform Bill AB 1376
Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1376 into law, which imposes new limits on juvenile probation terms, mandates individualized case plans, and introduces mechanisms to prevent young people from being trapped in cycles of prolonged supervision.
Recall Effort against Contra Costa DA Diana Becton Unsuccessful
The campaign to recall Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton has ended after organizers missed a key filing deadline, reaffirming her commitment to equitable public safety and highlighting the resistance to systemic change in the justice system.
Florida Pushes for Death Penalty for Child Rapists, Defying Supreme Court Ruling
Florida is leading a coalition of 15 state attorneys general urging Attorney General Pam Bondi to support executions for pedophiles, in defiance of the 2008 Kennedy v. Louisiana Supreme Court ruling that bars the death penalty for child rapists.
ACLU Claims Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Misled Public with False Reports
The ACLU released a report alleging that the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office misled the public by inflating the costs of court-ordered reforms, falsely attributing unrelated expenses to a long-running civil rights case.
Poll Shows Pennsylvania Voters Prefer Life Imprisonment to Death Penalty
A new poll shows that Pennsylvanians overwhelmingly prefer life sentences to the death penalty for people convicted of murder, and express little to no faith in the government’s ability to fairly administer executions.
Reisig Among 30 California District Attorneys Opposing Proposition 50
30 district attorneys from California have publicly opposed Proposition 50, arguing that it would dismantle the state’s independent redistricting system and allow partisan gerrymandering to return.
Texas Court Steps In to Prevent Possible Wrongful Execution of Robert Roberson
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has stayed the October 16 execution of Robert Leslie Roberson III, a Palestine man sentenced to death for the 2002 death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, while ordering further evidentiary review in light of new scientific and legal developments.
Report Uncovers Flaws in Parole Boards Across 35 States
The Prison Policy Initiative released a report revealing flaws in parole boards across 35 states, showing that releases are declining due to systemic injustice in the parole process.
First Women’s Class Graduates from California’s Sole In-Person Prison Bachelor’s Program
23 incarcerated women at the California Institution for Women received bachelor’s degrees through Cal State LA’s Prison Graduation Initiative, marking the first women’s cohort to graduate from the state’s only in-person prison bachelor’s degree program.
Trump Administration Faces New Backlash over Retaliation against Associated Press
The ACLU has released a report detailing the Trump administration’s alleged retaliation against the Associated Press for refusing to adopt the administration’s preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico, warning that such actions place the US “in dangerous company”.
Op-ed | The Evidence That Building Community Makes Prisons Safer
The Restoring Promise initiative, a partnership between the South Carolina Department of Corrections and Vera, has created housing units in South Carolina prisons that foster dignity, accountability, and healing, resulting in a 73% decrease in violent infractions and an 83% decrease in stays in solitary confinement.
Pamela Price Unfiltered: Episode 30 | Unmasking Charlie Kirk, Political Prosecutions, and the New DA
Activist George Galvis joins Pamela Price to discuss double standards in the justice system, while Pamela breaks down Trump’s weaponization of the Department of Justice and unmasks the hypocrisy of right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.
Drug Diversion Programs in US Often Punish Rather than Rehabilitate
Drug diversion programs in the US often function as systems of punishment rather than rehabilitation, disproportionately affecting low-income individuals, people of color, and those with severe illnesses.
Austin Police Reexamine 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders after Wrongful Convictions Overturned
Robert Eugene Brashers has been identified as the sole suspect in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, and two men who were previously wrongfully convicted have had their convictions overturned.
Governor Newsom Signs Restitution First Act Into Law
Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1213, the Restitution First Act, into law, which prioritizes restitution to victims of crime ahead of fines, fees, or other debts owed by people convicted of crimes.
Op-ed | Why Victims of Domestic Violence Stay
A mother recounts her traumatic experience of losing custody of her children to an abusive father, due to the false accusations of a court-appointed evaluator, Dr. Mark Kilmer, and the lack of accountability of the judicial system.