Courtney Teasley, an attorney and activist, has dedicated her career to disrupting the legal system and empowering communities to fight for justice, having witnessed firsthand the system’s inadequacies while growing up in East Nashville during the crack epidemic.
North Carolina lawmakers are set to consider legislation to roll back cash bail reform, while Texas is also considering legislation to limit pretrial release and ban cash bail for certain violent offenses.
Yolo County prosecutors are opposing California’s compassionate release law, which provides a humane safeguard for terminally ill or permanently incapacitated people, while advocates argue that it is necessary to protect public health and dignity.
Autism advocacy groups, exonerees, and experts are urging Texas to halt the October 16 execution of Robert Roberson, an Autistic man convicted under the discredited “Shaken Baby Syndrome” hypothesis, citing overwhelming medical evidence that his daughter died from illness, improperly prescribed medications, and accident.
The US incarcerates women at higher rates than nearly every country in the world, with South Dakota having the highest rate, surpassing every country in the world.
A judge released a woman on her own recognizance after she had already served nearly as much time as the sentence would require, citing her past trauma and opportunities for rehabilitation programs in multiple counties.
The Everyday Injustice podcast discusses the detrimental effects of court fines and fees, which create a “hidden tax” on low-income communities and destabilize government budgets, with experts from the Fines and Fees Justice Center calling for sustainable, equitable funding to replace the current system.
The House of Representatives has passed multiple bills that threaten youth justice reforms in Washington, D.C., which could lead to increased racial disparities and make the community less safe.
A San Francisco judge ruled that the teen accused of shooting and attempting to rob 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will remain in juvenile court, rejecting the District Attorney’s effort to transfer the case to adult court.
A Yolo County Superior Court judge approved a request to move an unhoused man’s probation meetings from Sacramento to Yolo County due to transportation barriers, while still requiring him to serve 30 days in county jail for his violation.
At UC Berkeley School of Law, a documentary film screening and panel discussion explored the intersections of childhood trauma, incarceration, and the possibilities of healing, emphasizing the power of narrative in reshaping justice policy.
The ACLU of Kansas is urging lawmakers to expand the use of no-cash bail, arguing that the current system unfairly punishes low-income communities, while President Donald Trump is pushing for a nationwide ban on cashless bail.
The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is set to review and vote on a package of bills that could strip Washington, D.C., of control over its criminal legal system, impose intrusive federal authority and deliver longer, harsher sentences, even for children.
Adam Clausen, after being sentenced to 213 years in federal prison, has emerged as a national leader advocating for justice reform and second chances, using his story to inspire change and promote a justice system focused on restoration.
The ACLU is condemning President Trump’s executive orders aimed at dismantling Washington, D.C.’s cash bail reform, calling the actions unconstitutional, harmful to public safety, and a gift to the bail bond industry.
California legislators and formerly incarcerated firefighters are urging swift passage of the “Firefighting to Freedom” legislative package, which aims to increase pay, provide benefits, and create career opportunities for those who risk their lives battling the state’s wildfires while incarcerated.
California’s reentry programs have been credited with lowering recidivism rates by 34% for men and 44% for women, while the state has invested $1.7 billion to combat crime and increase police hiring.
The Fines and Fees Justice Center report warns that government reliance on court fines and fees is both unjust and financially unstable, creating lasting harm for individuals and undermining public budgets.
Military veterans and capital defense attorneys are urging Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to stop the execution of veterans on Florida’s death row, including Kayle Bates, who is scheduled to be executed on August 19th, citing the fact that veterans are twice as likely to be on death row as the general population due to their service-related mental health issues.
Byron Black, a 69-year-old man with an intellectual disability, was executed by the state of Tennessee despite strong public opposition to the death penalty for people with intellectual disabilities, highlighting the moral bankruptcy of the system.