The California Racial Justice Act (RJA) is a meaningful step toward addressing racial discrimination in the criminal legal system, but remains inadequate as a tool for confronting deeply rooted structural inequities, according to Alex Frank, Race Forward’s Director of Root Solutions for Public Safety.
The Innocence Project released a new short film, “What I Didn’t Know,” which documents the emotional and practical challenges exonerees face as they rebuild their lives after decades of wrongful incarceration.
A New Way of Life Reentry Project will host a ceremony to honor graduates of its Career Bridge Initiative, celebrating system-impacted individuals pursuing stability, employment, and opportunity after incarceration.
The Sentencing Project has released a new study warning that U.S. prisons are increasing their incarcerated populations despite falling crime rates, and that reducing sentence lengths and investing in community-based violence prevention and reentry support is necessary to reverse this trend.
One year after California voters passed Proposition 36, Los Angeles County Public Defender Ricardo Garcia has warned that the measure has failed to address the root causes of addiction and poverty, and has instead led to increased incarceration and racial inequities in the justice system.
The July edition of the Vanguard Incarcerated Press features stories from incarcerated individuals that expose the cruelty of the prison system and highlight the resilience of those who endure it, while also advocating for free speech, human rights, and prison reform.
Vera’s research reveals that ICE is detaining more than 59,000 people across the US, with 17 private facilities holding over 1,000 people per day and 2 facilities exceeding 2,000 people, and the Trump administration has allocated an unprecedented $45 billion for detention and $30 billion for additional enforcement.
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.
The Prison Policy Initiative has released a report showing that neurodivergent youth are disproportionately confined and experience higher rates of assault by staff, and are more likely to be funneled into the criminal legal system than receive the care they need.
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.
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.
Mass incarceration is a costly and ineffective response to crime, and decarceration can help reduce the carceral system’s footprint and allow for investment in resources and services that improve health and safety.
Kara Gotsch, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project, discusses the ongoing challenges and progress of ending mass incarceration in the US, advocating for capping sentences at 20 years and emphasizing the importance of storytelling to reframe justice as restoration.
Despite significant progress in the US juvenile justice system, some states are regressing towards harsher practices due to sensationalist media coverage and public fear, leading to stricter consequences for young offenders.
Proposition 36, a voter-approved initiative aimed at increasing penalties for repeat theft and drug offenses, has been criticized for its lack of funding, disproportionate impact on racial and geographic disparities, and failure to provide treatment options, leading to increased incarceration and strain on local justice systems.
Decarceration is the most effective way to reduce the health burdens associated with incarceration, as it can decrease mortality rates by 39% and overdose deaths by 208%.
FWD.us released a report finding that mass incarceration in the US is driving families into poverty and limiting economic mobility, with families spending an average of $4,195 annually on communication and caregiving expenses.
The majority of people who commit crimes will stop doing so as they age, and the U.S. imposes life sentences on a staggering scale, making it difficult to justify the costs of keeping people locked up for decades.
Author Andrew Brininstool’s forthcoming book High Desert Blood tells the story of the 1980 New Mexico prison riot, which left 33 people dead and exposed systemic neglect in the correctional system, with the aim of ensuring this dark chapter is not forgotten and not repeated.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman is filing felony charges under Proposition 36, which will lead to a flood of low-level cases in the courts, jails, and prisons, disproportionately affecting Black, Brown, and unhoused residents, while Governor Gavin Newsom has refused to fund the enforcement of the measure.