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You can change federal sentences for crack cocaine. Click here
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New at The Sentencing Project
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July 03, 2008
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Disenfranchisement News
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Michigan: Officials' Misunderstanding Leads to Misinformed, Nonvoting Citizens
Tennessee: Lawsuit Aims to Strike Down “Poll Tax,” Restore Rights
National: “Illogical System” in Florida In Need of “Complete Overhaul”
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Michigan: Officials' Misunderstanding Leads to Misinformed, Nonvoting Citizens
Tennessee: Lawsuit Aims to Strike Down “Poll Tax,” Restore Rights
National: “Illogical System” in Florida In Need of “Complete Overhaul”
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July 03, 2008
(New York Times)
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Don’t Teach Our Children Crime
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Citing last year's report released by the Campaign for Youth Justice which found that as many as 150,000 young people under the age of 18 are held in adult jails in any given year, the New York Times published an editorial supporting the reauthorization of a law that bars states from housing children in adult jails.
“Jailing and criminalizing young Americans causes a lot more crime than it punishes or prevents," the editorial states. "This bill represents an important step toward rational and compassionate justice for troubled children.”
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Citing last year's report released by the Campaign for Youth Justice which found that as many as 150,000 young people under the age of 18 are held in adult jails in any given year, the New York Times published an editorial supporting the reauthorization of a law that bars states from housing children in adult jails.
“Jailing and criminalizing young Americans causes a lot more crime than it punishes or prevents," the editorial states. "This bill represents an important step toward rational and compassionate justice for troubled children.”
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July 02, 2008
(New York Times)
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Not Winning the War on Drugs
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The next administration should be more focused on curbing demand by spending more on treatment and less on imprisonment, a New York Times editorial suggests. “Overall, drug abuse must be seen more as a public health concern and not primarily a law enforcement problem,” the Times states. “Until demand is curbed at home, there is no chance of winning the war on drugs.” The Times disputes White House officials' claims that the U.S. is winning the war on drugs, citing the amount of cocaine that is shipped through Latin America to the U.S. and Europe and government spending on drug-related law enforcement.
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The next administration should be more focused on curbing demand by spending more on treatment and less on imprisonment, a New York Times editorial suggests. “Overall, drug abuse must be seen more as a public health concern and not primarily a law enforcement problem,” the Times states. “Until demand is curbed at home, there is no chance of winning the war on drugs.” The Times disputes White House officials' claims that the U.S. is winning the war on drugs, citing the amount of cocaine that is shipped through Latin America to the U.S. and Europe and government spending on drug-related law enforcement.
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June 30, 2008
(POV)
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PBS Broadcasts "Election Day" Documentary Featuring Disenfranchisement
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 On PBS tomorrow at 10 p.m., POV will broadcast "Election Day," a film by Katy Chevigny that combines 11 stories - shot simultaneously on November 2, 2004, from dawn until long past midnight - into one. A segment of the documentary highlights felon disenfranchisement with formerly incarcerated New York City resident Leon Batts who just regained his right to vote. Preparing to cast his first ballot, Batts sees his vote as one representing all individuals denied the right because of a felony conviction. But Batts finds casting a vote more problematic than he anticipated.
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On PBS tomorrow at 10 p.m., POV will broadcast "Election Day," a film by Katy Chevigny that combines 11 stories - shot simultaneously on November 2, 2004, from dawn until long past midnight - into one. A segment of the documentary highlights felon disenfranchisement with formerly incarcerated New York City resident Leon Batts who just regained his right to vote. Preparing to cast his first ballot, Batts sees his vote as one representing all individuals denied the right because of a felony conviction. But Batts finds casting a vote more problematic than he anticipated.
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June 30, 2008
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Annual Conference of Mayors Adopts Youth Intervention Resolutions
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The annual Conference of Mayors was held in Miami, FL June 20-24. Two resolutions were adopted, one introduced by Mayor of Baltimore, MD, Sheila Dixon and the second introduced by Mayor of Trenton, NJ, Doug Palmer, which adds to the growing support for prevention and intervention strategies to address youth gangs. Like Rep. Bobby Scott's Youth PROMISE Act, these resolutions argue for evidence-based approaches to address youth crime.
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The annual Conference of Mayors was held in Miami, FL June 20-24. Two resolutions were adopted, one introduced by Mayor of Baltimore, MD, Sheila Dixon and the second introduced by Mayor of Trenton, NJ, Doug Palmer, which adds to the growing support for prevention and intervention strategies to address youth gangs. Like Rep. Bobby Scott's Youth PROMISE Act, these resolutions argue for evidence-based approaches to address youth crime.
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June 28, 2008
(New York Times)
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Unlikely Allies on a Former Wedge Issue
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Merging together faith and public policy, former Virginia attorney general Mark Earley has converted from a “tough-on-crime crusader to an advocate for prison reform and a prominent critic of the very type of drug laws he had formerly promoted,” according to a New York Times religion article. Now president of Prison Fellowship Ministries, Earley advocates on behalf of criminal justice reform, including mandatory minimum sentencing and the crack cocaine disparity.
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Merging together faith and public policy, former Virginia attorney general Mark Earley has converted from a “tough-on-crime crusader to an advocate for prison reform and a prominent critic of the very type of drug laws he had formerly promoted,” according to a New York Times religion article. Now president of Prison Fellowship Ministries, Earley advocates on behalf of criminal justice reform, including mandatory minimum sentencing and the crack cocaine disparity.
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June 27, 2008
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Disenfranchisement News
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Virginia: Governor Receptive to Disenfranchisement Reform for those Charged with Non-violent Offenses
Florida: To the Governor, Congrats … and Continue On
Massachusetts: Voting Not a “Privilege for the Virtuous”
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Virginia: Governor Receptive to Disenfranchisement Reform for those Charged with Non-violent Offenses
Florida: To the Governor, Congrats … and Continue On
Massachusetts: Voting Not a “Privilege for the Virtuous”
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June 26, 2008
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Do More Prisoners Equal Less Crime?
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In a recent syndicated column ("More Prisons, Less Crime"), commentator George Will argues that the world record incarceration rate in the United States has produced safer streets and has been beneficial in particular to African Americans, who are disproportionately victims of crime. Will's selective use of data and limited vision provide an inaccurate portrayal of current criminal justice policy and its effects.
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In a recent syndicated column ("More Prisons, Less Crime"), commentator George Will argues that the world record incarceration rate in the United States has produced safer streets and has been beneficial in particular to African Americans, who are disproportionately victims of crime. Will's selective use of data and limited vision provide an inaccurate portrayal of current criminal justice policy and its effects.
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June 24, 2008
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States Act to Reduce Racial Disparities in Prisons and Jails
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Following the lead of Iowa and Wisconsin, Connecticut, this month, has become the third state since April to implement policy changes to address the rising rate of racial and ethnic disparity among the jail and prison population.
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Following the lead of Iowa and Wisconsin, Connecticut, this month, has become the third state since April to implement policy changes to address the rising rate of racial and ethnic disparity among the jail and prison population.
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June 20, 2008
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Disenfranchisement News
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Florida: Finally, “Sub Group” of Potential Voters Getting Attention
Virginia: Governor, Advocates Play ‘Beat the Clock' to Register Former Offenders
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Florida: Finally, “Sub Group” of Potential Voters Getting Attention
Virginia: Governor, Advocates Play ‘Beat the Clock' to Register Former Offenders
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NexT >>
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