Mississippi — Social and Economic Issues — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Social and Economic Issues

Overcriminalization significantly undermines human flourishing and social well-being by harming the family, social networks, and social citizenship. Additionally, it prevents capable men and women from utilizing their creative capacities in the marketplace. This creates vast issues involving relations with family while incarcerated and reintegration into society after release. On the economic side, draconian cash bail systems undermine justice through basing someone's ability to attain pre-trial release upon their wealth, not their actual threat to society.

How Cities Make Money by Fining the Poor

“The jailing of poor defendants who cannot pay fines — a particularly insidious version of this revenue machine — has been ruled unconstitutional since a trio of Supreme Court cases spanning the 1970s and early 1980s. The first, Williams v. Illinois, involved a petty thief who was forced to remain in prison to pay off a fine, even after he had served his term. The second, Tate v. Short, hinged on a man in Texas named Preston Tate, who was assessed $425 in fines for several traffic violations.“

New York Times

January 8, 2019

Criminalizing Poverty, Bail ReformPhillip ReevesJanuary 8, 2019New York Times, Corinth, MississippiComment

Why the Sun Herald is changing how it covers crime

“We know crime stories are among the most popular content we can give our readers on our website and on social media. We have tools that allow us to see what stories readers are clicking on, and a high-profile crime story almost always shoots right to the top. And, for us, more clicks leads to more advertising revenue and more exposure for the Sun Herald. But what is good for us may not be what is good for South Mississippi. We need to re-evaluate.“

The Mississippi Sun Herald

December 17, 2018

PersonalismPhillip ReevesDecember 17, 2018Mississippi Sun Herald, MississippiComment

Social and Economic Issues

Galsworthy CJR Program

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