Sentencing — State and Local Issues — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Those with criminal records should help decide their fate, member says

“Bain, the founder of Women Against Mass Incarceration, spent a decade in federal prison. That means she knows from firsthand experience the challenges people face when they return home after finishing a prison sentence. She acknowledged Tuesday that Connecticut has made positive strides in its criminal justice reforms, but said for that progress to continue, lawmakers and policy experts must listen to the voices of people who have been directly impacted by the state’s policies.“

The CT Mirror

October 8, 2019

SentencingPhillip ReevesOctober 8, 2019The CT Mirror, ConnecticutComment

Sentenced to Death by Incarceration in New York State Prison

“We have worked with only a small number of the people serving life sentences in New York, and an even smaller percentage of the 47,000 people in state prison. Nevertheless, we have found ample reason to fear that the impact of long overdue criminal justice reforms, trumpeted daily and endorsed by countless politicians, may be far less than hoped until the extant incarceratory system within which those changes operate is dismantled or radically overhauled.“

Gotham Gazette

September 21, 2019

SentencingPhillip ReevesSeptember 21, 2019Gotham GazetteComment

Does Reform Matter? The Hopelessness of a Life Sentence

“Hassine’s death on May 2 has given me pause. And it should make anyone who considers the fate of those serving life sentences wonder whether anything that a lifer does to remake himself into someone who could meaningfully contribute to society means anything. Without freedom, all of that potential for success is meaningless. My life is a testament to this meaninglessness.“

The Crime Report

July 9, 2019

SentencingPhillip ReevesJuly 9, 2019The Crime ReportComment

As States Look to Cut Jail Populations, Electronic 'Miniature Prisons' Are on the Rise

“Grace explained that many judges, especially in Cook County, are using electronic monitoring as a “risk mitigation tool.” As an understanding emerges across the country that excessive bail is keeping too many people in jail because they can’t afford to pay, some judges remain hesitant to release individuals without restrictions. Meanwhile, the understanding of the risks of electronic monitoring is low, Grace said, as there have been few studies or reports. “

The Appeal

February 28, 2019

Prison Programs, SentencingPhillip ReevesFebruary 28, 2019The Appeal, Cook County, IllinoisComment

49 Oklahoma inmates imprisoned for drug crimes asking for commutations

"Push for commutations is spurred by the passage of State Question 780, which starting July 1, 2017, made nonviolent drug possession offenses and low-level property offenses misdemeanors instead of felonies. Steele led the call for the state question, which was approved in November 2016 by 58 percent of Oklahoma voters."

Tulsa World

August 11, 2018

State Reforms, SentencingAnthony BradleyAugust 14, 2018Tulsa World, Oklahoma, Commutations

Will Governor Cuomo Give Roy Bolus a Second Chance?

"'When you announce a clemency initiative and you raise hopes and expectations, frankly it’s cruel to not actualize it,' said Steve Zeidman, director of the Criminal Defense Clinic at the CUNY School of Law, which is currently helping about 25 people with clemency applications and worked with Judith Clark on her application. 'Multiple people on the inside have told me that false hope is worse than no hope at all'."

The Appeal

August 6, 2018

Mass Incarceration, SentencingAnthony BradleyAugust 7, 2018The Appeal, Andrew Cuomo, New York, Clemency

Obama clemency program for drug offenders snared by infighting, auditors find

"President Barack Obama's push to grant clemency to thousands of inmates convicted of drug offenses was hamstrung by a lack of planning and may not have reviewed petitions consistently, a Department of Justice report found Wednesday."

USA Today

August 1, 2018

Personalism, SentencingAnthony BradleyAugust 2, 2018Barack Obama, Pardons, USA Today

Sens. Chuck Grassley and Orrin Hatch: Mens rea reform and the criminal justice reform constellation

"Fairness and justice demand that we clarify our criminal laws. Statutes and regulations that impose criminal penalties should be clearly written so they prevent and punish criminal conduct even as they the safeguard the liberty of the innocent."

Washington Examiner

July 19, 2018

Senate, SentencingAnthony BradleyJuly 31, 2018Washington Examiner, Chuck Grassley, Orrin Hatch, Congress

Lawmakers weigh sentencing changes as state's prison population soars

"Canyon County Prosecutor Bryan Taylor told state lawmakers Tuesday that no one goes to prison for a first-time drug possession charge, saying a more typical picture is an addict who runs up three, four or five convictions before authorities give up and incarcerate him. But then the lawmakers reviewed figures from Idaho’s prisons showing that currently, 1,245 state prisoners are behind bars for drug crimes alone, nearly half of them for possession; 51.3 percent of them are in for a first offense."

Idaho Press

July 10, 2018

Sentencing, State ReformsAnthony BradleyJuly 31, 2018Idaho Press, Canyon County, Idaho

State and Local Issues

Galsworthy CJR Program

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