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

Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

State and Local Issues

Because 90% of all prisoners in the United States are in state facilities, the work that states are doing to reduce their prison populations is crucial. Attempting to end mass incarceration necessitates realizing this is a situation requiring not one national solution, but fifty state solutions. Below are current state solutions that could be effectively modeled by other states for meaningful reform.

Posts in State Reforms

Appalachia vs. the Carceral State

“Prosperino’s stepdad, a coal miner, was out of work, and Prosperino’s father was in jail. “We exchanged bad jobs for worse,” said Ada Smith, whose cousin works at U.S. Penitentiary Big Sandy in Martin County. The prison wasn’t underground, but it might as well have been. Both jobs were dangerous. Generations of miners sacrificed their lungs and limbs to King Coal. But prison work wasn’t just hard on the body; it was bad for the human soul to be responsible for another person’s unfreedom.“

The New Republic

November 25, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesNovember 25, 2019The New Republic, KentuckyComment

Gavin Newsom wants to close a California state prison. It won’t be easy

“Closing a state prison is one of the few ways to truly save a lot of money in California’s correctional system, which has a budget of $15.8 billion this year, experts said. A closure also would represent a step toward rehabilitation and away from incarceration in the state’s criminal justice system, since it likely would involve releasing some low-risk inmates. But, as Newsom underscored with his choice of words to the editorial board, it’s difficult.“

Sacramento Bee

November 24, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesNovember 24, 2019Sacramento Bee, California, Gavin NewsomComment

‘Disrupting Prison’ Reform Initiative Expands to Six States

“Three new states have been selected to participate in a model national initiative designed to test whether incarceration strategies used in Germany and Norway can work for young adult offenders in the United States. North Dakota, Colorado and Idaho will join the “Restoring Promise” initiative spearheaded by the Vera Institute of Justice and MILPA Collective, a California-based nonprofit led by former incarcerees, in what organizers called an effort to “disrupt and transform the living and working conditions inside American prisons and jails.”“

The Crime Report

November 19, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesNovember 19, 2019The Crime Report, Vera Institute, MILPA Collective, North Dakota, Colorado, IdahoComment

Opinion: A Sad Last Gasp Against Criminal Justice Reform

“That’s history worth considering as the old foes of reform sing their familiar tune. Governor Cuomo, legislative leaders and Mayor Bill de Blasio, all of whom supported the reforms, should stand proudly behind them. Prosecutors and police unions trying to thwart the will of the voters and undermine the public’s trust in long-overdue reforms should instead get to work making the change.“

New York Times

November 17, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesNovember 17, 2019New York Times, New YorkComment

Rep. Ayanna Pressley Unveils Sweeping Plan to Reshape American Criminal Legal System

“As part of the resolution, Pressley will call for the federal government to provide tax incentives to local governments and states that repeal Truth in Sentencing and Three Strikes provisions and that reduce their prison populations by 2035.“

The Appeal

November 14, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesNovember 14, 2019The Appeal, Ayanna PressleyComment

It's Time to Fight the Democratic Mayors Who Are Champions of the Carceral State

“De Blasio isn’t the only Democratic mayor in a major city branding himself as a progressive while embracing the carceral state. Although the 2020 presidential race has taken center stage in the media, people who care about policing and incarceration need to pay far more attention to mayors like de Blasio, London Breed in San Francisco, and Lori Lightfoot in Chicago. Big-city mayors control the largest police departments in the country and play a pivotal role in deciding what jails are closed or constructed.“

The Appeal

November 4, 2019

State Reforms, Mass IncarcerationPhillip ReevesNovember 4, 2019The AppealComment

More Than 450 Oklahoma Inmates Exit Prison as Part of Mass Commutation

“More than 450 inmates walked out the doors of prisons across Oklahoma on Monday as part of what state officials say is the largest single-day mass commutation in U.S. history. The release of inmates, all with convictions for low-level drug and property crimes, resulted from a bill signed by new Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt. The bill retroactively applied misdemeanor sentences for simple drug possession and low-level property crimes that state voters approved in 2016.“

TIME

November 4, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesNovember 4, 2019Time Magazine, Oklahoma, CommutationsComment

DOC to send inmates out of state due to growing prison population after SB 91 repeal

“The Alaska Department of Corrections plans to send hundreds of inmates out of state starting early next year. DOC Commissioner Nancy Dahlstrom announced the department will be issuing a request for proposal soon during a teleconference with media outlets late Tuesday afternoon. She cited a growing prison population resulting from the passage of House Bill 49, which repealed and replaced the controversial Senate Bill 91. “

KTVA Alaska 11

October 15, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesOctober 15, 2019KTVA Alaska 11, Alaska, SB 91Comment

How Far Will California Take Criminal-Justice Reform?

“San Francisco is a city whose electorate skews and is easily skewered as radical-fringe left, but where law-enforcement practices nonetheless follow the same disturbing pattern of brutality seen in the rest of the state. Boudin’s candidacy, which calls for to-the-studs reform, evokes Larry Krasner, the former civil-rights attorney who is now the D.A. of Philadelphia, and Tiffany Cabán, a young public defender in Queens, endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who ran for D.A. of the borough this year. In San Francisco, even moderates run as progressives, but Boudin has a particular moral authority that lies in his own story.“

The New Yorker

October 5, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesOctober 5, 2019The New Yorker, Chesa Boudin, San Francisco, CaliforniaComment

Editorial: Police, prosecutors and courts are keeping California’s criminal justice data a secret

“Assembly Bill 1331, whose fate now rests with Newsom, would close some of the current gaps in criminal history records by tightening reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies and courts. It would require release of anonymized information to research agencies, which would then be able to sift through data to discover trends or biases. It would promote better and faster sharing of information among public agencies.“

LA Times

September 23, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesSeptember 23, 2019LA Times, California, Assembly Bill 1331Comment

Once known for 'three strikes' law, California is now embracing criminal justice reform

“Asia and her mother shared their stories with California lawmakers this year, in support of a Senate Bill 394, which enables parents and primary caregivers for a child under the age of 18 who are charged with nonviolent felonies and misdemeanors to opt into programs instead of imprisonment. It is one of several newly passed criminal justice reform bills now awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom's signature. Others include: Senate Bill 136, which puts an end to sentence enhancements that automatically add an extra year for anyone convicted of recommitting a felony for which they had already served time. AB 1331, which will increase research and improve record-keeping in the criminal justice system. AB 32, which effectively ends the era of California’s reliance on private, for-profit prisons, including ICE detention centers.“

USA Today

September 18, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesSeptember 18, 2019USA Today, CaliforniaComment

Almost empty: “Monument” to punishment-heavy ’90s sees sharp population decline

“The number of inmates held at Northern — a level-five maximum security facility that at one point could hold up to 584 sentenced prisoners — has fallen precipitously since January of this year. According to the Department of Correction, there were 270 inmates at Northern on January 1, 2019. By Aug. 23, shortly after two of its housing units were closed, there were just 76, a 71.8% decrease in just seven months.“

The CT Mirror

September 4, 2019

State Reforms, Mass IncarcerationPhillip ReevesSeptember 4, 2019The CT Mirror, ConnecticutComment

While overall NYC jail population drops, technical parole violators are on the rise

“As the overall New York City jail population continues to decline, the number of people detained due to technical parole violations is on the rise, a new city study reports. The average daily inmate population for those accused of violating the conditions of their state parole grew from 550 in 2014 to 650 in 2018 – an increase of about 18%, according to data released on Tuesday by the city’s Independent Budget Office.“

New York Daily News

August 27, 2019

Parole, State ReformsPhillip ReevesAugust 27, 2019New York Daily News, New York City, Rikers IslandComment

Governor’s Race Could Decide If Louisiana’s Prison Population Continues to Shrink

“Despite this bipartisan pedigree, some of the state’s most prominent Republican officials are foes of criminal justice reform and use them to attack Edwards, who is up for re-election this fall. One of his main challengers, GOP Representative Ralph Abraham, is running firmly against the policies, which he says have “opened the gates” to crime.“

The Appeal: Political Report

August 21, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesAugust 21, 2019The Appeal: Political Report, LouisianaComment

Jason M. Groth: The solution to criminal justice flaws is in the data

“This blind spot is due to our lack of specific data about these intermediate steps of the criminal justice system. For example, we have no information about the racial make-up of who gets a plea deal and the types of plea deals offered. Collecting and sharing this type of information is crucial to addressing the still serious problems of mass incarceration, racial disparities, and recidivism in Utah.“

Salt Lake Tribune

August 17, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesAugust 17, 2019Salt Lake Tribune, UtahComment

The Next Front Line of the Mass Incarceration Fight is Mississippi

““Owens, 37, a candidate for district attorney of Hinds County in the Aug. 6 Democratic primary, knows his platform does not fit the norm of a Mississippi DA. As he seeks to lead criminal prosecutions in the county that includes the state capital of Jackson, Owens wants to utilize drug courts and restorative justice programs to send fewer people to prison. He won’t charge low-level marijuana cases, and he will only seek cash bail for defendants when he deems that not doing so would impact public safety or risk a no-show at trial."

Ozy

August 4, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesAugust 4, 2019Ozy, Mississippi, Jody OwensComment

D.C. has gone too far on criminal-justice reform

“By stripping the law of the requirement that judges consider the original crime when weighing sentence reductions — and suggesting long sentences are rarely justified for youthful criminals “despite the brutality or coldblooded nature” of their offense — the council assured that proceedings will tilt in favor of convicts. The reform legislation’s sponsor, council member Charles Allen (D-Ward 6), contends the court could still consider a crime’s severity if it is weighed against other factors, including evidence of remorse and rehabilitation.“

Washington Post

August 3, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesAugust 3, 2019Washington Post, Washington DCComment

Colorado’s prison population was projected to balloon. Now analysts aren’t so sure.

“‘We have one speaking Russian, one speaking Chinese, one speaking English … and then we’re wondering why we don’t have the data,’ Roper told the committee. ‘If we can’t get our data systems talking to each other, we’re going to be having the same conversation year after year’.“

The Colorado Independent

July 22, 2019

State Reforms, Mass IncarcerationPhillip ReevesJuly 22, 2019The Colorado Independent, ColoradoComment

Would You Let the Man Who Killed Your Sister Out of Prison?

“Last year, Mr. Singleton began thinking more seriously about that question. He conceived of a project called Beyond Guilt, to emphasize that guilt is not an endpoint but the possible beginning of a “story of redemption.” The goal is to push for legislation to provide new avenues for early release, and to create a network of lawyers to take up individual cases.“

The New York Times

July 19, 2019

State ReformsPhillip ReevesJuly 19, 2019New York Times, Ohio, Beyond GuiltComment