Posts tagged Mississippi
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

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State ReformsPhillip ReevesOzy, Mississippi, Jody OwensComment
Trump Hailed This State’s Prison Reforms as a National Model — but the Numbers Reflect a Grim Reality

“Yet the implementation of Mississippi’s reforms has been marked by broken promises and a lack of funding, according to interviews, data and documents reviewed by the Mississippi Center for Investigative Reporting and ProPublica. The Mississippi law promised to send offenders to drug courts for treatment rather than to prison; provide ID cards to all offenders leaving prison to help them secure housing and jobs; offer training for offenders eligible for parole; and keep offenders guilty of technical probation violations from returning to prison. But in each case, those efforts have faltered.“

ProPublica

May 9, 2019

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State ReformsPhillip ReevesProPublica, MississippiComment
Republicans, Democrats working together to reform Mississippi criminal justice system

“If you are hearing these types of statistics for the first time and are very surprised, you are not alone. Most are very surprised. And as you might suspect, our unique incarceration habit is a very expensive one. It is a budget-busting endeavor that is eating an ever-increasing percentage of state budgets around the nation, and it is doing so at the expense of other worthwhile and necessary public investments.“

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

March 11, 2019

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State ReformsPhillip ReevesMississippi, Mississippi Clarion LedgerComment
It's time to end Mississippi’s addiction to prison

“The state should also consider alternatives to incarceration, such as substance abuse treatment and diversions to other support services, as well as the decriminalization of marijuana. Programs that include substance abuse counseling can actually help correct people’s behavior and keep them out of prison. Legislators could also enact sentencing reform that reduces the amount of time for less serious drug and property offenses.“

Mississippi Clarion Ledger

September 9, 2018

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State ReformsPhillip ReevesMississippi Clarion Ledger, MississippiComment