Posts tagged The New Republic
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

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State ReformsPhillip ReevesThe New Republic, KentuckyComment
Why Aren’t Democratic Governors Pardoning More Prisoners?

“Governors in most states have the power to pardon or commute sentences, either at their sole discretion or with some level of input from a commission. Since most convictions occur at the state level, some governors can wield even greater influence on criminal justice than the president can. But most governors rarely use this power, and few have made it a mainstay of their tenure in office—a major missed opportunity for justice and the public good.“

The New Republic

January 4, 2019

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Personalism, State ReformsPhillip ReevesThe New Republic, California, MichiganComment