#sentencing-disparities

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Washington DC
fromSlate Magazine
1 day ago

They Had to Clean Solitary Cells. What They Saw Forced Them to Quit.

Solitary confinement work is demoralizing and involves invasive strip searches, contributing to severe mental health issues among incarcerated individuals.
#judicial-diversity
fromwww.amny.com
18 hours ago
Social justice

Op-Ed | Revisiting More Black Male Judges, the Collegial Effect, Public Perceptions and Paths Forward | amNewYork

fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago
Social justice

We need a reflective judiciary': Bar association group says more Black men are needed on the bench | amNewYork

Social justice
fromwww.amny.com
18 hours ago

Op-Ed | Revisiting More Black Male Judges, the Collegial Effect, Public Perceptions and Paths Forward | amNewYork

Increased representation of Black judges leads to fairer judicial outcomes and reduces racial disparities in sentencing.
Social justice
fromwww.amny.com
1 week ago

We need a reflective judiciary': Bar association group says more Black men are needed on the bench | amNewYork

The need for more Black male judges in New York City is crucial for fair representation in the judiciary.
US news
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 hours ago

US judge rules against deporting man whose murder conviction was overturned after 44 years in prison

A judge may release Subramanyam Vedam, an Indian citizen, after his murder conviction was overturned, despite potential deportation by ICE.
Law
fromAbove the Law
23 hours ago

The Price Of Justice And The Promise Of AI - Above the Law

Rising legal service costs and declining access-to-justice funding widen the gap for those needing legal protections, with AI presenting potential solutions.
fromwww.bbc.com
21 hours ago

Prison guard and gang jailed over contraband plot

Jason Thompson, a guard at HMP Isis, was suspended as the Metropolitan Police investigated his involvement in smuggling drugs and contraband into the prison. He was sentenced to four years and six months for conspiracy and misconduct.
UK news
fromwww.aljazeera.com
14 hours ago

US court orders resentencing for Colorado clerk involved in election scheme

The appeals court ruled that a lower court had considered Peters's personal beliefs when deciding upon a punishment, thereby rendering the sentence improper.
US Elections
SF politics
fromPadailypost
9 hours ago

Opinion: A DA shouldn't be using his office this way

Allegations against DA Jeff Rosen suggest unethical fundraising linked to prosecution of pro-Gaza protesters, raising concerns about political neutrality in law enforcement.
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
1 day ago

Criminal case against man shot by cops during mental health crisis will move forward | amNewYork

A Queens man shot by police during a mental health crisis faces criminal charges despite calls for dismissal from his mother and community members.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 days ago

Prosecutors used hip-hop lyrics to help sentence a man to death: This only happens to rap music'

James Broadnax, who is 37, describes how he writes: 'I've been here umpteen days never forgetting To forget the absence of my fate. Sloppy ciphered sentences become rage, Provoking thoughts into words spoken Across this blank page.'
Music
#murder
NYC LGBT
fromAdvocate.com
1 day ago

How a 'trans panic' defense changed the outcome of two murders

D. F. McLaughlin's murder in 1986 highlights the dangers of transphobia and remains a significant yet overlooked case in the fight for justice.
SF parents
fromLos Angeles Times
3 days ago

Mom who brutally tortured, killed boy is denied resentencing. Under state law, she can try again

Pearl Fernandez has been denied resentencing for the murder of her son Gabriel for the second time, frustrating his relatives.
#transgender-rights
LGBT
fromTruthout
2 days ago

Trans People Behind Bars Share How They Are Navigating the Dangers of Visibility

Transgender individuals in prison face increased violence and discrimination, exacerbated by negative media portrayals and political rhetoric.
fromLGBTQ Nation
6 days ago
SF LGBT

DOJ will investigate California & Maine over trans inmates in women's prisons - LGBTQ Nation

The Trump Administration is investigating transgender women in women's prisons, citing safety and constitutional rights ahead of the mid-term elections.
LGBT
fromTruthout
2 days ago

Trans People Behind Bars Share How They Are Navigating the Dangers of Visibility

Transgender individuals in prison face increased violence and discrimination, exacerbated by negative media portrayals and political rhetoric.
SF LGBT
fromLGBTQ Nation
6 days ago

DOJ will investigate California & Maine over trans inmates in women's prisons - LGBTQ Nation

The Trump Administration is investigating transgender women in women's prisons, citing safety and constitutional rights ahead of the mid-term elections.
#rikers-island
Brooklyn
fromCity & State NY
4 days ago

Where does each borough-based jail project stand?

Rikers Island is set to be replaced by four borough-based jails, but the project is over budget and behind schedule.
New York City
fromGothamist
1 week ago

Man dies in custody at Rikers Island jail, officials say

A 39-year-old man died in custody at Rikers Island, prompting calls for accountability and the urgent need to close the facility.
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

Rikers Island inmate dies in custody at Elmhurst Hospital on Sunday | amNewYork

Another inmate died after being transferred from Rikers Island to a hospital, raising concerns about medical care and conditions at the facility.
Brooklyn
fromCity & State NY
4 days ago

Where does each borough-based jail project stand?

Rikers Island is set to be replaced by four borough-based jails, but the project is over budget and behind schedule.
New York City
fromGothamist
1 week ago

Man dies in custody at Rikers Island jail, officials say

A 39-year-old man died in custody at Rikers Island, prompting calls for accountability and the urgent need to close the facility.
NYC parents
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

Rikers Island inmate dies in custody at Elmhurst Hospital on Sunday | amNewYork

Another inmate died after being transferred from Rikers Island to a hospital, raising concerns about medical care and conditions at the facility.
US politics
fromNew York Daily News
5 days ago

ICE's flawed justification for courthouse arrests sparks demand to free those detained

ICE provided false information to justify mass arrests at immigration courts, leading to demands for the release of those detained.
#california
Law
fromKqed
6 days ago

California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case | KQED

California will pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit over excessive force used by corrections officers on women inmates.
Law
fromKqed
6 days ago

California Agrees to $1.9 Million Settlement in Prison Use-of-Force Case | KQED

California will pay $1.9 million to settle a lawsuit over excessive force used by corrections officers on women inmates.
fromwww.npr.org
5 hours ago

After the release of the Epstein files, why have there been so few arrests?

The more than 3 million pages of documents include accusations by alleged victims of Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell's abuse and thousands of emails and photos showing Epstein associated with prominent figures.
Law
NYC parents
fromPsychology Today
13 hours ago

Is Mandated Reporting Racist? What Families Must Know

Low reporting standards and systemic racism lead to unjust CPS reports, disproportionately affecting Black and Brown families.
US news
fromThe Washington Post
1 day ago

Judges are increasingly using AI to draft rulings and prepare for hearings

Federal judges increasingly use AI tools for case preparation, improving efficiency and decision-making.
Social justice
fromSlate Magazine
4 days ago

The Horrifying Secret of the Child Detention Center We Shared as Detainee and Warden

The Cheltenham Youth Detention Center has a troubling history of racial segregation and a lack of memorial for children who died in custody.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

The Guardian view on prisons: sentencing reform has not eased the sense of crisis | Editorial

Prisons in England and Wales face a crisis with high violence, staff shortages, and inadequate reforms, necessitating urgent government action.
UK news
fromIndependent
5 days ago

Former rugby star Brendan Mullin freed after serving just 13 months of 36-month sentence

Brendan Mullin, a former rugby international, stole over €567,000 from Bank of Ireland and served 13 months of a three-year sentence.
Law
fromPoynter
2 days ago

Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too. - Poynter

Prosecutors and journalists both contribute to misleading public perceptions of crime, but prosecutors possess crucial data to tell a more accurate story.
#public-defender
SF politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
1 week ago

Judge fines San Francisco public defender for contempt after he refuses to take new cases

San Francisco's public defender was fined for rejecting cases due to overwhelming workload and insufficient staffing, impacting the justice system.
Law
fromsfist.com
1 week ago

Humpday Headlines: Judge Fines SF Public Defender For Turning Down Cases

SF Public Defender Mano Raju is hiring 36 new attorneys while facing contempt for turning down cases due to unmanageable caseloads.
from48 hills
2 months ago
Law

Why the Public Defender's Office can't take all the felony cases City Hall is forcing on us - 48 hills

SF politics
fromABC7 San Francisco
1 week ago

Judge fines San Francisco public defender for contempt after he refuses to take new cases

San Francisco's public defender was fined for rejecting cases due to overwhelming workload and insufficient staffing, impacting the justice system.
Law
fromsfist.com
1 week ago

Humpday Headlines: Judge Fines SF Public Defender For Turning Down Cases

SF Public Defender Mano Raju is hiring 36 new attorneys while facing contempt for turning down cases due to unmanageable caseloads.
from48 hills
2 months ago
Law

Why the Public Defender's Office can't take all the felony cases City Hall is forcing on us - 48 hills

London politics
fromIndependent
1 week ago

Five members of Dublin gang jailed for total of 34 years for torture of man 'that bypasses any notion of humanity'

Five gang members received 34 years in prison for torturing Barry Moore, including waterboarding and branding him with a hot iron.
Social justice
fromPsychology Today
6 days ago

Jury Selection in the Black Lives Matter Era

BLM-based juror exclusions disproportionately affect people of color, risking jury representativeness and leading to biased verdicts.
fromHoodline
1 week ago

Cypress Hills shooting: Men sentenced in Brooklyn

Joshua Bonilla was sentenced to 32 years to life, and Bryant Perez, identified by prosecutors as the getaway driver, received 20 years to life after pleading guilty.
Brooklyn
fromIndependent
2 weeks ago

Man jailed for killing wife laughed in faces of her family when confronted

Video obtained by Crime World, which cannot be published for legal reasons, shows how McArdle smirked and engaged in an exaggerated high-pitched guffaw as Kelly-Ann's relatives challenged him over her manslaughter 26 years ago.
Madrid food
#prison-reform
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Plan to scrap most short jail terms comes into effect

Most offenders facing up to a year in jail in England and Wales will now likely receive suspended sentences under new reforms.
US news
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

A Criminal-Justice Activist's Baffling Crime

Prison-reform activist Alexander Friedmann was arrested for secretly smuggling weapons and tools into Nashville's new jail during construction, despite his prominent reputation in criminal-justice reform circles.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Plan to scrap most short jail terms comes into effect

Most offenders facing up to a year in jail in England and Wales will now likely receive suspended sentences under new reforms.
US news
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

A Criminal-Justice Activist's Baffling Crime

Prison-reform activist Alexander Friedmann was arrested for secretly smuggling weapons and tools into Nashville's new jail during construction, despite his prominent reputation in criminal-justice reform circles.
#judicial-ethics
NYC politics
fromNew York Post
3 weeks ago

NY's top judge sparks outrage with wild suggestion to go easy when sentencing criminals

New York's Chief Judge Rowan Wilson faced ethics complaints after publicly urging judges to impose lenient sentences and encouraging voters to remove judges who impose lengthy prison terms.
Law
fromGothamist
3 weeks ago

NY's top judge faces complaint from GOP lawmakers over sentencing legislation support

Republican lawmakers filed a judicial conduct complaint against New York's Chief Judge Rowan Wilson for endorsing pending legislation allowing judges to reconsider long prison sentences.
Social justice
fromKqed
6 days ago

San Francisco Man Convicted in the Deadly 2021 Assault on 'Grandpa Vicha' Avoids Prison | KQED

The convicted attacker of Vicha Ratanapakdee will avoid prison time, raising concerns about accountability and public safety for seniors.
fromGothamist
2 weeks ago

NYC is looking to hire a 'jails czar' to help close Rikers

The high-ranking role comes with a $180,000 to $230,000 salary, the listing states, and "will serve as a trusted advisor to the mayor, first deputy mayor, and the administration's senior leadership on all matters related to the closing of Rikers."
New York City
LGBT
fromAdvocate.com
2 weeks ago

Remorseless Seattle man sentenced in hate crime beating of trans woman

A Seattle man was sentenced to seven years in prison for a hate crime assault on a transgender woman, demonstrating how harassment escalates into violence against protected groups.
#criminal-justice-reform
California
fromLos Angeles Times
3 weeks ago

Newsom changed California prisons. What will the justice system look like after he leaves?

California's criminal justice system has shifted toward rehabilitation under Governor Newsom, with fewer incarcerated people and expanded rehabilitation programs, raising questions about the next governor's direction.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

This Is Why Criminal Justice Needs Number Nerds - Above the Law

Data-driven evidence, not ideology, should guide criminal justice reform through incentive-based systems and rigorous testing of policies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

The criminal legal system punishes instability through policy choices rather than crime, with public defenders facing systemic barriers while seeking justice and reform.
California
fromLos Angeles Times
3 weeks ago

Newsom changed California prisons. What will the justice system look like after he leaves?

California's criminal justice system has shifted toward rehabilitation under Governor Newsom, with fewer incarcerated people and expanded rehabilitation programs, raising questions about the next governor's direction.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

This Is Why Criminal Justice Needs Number Nerds - Above the Law

Data-driven evidence, not ideology, should guide criminal justice reform through incentive-based systems and rigorous testing of policies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

The criminal legal system punishes instability through policy choices rather than crime, with public defenders facing systemic barriers while seeking justice and reform.
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 week ago

Monday briefing: What a new Guardian podcast reveals about the US justice system

The case against Alexander Villa has long been contested, with troubling questions about how his conviction was secured, including confessions that were later recanted and evidence that appears shaky or missing.
UK news
Law
fromABC7 San Francisco
6 days ago

'Ringleader' of Antioch PD text scandal sentenced to 4 years in prison after accepting plea deal

Former Antioch police officer Eric Allen Rombough was sentenced to over four years in prison for civil rights violations and conspiracy.
Brooklyn
fromHoodline
2 weeks ago

Brooklyn Man Sentenced After Jury-Tampering Scheme

A Brooklyn man convicted of murder after attempting to tamper with jurors in his first trial received a 25-year-to-life sentence from an anonymous jury.
UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

Justice system in crisis, victims' advocate says

London's victims' commissioner reports the criminal justice system is in crisis, with victims experiencing traumatic delays and losing trust in police and courts.
Law
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

What to know about the legal scheme that saw double murderer jailed for life

Shaine March received a whole life order after his original sentence for murder was deemed unduly lenient.
US news
fromFuturism
2 weeks ago

AI Mistake Throws Innocent Grandmother in Jail for Nearly Six Months

An innocent Tennessee grandmother was arrested and jailed for nearly six months after AI facial recognition misidentified her as a bank fraud suspect in North Dakota, with police failing to verify the algorithm's match before pursuing charges.
Law
from48 hills
1 week ago

Judge sanctions public defender in case that raises critical issues about criminal justice - 48 hills

Public Defender Mano Raju was fined $26,000 for refusing cases due to overwhelming workloads, highlighting systemic issues in public defense funding.
fromThe Washington Post
2 weeks ago

He died a convicted murderer. Can a DNA test clear his name?

Every state now has a legal avenue where people can request DNA testing of evidence after being convicted. But in many cases, it's not clear if those statutes apply once convicts have died, said Brandon Garrett, a law professor at Duke University.
US news
Law
fromSlate Magazine
6 days ago

Sonia Sotomayor Warns That Texas May Execute an Innocent Man

The Supreme Court has shifted from protecting capital defendants' rights to facilitating executions, exemplified by the denial of Rodney Reed's appeal.
fromPsychology Today
2 weeks ago

Violent Crime in Post-COVID America

According to FBI statistics, violent crime in 2024 fell to its lowest level since 1969. The picture appeared even more encouraging in 2025, when the nation's murder rate dropped by roughly 20%, accompanied by declines across other major crime categories.
Social justice
fromLos Angeles Times
33 years ago

'Doubts' D.A. Heads for Hills

Matlin was the youngest recipient of the Best Actress Oscar and the only hearing-impaired Oscar winner when she was honored at the age of 21 for her first screen role in the 1987 movie "Children of a Lesser God."
LA real estate
New York Islanders
fromThe Marshall Project
1 month ago

Hopes Rise for Troubled Rikers Jail Closure, but Mamdani Faces Hurdles

Mayor Zohran Mamdani must deliver closure of Rikers by a legal deadline amid delays, activist pressure, oversight requirements, and construction of replacement jails.
Law
from48 hills
2 weeks ago

Lurie wants to be tough on crime-but won't pay for the impacts on defendants - 48 hills

Increased arrests and prosecutions in San Francisco are costly, leading to understaffed public defense and potential legal ethics violations.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Scandal of four-year delays for criminal cases to go to trial

Spiralling backlogs mean a shocking 29 cases including violent crimes and drug offences have been scheduled to start as far away as 2030, with victims left waiting at least four years to have their day in court. In total, more than 2,600 Crown Court trials are not due to be heard until 2028, including 206 rape trials.
UK news
fromTruthout
1 month ago

"Reforms" Didn't End Police Violence in 2020 and They Won't End ICE Violence Now

Yet while "Abolish ICE" serves as a unifying chant in the streets, Democrats are once again seeking to temper and co-opt people's demands into a narrow version of reform. The demands outlined by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer could not be more toothless: requiring ICE agents to unmask, wear body cameras, and to follow a code of conduct modeled on other law enforcement agencies.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Lawyer Convicted Of Systematic Sexual Abuse Of Children - Above the Law

Bishop was found guilty on 24 counts of committing lewd acts on three minor victims, all described in court documents as victims under the age of 14. The span of these offenses covers multiple years. Evidence admitted at trial showed that Bishop possessed more than 600 images of child sexual abuse material depicting two of the minor victims.
Law
#ipp-sentences
#prison-education
Law
fromHoodline
3 weeks ago

Brooklyn prosecutors say officers violated a victim's civil rights

Federal prosecutors charged law enforcement defendants with committing multiple criminal acts that violated a vulnerable victim's civil rights in response to a 311 prostitution complaint.
#in-custody-death-review
Law
fromThe Oaklandside
3 weeks ago

Alameda County public defender challenges judge over lack of Black jurors

An Oakland woman facing misdemeanor charges faced trial with an all-white jury after Black prospective jurors were excused for hardships, prompting her defense attorney to request a new jury panel.
Miscellaneous
fromIndependent
2 months ago

Cork twins with 274 previous convictions between them sentenced on same day for separate offences

Cork twins with over 270 prior convictions received prison sentences and a suspended sentence; Denis Kelly jailed five months for stealing a phone and wallet from an unlocked car.
Medicine
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Death on the inside: as a prison officer, I saw how the system perpetuates violence

Overcrowded cells and predictable violence hotspots make prisoners and staff vulnerable to severe, life-threatening assaults even during locked hours.
Law
fromKqed
3 weeks ago

Why So Many Legal Courts in S.F.? | KQED

San Francisco concentrates multiple levels of state and federal courts in one location, including Superior Court, U.S. District Court, Court of Appeals, and California Supreme Court, which is unusual compared to other states where courts are typically dispersed across state capitals or larger cities.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Opinion: California promised accountability for inmate deaths in jails. A year later, no results.

California's jail death review law preserves sheriff control, lacks enforcement authority, permits redactions, and produced no completed reviews within its first year.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

'New Racist' Judge Now Newly Unemployed - Above the Law

Some people really struggle with distinguishing between individual and systemic responsibility when both are at play. For example, as important as it is to make sure that individual drivers obey speed limits and pay attention to the road and that pedestrians look both ways before they cross the street, intersections are a structural factor that can amplify harms depending on how they're planned and built.
US politics
fromSan Jose Spotlight
1 month ago

Cantrell: Is California's 'justice' system just slavery by another name? - San Jose Spotlight

The next "Dying to Stay Here" podcast will feature a panel discussing what we call our criminal justice system. The panel reflected on a recent election in California, where voters were asked, in plain language, whether they wanted to remove slavery from our constitution, where it's still allowed "as punishment for a crime," and voted to keep it. As we celebrate another Black History Month, I reflect on the disproportionate number of Black people behind bars.
Social justice
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

9 inmate deaths already this year bring renewed scrutiny of L.A. County jail conditions

Nine people have died inside L.A. County jails so far this year, an alarming number for the Sheriff's Department as it continues to face a lawsuit from the state over the conditions in local lockups. Sheriff's Department officials said they are continuing to make changes, hoping to reduce the number of in-custody deaths and care for an inmate population that is increasingly struggling with medical and mental health issues.
California
#police-accountability
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
2 months ago

Rapper jailed for life after drive-by shooting

Rapper Nathan Tokosi (DigDat) was jailed for life with a 24-year minimum after a premeditated drive-by attempted murder in Notting Hill that severely injured the victim.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Record number of offenders being recalled to prison in England and Wales

Record offender recalls have surged; many deliberately breach licence terms to return and traffic drugs while early-release rules and overcrowding reduce support and housing.
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