#prison-reform

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incarceration
Truthout
4 days ago
Writing

My Mother's Letters Should Belong to Me - Not a Company That Works With Prisons

JPay's messaging system captures and stores intimate details of incarcerated individuals' lives, raising questions about future access to these records post-release. [ more ]
www.theguardian.com
1 month ago
Law

He got a college degree in prison. Now he's off to a prestigious law school

McKinley, after being in prison for over two decades, is now preparing to study at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, the first from the Northwestern University's Prison Education Program to be accepted into any law school.
Northwestern University's Prison Education Program (NPEP) provides educational opportunities, including bachelor's degrees, to incarcerated individuals, with McKinley being part of the groundbreaking inaugural class. [ more ]
www.mercurynews.com
3 months ago
California

Opinion: Why is California still paying for prisons it doesn't need?

Despite a decline in the incarcerated population and rising costs, Gov. Gavin Newsom has authorized billion-dollar raises for corrections officers and additional funding for prison buildings.
Efforts to address the issue, such as prison realignment and releasing thousands of inmates during the pandemic, have not solved the systemic problems and wasteful spending endemic to California prisons. [ more ]
moreincarceration
ABA Journal
1 week ago
Law

Viral video shows former Rikers Island inmate as she learns she passed bar exam on first try

Former Rikers Island inmate passes bar exam on first try, inspiring story of perseverance and success. [ more ]
BBC News
2 weeks ago
London

Wandsworth Prison: Rats and sewage unbearable, volunteer says

Conditions at HMP Wandsworth are described as unbearable, with basic standards not being met and safety concerns rampant. [ more ]
Los Angeles Times
2 weeks ago
California

Opinion: California's budget deficit will force difficult cuts. This one should be the easiest

Closing underused prisons can save California significant money amid other budget cuts. [ more ]
Axios
3 weeks ago
Left-wing politics

Scoop: Kamala Harris will host Kim Kardashian for a criminal justice roundtable

Kim Kardashian joins Vice President Harris at White House for a discussion on criminal justice reform. [ more ]
Truthout
4 months ago
Left-wing politics

Dems Claim to Oppose Mass Incarceration, But Blue State Commutations Are Falling

Nearing age 50, Eric Watkins has spent more than half of his life in prison.
www.independent.co.uk
3 weeks ago
Women in technology

Women doing long jail sentences failed by system designed for men'

Female prisoners serving long sentences are subject to male-oriented programs, lack access to education and employment, and are housed with short-stay inmates, facing mental health risks. [ more ]
USA TODAY
1 month ago
NYC politics

NYC Mayor Eric Adams baptized by the Rev. Al Sharpton at Rikers Island

Mayor Eric Adams was baptized at Rikers Island by Rev. Al Sharpton, emphasizing the belief that one's current circumstances do not define them.
Despite pressure to close Rikers Island, Mayor Adams faces challenges in meeting the proposed deadline of August 2027. [ more ]
www.independent.co.uk
2 months ago
Social justice

Help mothers in prison see their children more to reduce self-harm, charity says

Women in prisons need social workers for child contact
High rates of self-harm among women in prisons [ more ]
www.independent.co.uk
2 months ago
Social justice

Calls to end living nightmare' of indefinite jail terms ahead of crunch Lords debate

Experts plea for an end to indefinite jail terms like IPP sentences
Coalition of 11 organizations advocate for resentencing IPP prisoners [ more ]
The Nation
3 months ago
Social justice

It's Known as "Death by Incarceration." These People Want to End It.

Derek Lee, who is serving a life sentence without parole in Pennsylvania, is advocating for the end of such sentences.
Lee and others are fighting to change the laws retroactively to give themselves and others a chance at release. [ more ]
www.mercurynews.com
4 months ago
Social justice

Despite vast sex scandal, judge unsure about need for special master at Dublin prison

Judge skeptical of need for special master at FCI Dublin women's prison
Judge doubts claims of deliberate indifference by prison staff [ more ]
www.mercurynews.com
4 months ago
Social justice

No accountability': Special master sought to oversee scandal-plagued federal women's prison in Dublin

Women at FCI Dublin continue to face bullying, intimidation, and sexual abuse from staff
Advocates are calling for the appointment of a special master to oversee reforms at the prison [ more ]
Truthout
4 months ago
Social justice

Abolition Is a Global Movement. Here's What We Learned From Allies Worldwide.

Sisters Inside is the first organization in Australia founded and run by formerly incarcerated women
The organization provides support to currently and formerly incarcerated women and pushes to end policies that imprison people for nonpayment of fines [ more ]
www.nytimes.com
2 months ago
New York City

Rikers Island Not Likely to Close by 2027 Deadline, N.Y.C. Official Says

Rikers Island closure unlikely by 2027
Mayor Adams's evolving stance on closing Rikers [ more ]
www.npr.org
5 months ago
Social justice

New Michigan law means people leaving prison will automatically be registered to vote

Michigan has expanded automatic voter registration to incarcerated people after they are released.
The goal is to improve access to voting for a historically disenfranchised population. [ more ]
www.npr.org
5 months ago
Social justice

Seeking redemption for aged and infirm prisoners amid Alabama's high bar for parole

Doug Layton, Jr. was released from prison after serving nearly 20 years for reckless murder.
Redemption Earned, a legal non-profit, helped Layton secure his release and find housing outside of prison. [ more ]
www.independent.co.uk
5 months ago
Social justice

Shocking spike in Black inmates targeted with pepper spray in prisons

Black inmates in male prisons are disproportionately targeted with pepper spray compared to white inmates.
The use of pepper spray against Black prisoners has significantly increased over the years.
The Prison Reform Trust is calling for a halt in the further rollout of pepper spray. [ more ]
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