criminal justice reform
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First Step Is One of the Biggest Criminal Justice Reforms in Decades. But How Great Will Its Effect Be?
On Tuesday night, a Republican-dominated Senate passed First Step, paving the way for the criminal justice reform bill to clear the House and be signed into law by Donald Trump. The bipartisan bill, which was overwhelmingly passed in an 87-12 vote, is widely considered to the most substantial legislation affecting the federal prison system in…
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Mitch 'Turtle Face' McConnell Changes Tune, Pushes For Criminal Justice Reform Bill Vote
Maybe the Conservative right is trying to play nice with the incoming Democrats taking over the house, or maybe because of Kim Kardashian (you know, the uber-famous basic white woman with the black add-on’s humanitarian efforts that freed unjustly incarcerated Alice Johnson), or maybe because it’s close to Christmas, but it looks like the criminal…
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Why They Kneel: 'What's Free?' The Money Bail Revolution in Philadelphia and D.C.
To examine the injustice and inequality that prompted some NFL players to protest during the national anthem, each week, for the remainder of the NFL season, The Root will explore the data behind racial disparities in the two cities represented in the National Football League’s premiere matchup—Monday Night Football. Tonight, the football team from Washington,…
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After Inmate Deaths, Cleveland Judge Vows to Stop Sending Nonviolent Offenders to Local Jail
After deplorable conditions—and a slew of deaths—have kept Cuyahoga County Jail in Cleveland in the headlines, a judge has vowed to stop sending his low-level defendants to the jail. Municipal Judge Michael Nelson says he’s no longer comfortable “setting bonds for people charged with crimes unless they’re charged with violent crimes,” writes Cleveland.com, meaning the…
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What Black People Should Take Away From the Kavanaugh Hearing: A Lack of Due Process Will Always Hurt Us the Most
Jennifer Thompson-Cannino was the perfect witness. She was credible. She had taken the time during a brutal, agonizing attack to study her rapist’s face, to make sure she would later be able to bring him to justice. She remained strong through an agonizing rape kit—twice, because the first attempt was botched; through a penicillin shot;…
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Bernie Sanders Takes on Unjust Cash Bail System, but Still Doesn't Make Direct Connection to Institutional Racism
In a bold attempt to correct a major flaw in America’s criminal (in)justice system, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced a bill Wednesday that would end cash bail at the federal level and incentivize states that follow suit. Named the No Money Bail Act, the bill (pdf) would formally end the use of secured bonds in…
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Ant-Man and the Wasp is the Best Superhero Movie Made About Criminal Justice for White Guys
In just 10 years, the Marvel movie franchise has morphed from simple origin stories to universe-sprawling, intertwined characters and adventures, almost like Game of Thrones but with better CGI and brighter costumes. Once the exclusive playground of blonde white guys, the movies have become a lot blacker, more gender balanced and much more political. In…
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Philly Rallies Behind Meek Mill as Rapper Awaits Judge’s Decision on Possible Retrial
Meek Mill is seeking justice, and his city is behind him. Fans gathered in droves Monday outside the Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice in Philadelphia, where Judge Genece Brinkley heard arguments about granting the 31-year-old rapper a new trial on gun- and drug-related charges he faced when he was 19. The rapper’s lawyers…
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#FreeMeekMill: The Rapper Is Out of Jail but Still Trapped in a Corrupt Criminal-Justice System
Free Meek Mill. Although Robert Rihmeek Williams is “free” to go to championship basketball games, kick it with friends and stunt on Instagram, he is still not free of the case that put him in the position he’s in in the first place. Larry Krasner, Philly’s new district attorney, is a criminal-justice-reform advocate. On Tuesday his…