Archives: Criminal Justice / Articles
Archives: Criminal Justice / Articles (page 3)
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Supreme Court Strikes Down Federal Law that Prevented Gambling On Sports
States now have the authority to legalize sports gambling. The United States Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PAPSA) on 10th Amendment and anti-commandeering…
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Wyoming State of the State: Fiscal Soundness Despite Setbacks in Energy Sector of Economy
Wyoming enjoys the 8th best economic outlook in the nation, according to Rich States, Poor States. This outlook has failed to translate into performance largely due to numerous macroeconomic factors and regulatory measures. The governor’s commitment to state regulatory reform, bureaucratic downsizing, and budget reform has resulted in the state weathering this storm with a strong balance sheet and low taxes. Rather than resort to higher taxes or centrally planned economic development, the continuation of a business-friendly climate is needed to incentivize further diversification and future growth of the economy.
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As Second Chance Month Draws to a Close, Prison Reentry Initiatives Continue to Gain Traction
On March 30th, President Trump proclaimed April to be Second Chance month for those with a criminal history. This week the U.S. House Judiciary Committee is expected to mark up…
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Louisiana Takes Positive Step to Remove Occupational Licensing Barriers
The Pelican State is the last remaining state in the country that makes it illegal to be a florist without having a license. The fact that an individual could be…
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Trump Administration Establishes Council on Crime Prevention and Reentry
The Trump administration has taken an extraordinary step to reduce both recidivism rates and crime rates. On March 7, 2018, President Trump established a Federal Interagency Council on Crime…
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Connecticut Continues to Seek Improvements to its Asset Forfeiture Process
Last year, Connecticut joined a growing list of states that have passed civil asset forfeiture laws to make it more difficult for government agencies to take property from its…
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Overcriminalization and Mens Rea Must be Addressed
With the explosion in the number of criminal statutes and criminal regulations, it is particularly difficult for an individual to know what conduct has been deemed criminal or noncriminal. In…
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Arizona State of the State: Confidence and Conviction, Promise and Possibility
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey delivered a sunny State of the State address, highlighting the “capacity of our state, and its people, to always be ahead of the…
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ALEC Signs on To Support Alabama’s Juvenile Justice Task Force Recommendations
On Thursday, January 25, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) along with eight other coalition partners signed on to a letter in support of the…
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Trump Administration Holds Listening Session on Prisoner Reentry
On January 11, Trump administration officials heard from various conservative organizations about why they support reentry policy. Under the umbrella of Jared Kushner’s Office of American Innovation, administration officials met…
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The Importance of a Narrowly-Tailored Safety Valve
In the United States, there are criminal statutes which require sentences known as mandatory minimums sentences that are the lightest penalty a judge may give for a particular crime. Since…
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Happy Halloween: The Spooky Consequence of Criminalizing Freedom of Expression
This Halloween many states are considering outlawing the wearing of masks. Why? The news of late has been filled with scenes of American protests gone wrong. Whether it is the…
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Louisiana Supreme Court Finds Sentence of Life Without Parole For Juvenile Unconstitutional
The United States Supreme Court held in Graham v. Florida that the Eighth Amendment prohibits juvenile offenders convicted of non-homicide offenses from being sentenced to life in prison without parole. Many…
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Illinois Becomes Latest State to Reform Civil Forfeiture
The trend of states reforming their civil asset forfeiture process has continued. This week, Governor Bruce Rauner signed House Bill 303 (HB 303), which…
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Arizona Governor Doug Ducey Visits Prisoners, Recognizes Importance of Reentry Programs
Many states have recognized that sound reentry policy and programs make the public safer. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey expressed his enthusiasm and satisfaction with the results of a reentry…
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While Progressives Protest, ALEC Is Working To Stop The Deadliest Drug Crisis in History
The Left views The American Legislative Exchange Council as a pawn of corporate influence. There were some protests at the organizations annual meeting in Denver, Colorado in July. They were…
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“Raise the Age” Laws are Smart for All Involved
Incarcerating juveniles in adult prison facilities was banned in 2002 with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. The act was intended to protect juveniles and now only in…
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VIDEO: Mandatory Minimum Drug Sentencing Explained
Federal mandatory minimum sentences provide that if someone is convicted of selling or conspiring to sell over a certain quantity of a particular drug, a judge must sentence the offender…
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The Importance of Raising the Age of Criminal Responsibility
Raising the age for criminal responsibility of juveniles is an issue on the front lines of criminal justice reform. Raise the age bills have been passed at some point in…
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In the opioid crisis, Maryland is an example for the rest of the nation
The opioid crisis has affected rural, suburban and urban areas across the nation and members of all socioeconomic classes. The state of Maryland has been hit particularly hard. In fact,…