Archives: Criminal Justice / Articles
Archives: Criminal Justice / Articles (page 7)
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Institute for Justice Report Highlights Civil Asset Forfeiture Abuses
According to a recently released report by the Institute for Justice, law enforcement agencies across the country have seized $29 billion in assets via civil forfeiture in the past…
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How States Can Serve Veterans in their Communities
As Veterans Day approaches, Americans reflect on how to serve those who have selflessly served this country. With the Pentagon enforcing dramatic force reductions, the best thing state governments can…
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Ban the Box
There are about 70 million adults with criminal records in America today. Because there are so many, lowering the recidivism rate has become one of the main goals in…
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Prison Release without Parolee Preparation Risks Recidivism
Beginning October 30 and continuing to November 2, the U.S. Justice Department will release up to 6,000 inmates from federal prisons. This is part of an effort to decrease overcrowding…
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Pew and Utah Lead the Way on Justice Reform in the States
On Thursday, October 1, members of The Pew Charitable Trusts hosted a discussion panel, where Utah Governor Gary Herbert and United States Senator Orin Hatch spoke on how Utah’s 2015…
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Solitary Confinement Abuse Threatens Public Safety
Every year, thousands of prisoners are released directly from solitary confinement back into civil society. In doing so, prisoners are left unprepared for civilian life, consequently significantly increasing their chances…
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Criminal Justice Reform on the Big Stage
It’s an exciting time for criminal justice reform. In fact, at the first Republican Presidential debate, Ohio Governor John Kasich touted his record on criminal justice reform: “[W]e are rehabbing…
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President and Congress follow States’ Lead on Criminal Justice Reform
This morning, President Obama visited a federal prison in Oklahoma and remarked about the need to reform America’s criminal justice system. Before flying to Oklahoma, President Obama said the…
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Smart is The New Tough: Prison Reform
Harsh drug sentences were once thought to be the best solution for getting illegal drugs off the streets. While the results of these policies are debatable, it’s indisputable that today…
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Asset Forfeiture Reforms Happening in the States
A number of states, including, Montana, New Mexico and Nevada, recently passed reforms to their civil asset forfeiture laws. Civil asset forfeiture starts with the seizure of property by police that is…
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Federal Complexities Cause Overcriminalization of America
In addition to state and local laws, more than 4,500 federal criminal laws and an estimated 300,000 federal regulations carrying potential criminal penalties threaten to place Americans on…
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Oklahoma Legislature Ensures Public Safety and Fiscal Responsibility with Justice Safety Valve
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/oklahoma-state-capitol-building-188655350 Update: On Tuesday May 5, 2015, Governor Mary Fallin signed HB 1518. Wednesday, the Oklahoma legislature passed HB 1518, which allows for judicial discretion to depart…
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Empowering Victims of Crime through Outreach and Involvement
Crime, at its core, inflicts harm on the victim. As such, one of the primary purposes of the criminal justice system should be to repair the damage done by the…
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ALEC Releases New State Factor on Recidivism Reduction Practices
One in every 100 American adults is behind bars, and four in ten of those released end up back behind bars within three years. America’s failing criminal justice…
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New Mexico Passes Legislation Balancing Property Rights and Public Safety
Every year, law enforcement agencies seize millions of dollars simply by suspecting the property is connected to criminal activity. Friday, April 10, after being unanimously passed through the legislature,…
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Civil Forfeiture Assumes Guilt
This appeared in The Baltimore Sun March 20, 2015. In August 2012, law enforcement stopped Mandrel Stuart, the owner of a small barbecue restaurant…
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Utah Legislature Passes Comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/utah-state-capitol-building-salt-lake-57826003 Thursday, March 12, the Utah Legislature passed reforms to realign the state’s criminal justice spending and strengthen alternatives to incarceration for low-risk, low-level offenders. The legislation, HB 348,…
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South Dakota Legislature Moves to Reform Juvenile Justice System
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/exterior-south-dakota-state-capitol-building-151199339 Yesterday, the South Dakota House of Representatives passed the Juvenile Justice Public Safety Improvement Act, legislation that aims to strengthen the state’s juvenile justice system by safely…
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With Declining Recidivism Rates, South Carolina Closes Minimum Security Prison
https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/south-carolina-state-house-columbia-110484680 South Carolina announced Tuesday, February 25th that the state would be closing a minimum security prison. This will be the second minimum security prison closing in South Carolina within…
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Supreme Court rules in Yates v. United States
Earlier today, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the case of Yates v. United States. Previously written about on these pages, the case arose when Mr. Yates…