Tag: Criminal Justice Reform
Tag: Criminal Justice Reform (page 3)
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Illinois: Reform Criminal Justice to Reform Spending
According to Article 1, Section 11 of The Illinois Constitution, criminal sentencing requires that “all penalties shall be determined both according to the seriousness of the offense and with the…
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Pew Notes a Number of States Are Examining Growing Prison Populations
The United States currently has the “highest incarceration rate in the world” and many states are examining ways in which to reduce their prison population. For example, Maryland,…
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Presidential Candidates Highlight Criminal Justice Reform
ALEC supports reducing incarceration rates by providing alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent, low-risk offenders. Furthermore, ALEC favors alternatives to mandatory minimums for offenders who meet certain criteria by giving greater sentencing discretion to judges.
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Resolution to Treat 17-Year-Olds As Juveniles
Whereas, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) is committed to developing effective criminal justice policies that create safe communities for citizens as well as strong state budgets; and WHEREAS, in…
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A Bill to Ban the Box on Employment Applications
The Legislature declares that it is the duty of the state of [Insert State Name] to encourage and contribute to the successful reintegration of people with a criminal history. The…
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Iowa Governor Terry Branstad Pushes for Criminal Justice Reform
Iowa Governor Terry Branstad spoke of the need for a series of criminal justice reforms during his January 12, 2016 Condition of the State address to the Iowa…
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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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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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Criminalizing America – How Big Government Makes a Criminal of Every American
There are more than 1.5 million Americans under the supervision of state and federal correctional facilities, at a cost of more than $30,000 per prisoner every year. While some criminal…
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Asset Forfeiture Process and Private Property Protection Act
Model Policy Section 1. {Title} This act may be cited as the “Asset Forfeiture Process and Private Property Protection Act” Section 2. {Definitions} As used in this Act: (A) “Abandoned property”…
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