Criminal Law

Read News: States Seek Less Costly Substitutes For Prison

Posted on July 14, 2009
More than half the states and the District of Columbia are trying to reduce the growth in their prison populations through alternative sentencing and new probation and parole procedures. According to the Pew Center on the States, it costs an average of $79 a day to keep an inmate in prison but about $3...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on July 09, 2009
Kentucky: Study Addresses Felon Voting Rights Fears Posted Date:7/9/2009 5:12:34 PM

Read News: Structuring Sentences

Posted on July 06, 2009
The criminal justice perspectives – and overall experiences – of Virginia Senator Jim Webb, former journalist and best-selling author, are highlighted in a Washington Post feature article. Webb recently introduced legislation, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009, which would establish a commission to develop means for reducing the overall incarceration rate, decreasing prison violence and improving treatment of mental illness in prisons...

Read Advocacy Material: House Crack Cocaine Legislation

Posted on July 02, 2009
  A comparison of the current law against three House Bills introduced to reform sentencing policy on crack cocaine. One of these bills lowers the quantities for powder cocaine that trigger mandatory minimum sentences, making them equal to the current quantities of crack cocaine...

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Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on July 02, 2009
National: NAACP Endorses Democracy Restoration Act National: First-time Voters' Thoughts Archived in New Publication National: Updated Book Chronicles Voting Rights from George W. Bush to President Obama Posted Date:7/2/2009 5:05:42 PM

Read News: Texas newspaper supports elimination of crack cocaine sentencing disparity

Posted on July 01, 2009
A Texas newspaper published an editorial supporting the reform of harsh crack cocaine sentencing laws stating, 'our hope is that this growing rebellion among federal judges will spur Congress to act and reduce mandatory penalties for crack cocaine, so that its users aren't treated any differently than those who use powder cocaine...

Read Advocacy Material: Add Your Organization to a Sign-on Letter in Support of the Democracy Restoration Act

Posted on June 29, 2009
The Sentencing Project is engaged with Senator Russ Feingold and Representative John Conyers on legislation to restore federal voting rights to individuals with felony convictions who are not incarcerated. The Democracy Restoration Act will be introduced in the coming weeks and we hope to have strong support from members of Congress...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on June 26, 2009
TAKE ACTION: Add Your Organization to a Sign-on Letter in Support of the Democracy Restoration Act National: Department of Justice Makes Available State-specific Tools on Rights Restoration Alabama: Inmates Prepare for Municipal Election Posted Date:6/26/2009 6:21:02 PM

Read News: Attorney general wants review of cocaine sentences

Posted on June 25, 2009
During a panel discussion featuring Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer and Attorney General Eric Holder, yesterday, Holder continued to support the administration's stance on eliminating the gap in prison sentences for crack and powder cocaine offenses...

Read News: Incarcerated Women Face Hurdles Re-Entering Society

Posted on June 23, 2009
'The number of incarcerated women in the U.S. has risen dramatically in recent years. According to federal figures, about 207,000 women were held in prisons or jails last year, an increase of a third since the year 2000. Joanne Archibald, who was incarcerated as a young woman on drug charges; Gretchen Rohr, a lawyer who works for a non-profit group in Washington, D...

Read News: Hon. Breyer, Attorney General Holder featured on Congressional Black Caucus Federal Sentencing Panel

Posted on June 22, 2009
  The Congressional Black Caucus Community Re-Investment Taskforce is hosting "Rethinking Federal Sentencing Policy," in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Sentencing Reform Act Wednesday at 4:30. Brief remarks will be offered by Eric Holder, Attorney General, U...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on June 20, 2009
National: Sotomayor on Disenfranchisement Posted Date:6/19/2009 2:39:13 PM

Read News: City Council Rejects Gang Injunctions in Washington, DC

Posted on June 17, 2009
The Council of the District of Columbia met yesterday for a passionate debate over the proposed Emergency Declaration and Legislation, which is designed to address the annual rise of violence during the summer months in the District. The legislation, introduced by Phil Mendelson, Chair of the Committee on Public Safety and the Judiciary, enhances penalties for certain crimes involving firearms, repeat violent offences, and vehicle theft, as well as easing prosecutions for identity theft...

Read News: National Criminal Justice Commission Act Hearing Panelists Agree: Criminal Justice System Requires a Comprehensive Review

Posted on June 16, 2009
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs held a hearing last Thursday on the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009, introduced by Senator Jim Webb of Virginia.  Chairman Arlen Specter lead the hearing which assembled a wide ranging panel consisting of Chief William Bratton of the Los Angeles Police Department; Pat Nolan, Vice President of the Prison Fellowship; Professor Charles J...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on June 12, 2009
National: Disenfranchisement Deserves its Day in Court Posted Date:6/12/2009 4:08:10 PM

Read News: Why We Must Reform Our Criminal Justice System

Posted on June 11, 2009
"Ex-offenders are also confronted with a lack of meaningful re-entry programs. With the high volume of people who are coming out of prisons, it is in the self-interest of every American that national leadership design programs that provide former offenders a true pathway towards a productive future...

Read Advocacy Material: Urgent Action Alert: Call DC Council Urge ?no? vote on ?emergency? crime bills

Posted on June 10, 2009
On Tuesday, June 16th, the DC Council is expected to vote on 'emergency' crime bills, including a proposal by Councilman Evans. DC Council should oppose the Evans bill because it will not increase public safety as the proposal: Casts a broad and wide net that will sweep many people – including people who have not been involved in a crime – into the criminal justice system; Proposes new gun crimes and provisions that are not targeted at reducing gun violence; Adds unnecessary new mandatory minimum sentences and makes it easier to detain people pending trial – proposals which will unnecessarily increase incarceration of District residents; May brand as gang members law-abiding District residents simply on the basis of guilt by association and permanently restrict who they can talk to or associate with in their neighborhoods through "gang injunctions...

Read News: Senate Judiciary Subcommittee to Host Hearing Thursday on the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009

Posted on June 10, 2009
On Thursday, June 11th at 3:00pm, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs will hold a hearing on Senator Jim Webb's legislation to comprehensively review and recommend reform to the nation's criminal justice system. The hearing entitled "Exploring the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009," will take place at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 226...

Read Advocacy Material: National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 Statement

Posted on June 09, 2009
Posted Date: 6/9/2009 3:05:03 PM

Read Publication: Testimony of Marc Mauer on the Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2009

Posted on June 05, 2009
The Sentencing Project's submitted testimony on sentences of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP) prepared for the United States House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Posted Date:6/5/2009 11:06:22 AM

Read News: Legislative Hearing June 9 on "Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act"

Posted on June 05, 2009
On June 9, the U.S. House of Representative's Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will convene a hearing at 2:30 p.m. in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2141, to listen to testimony about sentences of juvenile life without parole (JLWOP)...

Read News: Man Serving Three Life Terms for Drug Deal Pins Hopes on Clemency From Obama

Posted on June 03, 2009
'For Clarence Aaron, all that has changed is the president's name. George W. Bush can no longer grant him clemency. Now he's pinning his hopes on Barack Obama – and there just might be a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. Aaron was a 23-year-old junior at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La...

Read Advocacy Material: Take Action: Tell Your Councilmember 'No Gang Injunctions'

Posted on May 30, 2009
The Sentencing Project is deeply concerned with portions of two recently introduced bills in the District of Columbia: Bill 18-138 and Bill 18-151. If enacted, these bills would allow the District to file a civil suit against persons alleged to be gang members and then obtain an injunction from the court that would result in what amounts to a lifetime sentence of probation for the youth targeted by these injunctions...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on May 30, 2009
 National: U.S. Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor May Spark Voting Rights Debate Iowa: Voter Fraud or Miscommunication? Ohio: Department of Corrections Helps Offenders 'Reclaim Their Vote' Posted Date:5/29/2009 8:05:32 PM

Read News: Interfaith group seeks second chance for youths sentenced to life

Posted on May 26, 2009
During Memorial Day weekend at about 200 churches, synagogues and mosques throughout California, an interfaith coalition appealed to individuals about long sentences for juveniles, including those given life sentences without parole. "When children commit certain actions, we stop thinking of them as children," Javier Stauring, director of Faith Communities for Families and Children, told a group of about 90 people Sunday at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena...

Read News: Willie Aikens Fights to Reverse Disparity in Cocaine Laws

Posted on May 22, 2009
'Cocaine cost Willie Mays Aikens his Major League Baseball career and his life savings, but the former slugger says it shouldn't have cost him 14 years of his life. Aikens, who spent almost a decade and a half in a federal prison on drug charges, will tell a congressional panel on Wednesday that the disparity in sentencing for crack and powder cocaine erodes trust in the justice system, ruins lives and destroys families...

Read Advocacy Material: Former prosecutor testifies about sentences for crack cocaine offenses

Posted on May 22, 2009
Before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime Thursday, former federal prosecutor Veronica Coleman-Davis of Memphis, testified that she made a conscious decision that her office would not prosecute "five gram crack cases," the Commercial Appeal reported...

Read Advocacy Material: Legislative Hearing Tomorrow: "Unfairness in Federal Cocaine Sentencing: Is it Time to Crack the 100 to 1 Disparity?"

Posted on May 20, 2009
The U.S. House of Representative's Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will convene a hearing tomorrow at 10am to examine the "Unfairness in Federal Cocaine Sentencing: Is it Time to Crack the 100 to 1 Disparity?" located in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2237...

Read News: Legislative Hearing Tomorrow: "Unfairness in Federal Cocaine Sentencing: Is it Time to Crack the 100 to 1 Disparity?"

Posted on May 20, 2009
The U.S. House of Representative's Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will convene a hearing tomorrow at 10am to examine the "Unfairness in Federal Cocaine Sentencing: Is it Time to Crack the 100 to 1 Disparity?" located in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2237...

Read News: Prison Legal News Publishes ?Prisoners? Guerrilla Handbook to Correspondence Programs in the United States and Canada?

Posted on May 19, 2009
Numerous prisons have eliminated or defunded prison education programs, limiting incarcerated individuals ability to pursue a GED or higher education while incarcerated. To respond to this situation, the third edition of 'Prisoners' Guerrilla Handbook to Correspondence Programs in the U...

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