Criminal Law

Read Publication: FEDERAL VOTING RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE RETURNING FROM PRISON

Posted on January 05, 2009
This fact sheet highlights Congress’s authority to restore federal voting rights to people returning from prison. 1 page Posted Date:1/5/2009 2:20:21 PM

Read News: Former, current chief justices urge president-elect Obama to address federal sentencing guidelines, prison racial disparity

Posted on January 05, 2009
In a letter addressed to president-elect Obama and his transition team, Missouri Supreme Court Justice Michael A. Wolff and Oregon Chief Justice Paul J. De Muniz requested a “major change” in federal sentencing. “Sentencing in the United States affects the lives of millions of Americans, usually adversely,” they wrote...

Read Advocacy Material: Presidential Commutations Urged for Prisoners Serving Long Crack Cocaine Sentences

Posted on December 31, 2008
As the holiday season approaches, and President George Bush's term comes to a close, a broad coalition of 29 civil rights, religious, academic and justice organizations have asked the president today to commute excessive sentences for low-level crack cocaine offenses...

Read News: NEW REPORT ON BLACK YOUTH HOMICIDES MISLEADING

Posted on December 31, 2008
A new report by James Alan Fox and Marc Swatt of Northeastern University has generated a good deal of media attention with its finding that homicides involving black males 14-17 grew by 43% from 2002 to 2007. The findings have variously generated calls for enhanced policing, prevention services, and other responses...

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Read News: Pardon more than the turkey

Posted on December 05, 2008
"In his last days in office and with the 2008 election decided, President Bush can afford to be generous with a power with which he was been notoriously stingy - that is, the president's near-absolute authority to pardon ex-cons and commute the sentences of federal offenders...

Read News: DISENFRANCHISEMENT NEWS

Posted on November 20, 2008
Alabama: Voting for the First Time in Almost 40 Years Florida: Editorial Supports Democracy for All Pennsylvania: Is Disenfranchising Voters Really the “Right Thing to Do?” Posted Date:11/20/2008 8:38:35 PM

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on November 14, 2008
Kentucky: Formerly Disenfranchised Voters Chronicle their Election Day Experience International: Government is Warned that Inmate Voting Must Be Allowed Florida: Voting for the First time in at Least 30 YearsNational: Familial Disenfranchisement Posted Date:11/14/2008 6:54:42 PM

Read News: Applied Research Center Releases Agenda for Racial Justice in Cooperation with The Sentencing Project

Posted on November 12, 2008
The Applied Research Center (ARC) has just released its Compact for Racial Justice: An Agenda for Fairness and Unity. This proactive agenda reviews the steps that led the U.S. to its current status, as well as the steps needed to arrive at racial fairness and unity...

Read News: Oregon Voters Reject Mandatory Minimum Ballot Measure

Posted on November 11, 2008
Oregon voters rejected ballot measure 61 last week diverting a major increase in incarceration of non-violent offenders and prison construction in the state, according to advocacy organization, Partnership for Safety and Justice. At the same time, a separate measure, with a more balanced approach to addressing nonviolent crime, passed...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on November 10, 2008
First Time Voters National: ‘Mass Confusion,’ Lawsuits Shadow Election Day 2009 Georgia: To Vote, or Not to Vote Oklahoma: Legislator Supports Vote Restoration California: Report Says Felony Disenfranchisement ‘Single Greatest Factor Excluding People of Color’ Posted Date:11/10/2008 10:00:44 PM

Read Publication: CRIMINAL JUSTICE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW ADMINISTRATION AND CONGRESS

Posted on November 07, 2008
The 2009 Criminal Justice Transition Coalition’s collaborative report identifying critical needs for federal policy reform for President-elect Barack Obama's agenda. 263 pages Posted Date:11/7/2008 10:42:30 AM

Read News: Juvenile Justice Advocates Offer Obama Transition Team Suggestions for Next Administration

Posted on November 07, 2008
The ABA hosted a gathering of juvenile justice advocates Thursday to offer suggestions to the Obama transition team for the next administration. The Sentencing Project’s Research Analyst, Ashley Nellis, presented three issues that The Sentencing Project feels need immediate attention from the incoming administration: Strengthen the focus on reducing racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system; dedicate more time and resources to exploring and advancing what works (and what doesn’t) in juvenile justice; and invest in evidence-based and community-oriented services and initiatives that support healthy family and community reintegration upon youth’s release from custody...

Read News: Crack cocaine disparity prioritized in President-elect Barack Obama?s transition agenda

Posted on November 06, 2008
President-elect Barack Obama Wednesday unveiled a new Web site, www.change.gov, which highlights the incoming administration's policy priorities. Among the top civil rights priorities will be the complete elimination of crack cocaine sentencing disparities...

Read News: Voting Rights Restored

Posted on November 05, 2008
Michael Hargrett cast his vote Tuesday – his first vote in several years after moving from Illinois where his rights were restored after having been incarcerated, to Florida, where they were revoked due to his former record. After missing several elections and working with the Florida ACLU, Hargrett’s rights were restored and he made it to the polls on Election Day with pride...

Read News: Records of Obama and McCain as Lawmakers Reflect Differences on Crime

Posted on November 01, 2008
The criminal justice stances of presidential candidates Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama differ greatly according to the New York Times. Another point of view, noted by "Lives in Focus,” states that the candidates' views are vague...

Read News: Proposition 5: The Most Threatening (to the Prison Industrial Complex)

Posted on October 31, 2008
California’s Nonviolent Offender Rehabilitation Act, known as Proposition 5 on the state’s upcoming election ballot, is an effort to reduce prison sentences and provide drug rehabilitation to offenders in need of assistance. According to an L...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on October 24, 2008
Maine & Vermont: Voting Interest Up in Prison Facilities Illinois: SomeState Employees Well Versed on Voting Rights Laws, Some Not Kansas: Voter Registration Ends on Positive Note National: Broadcasters Pay Attention to Disenfranchisement Maryland: Press Conference to Spotlight Unlawful Cancellation of Registration Applications; Voting Leads to Community Connection, Empowerment Iowa: Voting Rights Law is “Simple”Ohio: Secretary of State Backs Voter Education for Individuals with Felony Convictions Florida: Restoration Change Still Doesn’t Fix the Problem Alabama: NAACP Settles Voting Rights Case, Allows Inmate Voter Education to Continue California: ACLU Voter Education Campaign will be Mainstay for Future Campaigns Posted Date:10/24/2008 6:51:27 PM

Read News: Brookings Institution Quarterly Journal Highlights Juvenile Justice

Posted on October 22, 2008
On October 15, the Brookings Institution held a forum to accompany the release of its quarterly journal, The Future of Children, produced as a joint enterprise with Princeton University.  This issue focused exclusively on juvenile justice.  In attendance at the event were about 150 advocates, researchers, practitioners, and government agency representatives...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on October 20, 2008
Virginia: The Law ‘Stinks’ National: Voting rights confusion, education, history California: Accessible Resources at Prisons for Families, Inmates Georgia: Those yet to be Sentenced Can Vote Alabama: Several Voting Rights Suits Challenge Constitution, Political Party, Antiquated Law Tennessee: State Reports Increase in Registration of Individuals with Felony Convictions New York: Voting Rights Must Not Be Denied; State Officials Must be Educated to Educate Others Posted Date:10/20/2008 8:08:46 PM

Read News: Marc Mauer Participates in Sen. Jim Webb's Justice Symposium, ?Drugs in America: Trafficking, Policy, & Sentencing?

Posted on October 17, 2008
Executive Director Marc Mauer participated in a panel discussion hosted by Senator Jim Webb and the George Mason University Administration of Justice on Wednesday, October 15th in Arlington, VA. The panel, moderated by Senator Webb, was titled “What’s Happening to Users...

Read News: Support Youth, Reduce Crime

Posted on October 16, 2008
Marc Mauer reacts to recent Washington Post article about claims of rising juvenile violent crime in D.C. Posted Date:10/16/2008 6:16:51 PM

Read News: Illinois Governor Signs Racial Impact Legislation

Posted on October 10, 2008
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich signed legislation this week to create a state commission to study the impact of the state’s drug laws on minority communities. This legislation is linked to the findings of a 2007 study that showed African Americans in Illinois were nine times more likely to be incarcerated than whites, ranking Illinois 14th highest in the nation in racial disparity...

Read Publication: Sentencing Times

Posted on October 09, 2008
The Sentencing Project's achievements in research and analysis, and strides towards policy reform are featured in our latest fall newsletter, Sentencing Times. Posted Date:10/9/2008 12:27:55 PM

Read News: Sentencing Times highlights this year's advances in criminal justice reform

Posted on October 09, 2008
The Sentencing Project's achievements in research and analysis, and strides towards policy reform are featured in our latest fall newsletter, Sentencing Times. Articles featured include: ·          U...

Read News: Disenfranchisement News

Posted on October 07, 2008
Last minute registration efforts Inmate voting Alabama: Registration Suit Ensues National: Sen. Feingold introduces federal voting rights legislation National: The Sentencing Project, ACLU, Brennan Center for Justice Publish Disenfranchisement Reports National: Reader’s Digest ‘Rocks the Vote’ Florida: State fails to restore rights accurately Illinois: For the Record, They Can Vote New Jersey: Voting is a Must Virginia: Governor Believes in Vote Restoration Maryland: State Attorney Agrees with Year-old Reenfranchisement Law Oklahoma: Confusing Law Keeps Individuals Away from Polls Posted Date:10/7/2008 1:52:02 PM

Read News: MAUER ADDRESSES ANNUAL CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS EVENT

Posted on October 01, 2008
Executive Director Marc Mauer participated in a panel discussion at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference on Friday, September 26th in Washington, DC. The session, sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chair John Conyers, was titled “The Challenges of Criminal Justice Reform Under a New Administration: Juvenile Justice, Gun Violence and Police Accountability...

Read News: The Sentencing Project Publishes Racial Disparity Manual for Practioners, Policymakers

Posted on September 25, 2008
The Sentencing Project has just published a new edition of “Reducing Racial Disparity in the Criminal Justice System,” a comprehensive manual for practitioners and policymakers. The publication provides insight into how racial disparities develop in the criminal justice system, and workable solutions to address and reduce disparities...

Read Feature: DOROTHY GAINES

Posted on September 25, 2008
Former nurse Dorothy Gaines lived a simple life in Mobile, Alabama. She was a devoted mother who never separated from her children. She was a self-proclaimed PTA mom and always brought snacks to the football field where her son played on the team, and her daughter was a cheerleader...

Read News: Philadelphia's record on juvenile lifers put under scrutiny

Posted on September 23, 2008
The Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing Monday in light of the fact that the Commonwealth leads the nation in the number of juveniles sentenced to life without parole. The panel of those giving testimony included The Sentencing Project’s Research Analyst, Ashley Nellis and, via satellite, two adult men who have been incarcerated since they were 14 years old...

Read News: New Prisons Seldom A Lock On Prosperity

Posted on September 22, 2008
"Prisons have become a growth industry in rural America, where communities suffering from decades of decline in farming, mining and manufacturing jobs are grateful for solid employment opportunities. Although many state and local officials boast about the positive impact prisons have on their host counties, public policy analysts and criminal justice experts argue that other than creating jobs, correctional institutions do little to boost local economies...

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