Category: Justice System Reform

Edenton Confederate Monument with large x covering it to demonstrate that its racist origins are unjust.

Justice System Reform

Locals Fight Back Against Secret Deal to Relocate Edenton Confederate Monument to Chowan County Courthouse

EDENTON, N.C. (Jan. 3, 2025) –– A group of Eastern North Carolina residents is suing the Town of Edenton and the Chowan County Board of…

Justice System Reform

Gov. Cooper Grants Historic Death Row Commutations

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 31, 2024) – Today, Gov. Roy Cooper made history by commuting 15 death sentences to life without parole – including a Southern…

prison cell doors open to resemble prison release

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Applauds Biden’s Death Row Commutations, Urges Cooper to Follow Suit

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 23, 2024) – Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) applauds President Joe Biden for his decision to commute 37 of the 40…

A wire fence in the background with a newspaper collaged to the right to show a connection between media narratives and public perception of safety

Justice System Reform

SCSJ’s New Explainer Explores Manipulation of Crime, Safety Narrative

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 18, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) exposes the myth of “rising crime” in its latest installment of Reframing Public…

Justice System Reform

Childcare Advocates, Clergy Celebrate as Protest Charges Dropped

DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 10, 2024) – Charges were dismissed Tuesday against eight concerned faith leaders, childcare advocates, and clergy members who were arrested at the North…

Umar Muhammad Clean Slate Toolkit Pages Spread out on a blue gradient background

SCSJ Releases Umar Muhammad Clean Slate Toolkit Updates, Recommendations for Expanding Second Chances

DURHAM, N.C. (November 25, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ) has released an updated copy of the Umar Muhammad Clean Slate toolkit, which…

Your First 48 Hours toolkit spread with cover page, first 48 hours timeline, information about health services, and housing services.

Justice System Reform

SCSJ Updates Resource Guide for Successful Reentry after Incarceration

DURHAM, N.C. (Nov. 19, 2024) — Southern Coalition for Social Justice has released an updated copy of the Your First 48 Hours Toolkit, a resource…

Young girl holding hand of father with megaphone transposed over photo

Justice System Reform

Media Advisory: Advocates to Hold Press Conference About Open Courts Lawsuit

DURHAM, N.C. (Nov. 18, 2024) — On Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at 3:30 p.m., Durham advocates and social justice organizations will host a press conference…

Justice System Reform

Human Rights Organizations Demand Prison Population Reduction to Ease Overcrowding After Hurricane Helene

RALEIGH , N.C. (Oct. 31, 2024) — North Carolina human rights organizations signed onto a letter to demand the release of 400 incarcerated women and…

Reentry Reimagined cover with young queer Black family holding their toddler happily in the background

Justice System Reform

Upcoming Alamance Reentry Event Will Feature Performers, Impacted Panel Discussion

BURLINGTON, N.C. (Sept. 11, 2024) — Several organizations will come together this month to host a powerful reentry event featuring performances of stories from the Hidden Voices' project ReVisioning Rural Reentry. The stories, which highlight critical perspectives from rural communities across the state, will be followed by a candid panel discussion between three individuals who returned to Alamance County after incarceration.

Safe Return: North Carolina's Experience with Bringing People Home Early form Prison report spread with cover and two spreads showing report content over blue gradient background

Justice System Reform

SCSJ’s ‘Safe Return’ Report Details Successes of NC Releasing People Early from Prison

DURHAM, N.C. (Sept. 4, 2024) — During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina safely sent thousands of people home early from prison with no negative impact to public safety, according to a new report, “Safe Return,” from Southern Coalition for Social Justice released as part of its Reframing Public Safety Series.

Hasson Bacote was sentenced to death for a crime that occurred when he was 21.

Justice System Reform

Community Leaders Urge Court to Uphold Racial Justice Act, Condemn NC Death Penalty

SMITHFIELD, N.C. (Aug. 21, 2024) — Closing arguments in the historic Racial Justice Act (RJA) hearing in the case of Hasson Bacote are scheduled to…

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