SCSJ Criminal Justice Reform attorney Daryl Atkinson is a steering committee member of the Formerly Incarcerated and Convicted People’s Movement (FICPM). In the following radio piece from PRX, Daryl and his colleagues speak truth to power on issues relating to ending mass incarceration in the United States. A half-century since the apex of the Civil […]
What did we learn during End Mass Incarceration Week?
From April 5-13, 2014, SCSJ joined other groups across the nation in observing End Mass Incarceration Week (EMI Week). SCSJ produced daily blog posts on various issues relating to mass incarceration in America (the complete blog series is available at the bottom of this post). Blog posts were submitted by SCSJ interns including Meredith McMonigle, […]
Mass Incarceration & People of Color
Mass Incarceration & People of Color One in every 31 Americans is on probation, on parole, in jail or in prison. Distressingly, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one in three African-American men can expect to be incarcerated at some point. These statistics reflect systemic problems in the U.S. justice system and the punitive […]
Crime does pay, but for whom?
Source: Online-Paralegal-Degree.org There are 2.3 million people living behind bars in the United States ● The US prison system costs the federal government $55 billion every year Prison VS. Jail ● Jails are locally-operated facilities that hold inmates for a short period of time ● Prisons are long-term facilities run by the state or federal […]
Michelle Alexander: Why Police Lie Under Oath
Why Police Lie Under Oath (via http://amicuscuria.com) By Michelle Alexander THOUSANDS of people plead guilty to crimes every year in the United States because they know that the odds of a jury’s believing their word over a police officer’s are slim to none. As a juror, whom are you likely to believe…
Facts and figures on incarceration in America
Facts and Figures on Incarceration in America (via Moyers & Company) Over the last four decades, America’s prison population has increased dramatically. This tremendous growth disproportionately affects minorities, and has been exacerbated by the war on drugs. Mass incarceration has become a form of legalized discrimination…
Time to End the War on Drugs
Post by SCSJ Staff Attorney Daryl Atkinson Time to End the War on Drugs In a speech to the American Bar Association on August 12, 2013 Attorney General Eric Holder stressed the need to end mass incarceration, alleviate racial disparities in the criminal justice system, and reduce mandatory minimum sentences for many people convicted of […]