Criminal Justice / Public News Service

A report released this year by the state's Department of Human Services found homelessness is up by 24-percent compared to 2021. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Report: Evidence-based strategies to help WV address homelessness

Cities and states are struggling with mounting homelessness, and West Virginia is no exception. A recent report points to potential solutions and …

A child's public education costs $19,000 annually in Connecticut, but it can cost $274,000 to imprison a child. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Youth justice reforms a top 2025 priority for Connecticut group

As it advocates for changes to the youth justice system in 2025, a Connecticut group says the state needs to do more to examine and address the root …

According to the 2023 Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, the average length of detention stay for a juvenile offender is nearly six months. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation on IL juvenile offenders awaits Senate decision

Pending legislation could change the age of Illinois' juvenile offenders' detention time before their trial date. Currently, juveniles as young as 10…

FBI and BJS data show dramatic declines in U.S. violent and property crime rates since the early 1990s. (Generated with AI/Adobe Stock)<br />

New FBI data show no evidence of violent crime wave in Kentucky

New federal data show aggravated assaults are up in Kentucky by 7.2%, but other types of violent crime have gone down. Overall, violent crime in …

More than 40 city, state and federal elected officials in New York City opposed Mayor Eric Adams' slate of charter reforms for giving the mayor's office more power. (Adobe Stock)

NYC charter revisions pass despite voter confusion

New York City residents approved three of Mayor Eric Adams' four charter reforms in last week's election. But how many realized what they were voting …

As of year-end 2022, Michigan had 32,374 people incarcerated in its prisons, a slight increase of 188 individuals (0.6%) from the previous year, according to the Michigan House Fiscal Agency's corrections data. (Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration)

Michiganders rally at state capital to end prison crisis

Hundreds of people from across Michigan gathered in Lansing this week, urging House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit and Senate Majority Leader Winnie …

Finding shelter for young people who are set to be released from detention can be difficult and take much time. (sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

WA youth with nowhere to go can spend longer behind bars

Incarcerated young people in Washington state can spend a longer time in detention if they do not have a place to go upon release. Some of the …

President-elect Donald Trump's plan for mass deportation of immigrants means the U.S. loses out on $22.6 billion and $5.7 billion in Social Security and Medicare contributions, respectively. (Adobe Stock)

Immigrant NYers fear what lies ahead in 2nd Trump term

As the dust settles from the 2024 election, immigrant New Yorkers fear how Donald Trump's second term will impact them. Many still recall the …

The report found approximately 764,000 women in North Carolina and beyond are disenfranchised in 2024. (Adobe Stock)

Study highlights felony voting ban in NC and beyond amid election results

With the 2024 election concluded, Donald Trump is poised to become the first president to take office while several criminal cases against him are …

City governments are strengthening financial security for families through reimagined debt-collection practices, equitable ability-to-pay processes and increased access to financial empowerment services. (Adobe Stock)

Program helps youth in Pueblo clear steep hurdles of fines and fees

Young people in Pueblo can now avoid serious and long-lasting consequences when they are unable to pay fines or fees. Chanell Hasty, program …

Proposition 36 rolls back key parts of Proposition 47, passed in 2014 as part of an effort to emphasize crime prevention over incarceration. (Negro Elkha/Adobe Stock)

CA criminal justice reform suffers blow with passage of Prop. 36

Advocates of criminal-justice reform warn the passage of Proposition 36 will mean a sharp reduction in funds to anti-crime initiatives. The measure …

In 2016, legislation eased the rights-restoration process after completion of sentence for persons not convicted of a crime of

Alabama felony voting ban leaves thousands disenfranchised as polls open

As Alabamians head to the polls, some people will be unable to vote in the general election because of a past felony conviction. Research by The …

The FTC says in 2023, emails replaced texts as the most common tool used by scammers, followed by phone calls as the second most commonly reported contact method for fraud. (Adobe Stock)

IN residents should use caution to avoid scams

The FBI says Indiana's older population lost almost $38 million to fraud last year, according to a new report. The Federal Trade Commission says …

Idahoans can register to vote on Election Day at their polling place with proof of residency and a photo ID. (Annap/Adobe Stock)

Voter guide available for Idahoans who might face barriers at polls

Election Day is tomorrow and resources are available for people who might face challenges at the polls in Idaho. The American Civil Liberties Union …

Young Washingtonians with juvenile convictions and misdemeanors have a chance to vote in the Nov. 5 election. (Darylann Elmi/Adobe Stock)

WA youth in juvenile justice system could still vote

Some young people who are in Washington state's juvenile justice system could have the opportunity to vote in this year's election. Young people …

Kate McQueen and Jesse Vasquez lead the Pollen Initiative's journalism program at the Central California Women's Facility. (Anya Petrone Slepyan/Daily Yonder)

CA prison journalism spreads from urban to rural facilities

By Claire Carlson and Anya Petrone Slepyan for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service for the Public News Se…

In Pennsylvania on election day the polls are open from 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. Today is the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot. (AnnaStills/Adobe)<br /><br /><br /><br />

Scholars gather in PA to discuss growing authoritarian threats to U.S. democracy

With Pennsylvania a crucial state in this year's presidential election, political scholars gathered in Philadelphia last night to share their …

The goal of the Teen Court system is to keep young adults out of the prison system. (chokniti/Adobe Stock)

TX Teen Court gives students a second chance

By Marium Zahra for Yes! Media.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Yes! Media-Public News Service Collaboration …

Money bail is a source of racial disparities in the justice system, particularly for Black and Latino populations, research shows. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: Bail reform in WV has no impact on crime rates

Changes in bail policy don't affect crime rates in cities nationwide, according to new data from the Brennan Center for Justice. Cash bail has …

Activists spoke out in San Leandro last week supporting Prop. 6 and opposing Prop. 36. (Jesus

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Criminal justice reform advocates rally behind Prop 6, reject Prop 36

Groups that fight for criminal justice reform are urging California voters to support Proposition Six and reject Proposition 36. Prop. 36 would …

About 496,000 Latino Americans are disenfranchised, with more than 5% of Latino voters in Arizona and Tennessee affected by felony voting bans. (Adobe Stock)

Past felony convictions keep almost 400,000 in TN from voting

Tens of thousands of Tennesseans with felony convictions are unable to vote in the Nov. 5 General Election. Research by The Sentencing Project shows …

In 15 states, 5% or more of the African American adult population is banned from voting because of a felony conviction. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Report: More than 68,000 Mississippians can’t vote due to felony convictions

In Mississippi, thousands of people will not be able to vote in the general elections due to a past felony conviction. Research by The Sentencing …

A law enshrined in Nebraska's 1875 Constitution has been overturned, restoring the rights of Nebraskans with a felony conviction to register and vote. (Adobe Stock)

Court clears way for Nebraskans with past felony convictions to register, vote

The state Supreme Court has upheld a law giving Nebraskans with prior felony convictions the right to vote once they have completed their sentence…

Loretta Rush, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, said the state's protective order registry had more than 1 million protective orders for workplace or domestic violence in 2023. (Adobe stock)

New report: Indiana courts face mental health crisis

Loretta Rush, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, has released the 2023-24 annual report for the state's courts. The report shows Indiana's …

Crime survivors spoke out against Prop 36 at the opening of a new trauma-recovery center in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday. (Californians for Safety and Justice)

Crime survivors celebrate new trauma recovery center, slam Prop 36

Survivors of crime are speaking out against Proposition 36, which goes before California voters in November. The ballot measure would increase …

New Mexico changed its state law in 2023 to allow people with felony convictions to vote if they are not incarcerated. (niyazz/Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit forces NM to rush voter registration for those with felony convictions

New Mexicans who've been released from prison after serving time for a felony conviction will be able to vote in next month's election, after pro-…

The Alabama Board of Pardons and Paroles conducted 22 hearings on Sept. 11, granting parole to four individuals and denying requests for 18 others. (Adobe Stock)

A push for parole reform as AL prisons face overcrowding, violence

Groups across Alabama are joining forces to advocate for big changes to what they see as the state's flawed parole system. In a panel discussion led …

Over 161,000 Coloradans are living with severe mental illness, but 60% are not receiving care. (Adobe Stock)

80 Colorado candidates commit to improving mental health policies

Mental health is a top issue for voters, and candidates running for office across Colorado are pledging to make it a priority if elected. Kathleen …

A billboard near Smithfield, N.C., where more than 600 men are housed at the Johnston Correctional Institution, sends a message to inmates. Statewide, more than 37,000 people are currently incarcerated in 55 state prisons. (Recidivism Reduction Education Programs)

NC group pushes for public safety through targeted investment

A North Carolina group is launching a new campaign to emphasize the importance of investing in people behind bars, so they'll have a better chance …

According to the Public Policy Initiative, Indiana's incarceration rate is 721 per 100,000 residents.<br />(Adobe Stock)

IN correctional facilities show higher cancer rates

Two specific types of cancer are showing up in high numbers among people in jail and prison and Indiana is no exception. A new study found a lack of …

Around 42% of female survivors experienced their first rape prior to age 18; 28% of male survivors were first raped prior to age 11. One in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys are sexually victimized before age 18. (motortion/Adobe Stock)

Improving Ohio's sexual violence response teams

Sexual violence remains a significant concern in Ohio, and specialized teams, such as Sexual Assault Response Teams and Coordinated Community …

Domestic violence-related homicides in Ohio doubled from 2018 to 2019, highlighting a growing crisis in the state. (Domarita Lopez-Wilcox)

Tragic toll of domestic violence in Ohio

In Ohio, the effects of domestic violence continue to devastate families. The Ohio Domestic Violence Network released its ninth annual fatality …

According to the Prison Policy Institute, Illinois's incarceration rate of 433 per 100,000 people ranks the state as having nearly the highest lockup rate of any democratic country. (Adobe Stock)

Higher cancer rates among IL's incarcerated population

Two specific types of cancer are showing up in high numbers among people in jail and prison and Illinois is no exception. A new study found a lack …

At Ohio State, 36 were arrested for alleged criminal trespassing, including students, a staff member and supporters unrelated to the institution during protests this spring. (Erman Gunes/Adobe Stock)

Ohio's evolving landscape of student activism

By Eduardo Miranda Strobel / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Protests at …

Wendolyn Gray of Louisville, Ky., said she is committed to helping other vote, after she lost the right to vote due to a past nonviolent felony offense. (Adobe Stock)<br />

This Louisville resident cannot vote but is devoted to helping others do so

Today is the last day Kentuckians can register to vote in next month's presidential election. The ballot will also include two constitutional …

A report from the Brennan Center for Justice urges policymakers to invest in alternatives to cash bail and provide support for pretrial services, such as supervision programs, as well as increased access to mental health and substance abuse treatment. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Report makes case for eliminating cash bail system

A new report outlines how eliminating cash bail could affect people in Mississippi and beyond. The ACLU of Mississippi said 14 of 25 people in jail …

U.S. News and World Report said Illinois ranks 39th in the country for juvenile incarceration. (Adobe Stock)

IL juvenile rights group takes action for education behind bars

A class action lawsuit has been filed on behalf of young people with disabilities serving time in the Illinois Department of Corrections. The …

The Des Moines City Council passed a resolution that bans tent camping and criminalizes falling asleep in public, which can result in a $15 fine. (Adobe Stock)

Critics push back on Des Moines' homeless ordinance

The Des Moines City Council has passed an ordinance to reduce the homeless population and help people find alternatives to being on the street…

About 6,500 South Dakotans are in state or federal prisons, local jails and other kinds of facilities, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. (Wikimedia Commons)

Advocacy group forms for people in prison amid controversies in SD prisons

Recent problems in South Dakota prisons have concerned lawmakers, corrections commission members and family members of those incarcerated, who formed …

Georgia has the fourth-largest prison population in the country, with approximately 50,000 incarcerated people in state custody. (Adobe Stock)

DOJ report reveals severe failures in Georgia prisons

The U.S. Department of Justice has released a report on the state of Georgia's prisons, citing horrific conditions and extreme violence. The …

The Mobile County Public Defenders Office launched in October 2020. Most counties in the state do not have such an office. (Adobe Stock)

From prison to advocacy: Fighting for justice in Mobile County

A man who once faced the harsh realities of Alabama's criminal justice system is now working to ensure others in Mobile County do not have to endure t…

FollowtheCrypto.org finds that the crypto industry provided more than $174 million for the 2024 election so far. (VideoFlow/Adobe Stock)

The power of crypto in Ohio's political landscape

As cryptocurrency becomes more prevalent, it's also making its way into the political arena. With millions of dollars being funneled into campaigns …

For decades, the fossil fuel industry has been able to slow or prevent policies to reduce climate pollution by laundering false claims and junk science through allied think tanks and media outlets. (Adobe Stock)

Report names donors bankrolling climate change disinformation

As Coloradans deal with record-breaking heat, wildfires, and prolonged drought - linked to a changing climate - a new report shows how American …

New York City Mayor Eric Adams' federal indictment claims he has sought out and accepted improper gifts and benefits since he was first elected as Brooklyn Borough President in 2014. (Marc A. Hermann/Wikimedia Commons)

Reactions to NYC Mayor's charges in federal corruption probe

New Yorkers are reeling from the news that Mayor Eric Adams has been charged with wire fraud, bribery and campaign finance offenses. The charges …

Twelve people on North Carolina's death row were sentenced in Forsyth County, more than any other county in the state; seven of those 12 are Black men. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates begin 136-mile walk to urge end of death penalty in NC

Today, advocates in North Carolina are kicking off a 136-mile "Walk for Commutation" to raise awareness about those on death row who could soon face …

A report from the Brennan Center for Justice emphasized that cash bail often allows release based on financial resources rather than public safety considerations. (Adobe Stock)

Report challenges Georgia’s expanded cash bail law

A new report challenges the belief that bail reform leads to increased crime, an idea that drove recent changes in Georgia's bail system. Senate …

A report from the Brennan Center for Justice emphasized cash bail often allows release based on financial resources rather than public-safety considerations. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

How Alabama bail reform could transform justice system

As Alabama lawmakers look at bail reform, a new report outlines how eliminating cash bail could impact the state and beyond. House Bill 42, sponsored …

Rethinking bail: A path toward justice in North Carolina

A new report examines bail reform and its potential impact in North Carolina and nationwide. Advocates said bail reform aims to remove the influence …

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