Brutal Deaths in Understaffed Prisons, Veterans Left Behind & More
"The best crime-fighting tool is a good-paying job."
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the state's Clean Slate Act into law this week, making New York the 12th state to enact automatic expungement legislation in recent years. The bill is projected to benefit as many as two million individuals convicted of crimes in New York State. Like other Clean Slate laws around the country, the law allows for the sealing of certain criminal records for those who complete their sentences and maintain a clean record for a specified period, providing economic opportunities and aiming to break the cycle of recidivism. Although the law will take effect in a year, its impact on employment and housing opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals is anticipated to be significant.
"[Fourteen] states classify minor traffic offenses as a misdemeanor, which may result in someone landing in jail, on probation, or with further criminal sanctions."
A new report from the Fines and Fees Justice Center shows that in 14 states, a person can still be arrested and jailed over minor traffic offenses such as a cracked headlight. The report highlights that criminalizing minor traffic offenses incurs serious, life-long consequences, and urgently calls for the decriminalization of minor traffic offenses and advocates for alternatives to bench warrants.
"If Georgia wants to be tough on crime, it needs to make a dramatic new investment so that the prison system can hire more staff who are better qualified and implement new technology to help."
The latest installment of the Atlanta-Journal Constitution's investigation into Georgia prisons is shedding light on the brutal prison conditions, attacks, and murders that take place as a result of understaffing and lack of oversight of its state prison system. From skipped mental health checks that have resulted in suicides, to large gang beatings, to a body left in a mattress unnoticed for five days, this story highlights how the state's system is in crisis and on the verge of collapse.
"While majorities of Republicans (55%) and White adults (53%) believe that criminal suspects are treated fairly, majorities of Democrats (55%) and people of color (56%) think they are treated unfairly."
A new Gallup poll shows that a 58% majority of Americans think the U.S. criminal justice system is not tough enough in its handling of crime, marking a dramatic shift from the prior reading in 2020 when a record-low 41% said the same. Gallup's latest Crime survey reveals that this sentiment has fluctuated over the years, with majorities favoring a tougher approach between 1992 and 2003. The survey also exposes a sharp divide among political lines, with three-quarters of Republicans advocating for a tougher stance, while Democrats are split on the issue, emphasizing the ongoing complexity of public perceptions regarding the criminal justice system.
"Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. counties do not have an active veterans treatment court."
As the nation commemorated Veterans Day last weekend, an op-ed in USA Today highlighted a stark reality – thousands of veterans are left behind within the confines of the criminal justice system. With approximately 200,000 service members transitioning to civilian life annually, a survey reveals that over half of veterans with traumatic experiences feel inadequately prepared for this transition, leading to financial struggles, difficulty accessing medical care, and challenges with alcohol or drug misuse. Alarming statistics show that 1 in 3 veterans report arrests at some point, and over 180,000 veterans are currently incarcerated, demanding urgent attention to address the unique challenges they face—particularly the 40% with post-traumatic stress disorder—as a generation of veterans navigates civilian life after two decades of conflict.