Juveniles Languish in Maine, Mental Illness Detention Tragedy & More
"It's crazy to me that somebody can be pulled over and have their cash and truck taken for an alleged crime, get acquitted of that crime, but they still never get their property back."
Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt spoke out against the controversial practice of civil asset forfeiture during his 2024 State of the State address, acknowledging its inherent unfairness and calling for comprehensive reforms. Stitt's stance adds momentum to the growing movement against this widely criticized practice, which allows law enforcement to seize property from individuals, often without criminal charges or due process. As calls for reform intensify, Oklahoma finds itself at the forefront of a nationwide conversation on addressing the equity and transparency issues surrounding civil asset forfeiture.
"It meant mentally ill people were routinely held at the jail even though they had no criminal charges."
A Tennessee county's practice of incarcerating individuals with mental health issues even when there are no charges against them led to the tragic death of Haley Hargis' 52-year old father, Jonathan. Now a lawsuit brought by the 22-year-old—which claims her father was falsely imprisoned—is revealing a disturbing pattern that contributed to her father's lockup. According to the lawsuit, 52 mentally ill people were held at the Overton County Jail over the course of just two years, during which the county had a policy that allowed officers to take mentally ill people to jail for involuntary hold if they became "combative" during an interaction.
"If Mr. Loftin was in charge of Ware at that time, there are serious questions about whether this is a move in the direction toward improving OJJ."
The former head of a youth detention center marred by a problematic past and allegations of abuse is set to take the reins of Louisiana's juvenile justice system. Kenny Lofting, who previously ran the Ware Youth Center, oversaw the facility during a period where there were numerous allegations of physical and sexual abuse that were covered by national outlets like the New York Times, and his appointment has sparked concerns about his ability to run a state-wide juvenile justice system.
"...this change could lead to a 14-month decrease for a substantial number of inmates, with Black defendants anticipated to benefit significantly."
An estimated 18,000 individuals incarcerated in federal prisons stand to benefit from a significant shift in sentencing policies that could lead to their reduced prison terms. Originally approved last spring, the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s decision extends the opportunity for sentence reductions, and in several instances, release from prison. Now is the question of implementation.
"If these kids had a real champion among agency heads or elected leaders, real solutions could be implemented."
Maine, once on track to lead the nation in its reformation of its juvenile justice system, is now serving as a cautionary tale about reform without a more holistic approach. The state sends far fewer adolescents to its only remaining youth detention facility than it did a decade ago, thanks to many reforms. At the same time, it has not made similar strides to bolster accountability or preventative measures, allowing chronic problems to persist.