#criminal-justice reform | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

reasonsforhope · 1 year

Text

It was a really, really good political news day today in the US (4/4/23)

For anyone who hasn't heard, not only did Trump get arrested, but also:

-We found out that the legal case against him in this prosecution (stormy daniels hush money case) is SIGNIFICANTLY stronger than people had speculated. Like, wow do they have receipts.

-In fact, the evidence was so entirely there that the new question on prime time news (well, at least on msnbc lol) is "Hey, why didn't the federal courts prosecute him for this already???)

-Trump FAILED UTTERLY in his attempts to rally mass protests and demands for "death and destruction" if he was arrested. There was no violence at the arrest at all, and as for Trump supporters? They failed to show up in any kind of numbers--reportedly only about a hundred people were protesting the arrest

-We (aka Judge Janet Protasiewicz) WON what is widely considered to be the most consequential election of 2023, a Wisconsin state supreme court election that handed control of the state supreme court to the left

-Because of that election win, it is now extremely likely that abortion will be legal in Wisconsin, and that Wisconsin won't be able to throw out electors in the 2024 presidential election

-ALSO bc of this, Wisconsin, the most gerrymandered state in the country, will probably get nonpartisan, accurate maps, which COULD FLIP THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in 2024

-In Chicago, Brandon Johnson, union organizer and former teacher, won the election for mayor, in a decisive win progressives, esp for meaningful criminal justice reform and investment in mental health (whereas the other guy was campaigning on hiring hundreds of new cops and being super tough on crime)

25K notes · View notes

reportwire · 2 years

Text

C. J. Rice’s Narrow Path to Freedom

Last week, The Atlantic published its November cover story, “Good Luck, Mr. Rice,” in which Jake Tapper investigates the case of a Philadelphia teenager who was convicted of attempted murder after a 2011 shooting that left four injured. C. J. Rice, now 28, has maintained his innocence. No physical evidence tied him (or anyone) to the crime, and the single eyewitness who identified him as the…

View On WordPress

0 notes

to-dance-beneath-the-diamond-sky · 2 months

Text

idk why people are having such a hard time wrapping their brains around the fact that not referring to people as prisoners and instead referring to them as people in prison or incarcerated people is a really really simple thing you can do to help combat decades of the systemic dehumanization of black, brown, and poor people. in the US and a lot of other countries around the world, the term prisoner has extremely negative connotations and stigma associated with it, and invokes a whole lot of bias and stereotypes about who is in prison and what for. the idea that people who are in prison are there because they are bad awful people is deeply ingrained in almost every aspect of US society and culture. prisons systemically dehumanize people and do everything to strip away people's autonomy, individuality, identity, freedom, and human rights.

the push for person first language when discussing those who are incarcerated literally comes from people who have been systemically dehumanized from these oppressive punitive systems. this is not an ahistorical uwu sjw don't say "autistic" say "person-with-autism" thing. there are decades, fuck even centuries of significant, deeply racialized and oppressive political and historical context you have to take into account.

so please don't feed into this dehumanization by referring to people as objects in this extremely oppressive, racist, classist, harmful punitive system. use person first language y'all, it's not that fucking hard.

here's some articles if people actually care enough to educate themseves

The language of incarceration People First: The Use and Impact of Criminal Justice Labels in Media Coverage The Language Project Forget labels like ex-con and felon, realize that words matter and learn how to humanize language

#mass incarceration #criminal justice reform #like i really don't understand what all the fuss is about and why people are getting so angry about my previous post #the word prisoner DOES have MANY negative and dehumaizing connotations #so like?? don't call people that #it's not fucking rocket science #jesus christ

63 notes · View notes

politijohn · 2 years

Text

Hey Siri, define slavery

#politics #us politics #abolish prisons #prison industrial complex #current events #criminal justice system #capitalism #prison reform

2K notes · View notes

jesseleelazyblog · 30 days

Text

Unethical Executions in April

Micheal Smith is being executed in Alabama despite having an intellectual disability that would disqualify him from the death penalty in any other state. The only reason he is still being executed is because of a few confusing technicalities in Oklahoma law.

Petitions Here:

Letter Writing Campaigns for oklahoma residents here:

Missouri is slated to execute Brian Dorsey despite his claims of ineffective counsel and the fact that he is picture of remorse and rehabilitation: he turned himself over to the police and pled guilty, has had a flawless prison record, currently resides in the honor ward while working as a prison barber (a highly coveted job only given to trust worthy inmates), and has about 60 prison staff members advocating for the commutation of his sentence.

Petitions Here:

Letter Writing Campaigns and other actions for Missouri Residents here:

https://www.archstl.org/missouri-bishops-others-request-clemency-for-brian-dorsey-first-inmate-to-be-executed-this-year-9478

28 notes · View notes

workersolidarity · 26 days

Text

🇮🇱⚔️🇵🇸 🚀🏥💥 🚨

AL-SHIFA MEDICAL COMPLEX BEFORE AND AFTER ISRAELI OCCUPATION FORCES DESTROYED THE HOSPITAL

📹 Footage published detailing the reception for the opening of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City, back-to-back with footage from after the withdrawal of the Israeli occupation army on Monday.

Al-Shifa Medical Complex was once the largest and most well equipped hospital in the entire Gaza Strip, with advanced surgical capabilities and rehabilitation centers.

Today, the entire structure of the main building barely stands, while satellite buildings are completely destroyed, after the withdrawal of the Zionist army, leaving the hospital grounds littered with the rotting corpses of dozens, if not hundreds, of Palestinian civilians killed during the occupation's siege, bombardment and ground operations targeting Al-Shifa Hospital and its grounds.

#source

@WorkerSolidarityNews

30 notes · View notes

republicansaredomesticterrorists · 3 months

Text

The Republican Party is at war with the American people.

#republican assholes #three strikes #criminal justice #courts target the poor #justice system targets minorities #court reform #legal system reform #Louisiana

23 notes · View notes

racefortheironthrone · 4 months

Note

How have superhero stories grappled with the more grounded depictions of fighting crime? Which is to say, someone with much higher power than those they’re fighting breaking bones and causing harm in real circumstances?

It’s like there’s a disconnect between some of the more “straight” stories of someone who is seemingly nice on every level as a hero but goes out during their nights to beat the hell out of people with their alter ego and power , and ofc how that image links with punitive justice / brutality status quo of justice enforcement

On the worst end, you get Rorschach’s (part of the point of the character I know) who throw suspected criminals down elevator shafts, and on the best end you get spidey or flash harmlessly webbing guys up or tying them up before they can hurt anyone

Ideally you’d get heroes going out to defend others lives and doing so in as non harmful ways as possible and incapacitating without violence, and addressing the root issues of criminals at the same time (inspired by your Batman post) while putting thr buck of energy towards the real masters of evil propagating the system

One of my favorite recent stories was the Zdarsky daredevil where it shows how easily a fatal accident can happen in a normal fight, and how dangerous any kind of violence is, but I’m not sure how much of an outlier / regular that is.

Maybe vague, but what I’m getting at is how, if at all, has this trend changed in superheroes over the years? And how successfully have they grappled with the “Ka pow” solution and what would actually come of it?

I've talked about this a bit in the past with regards to Batman (although I think the Punisher is the better case study) and vigilantism in general.

I think it's genuinely important that superheroes avoid the trap of "Spidercop" et al. (the Playstation Spider-Man games really pissed me off on this topic, as amazing as they are in other aspects) and grapple with what it means to be a vigilante in society, both the good and the bad of it.

That being said, though, I think this is basically a solved issue in superhero comics and has been practically since the beginning.

Building off their initial focus on organized crime coming out of the pulps - because pace to my abolitionist and restorative justice brethren, but that shit does not work on mobsters - superhero comics pivoted by creating the supervillain.

While many supervillains get their start as exaggerations of the organized crime figure, and there are some great punch-clock villains out there, most supervillains exist outside of the framework of criminal justice reform because their motivations are usually sui generis and their criminal activities are so baroque and often have more to do with personal vendettas and dominance displays than anything that actually motivates real-world violent crime.

#comics #comics meta #vigilantism #criminal justice reform

22 notes · View notes

bitchesgetriches · 8 months

Note

Sup bitches! I’m in love with a very sweet, smart, hardworking man - who also finished a 20-year prison sentence three years ago. He has a great, well-paying job in a small business, his credit is blossoming, and he is beloved my all; by all accounts a success story. But of course, there are barriers, namely finding a place to rent. I have no such barriers, but I know most places do background checks on all potential occupants. What are our options?

Legal discrimination against ex-convicts is one of the blackest stains on our country. You and your partner have our sympathy and support! He has done his time and by rights should be entitled to the full privileges of any other citizen. And yet.

Remember that we are NOT legal professionals, and so we can't offer legal advice. What I CAN tell you is that if you are the only person on the lease, you will be the only one subject to a background check. Additionally, if you submit his criminal record up-front, in a personal letter to a private landlord (rather than a giant rental corporation), they're more likely to be reasonable about your case.

For more practical advice and to understand your partner's rights, risks, and options as an ex-convict, we recommend reading "The New Jim Crow." It talks about the racial component of the criminal justice system, but the discriminatory aspects of post-prison life are broadly applicable.

The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander: A Bitchtastic Book Review

If this helped you out, join our Patreon!

#the new jim crow #criminal justice system #prison reform #discrimination #ex-convict

46 notes · View notes

choppedcowboydinosaur · 9 months

Text

People talk about police brutality but not so much about prosecutor abuse. Prosecutors do so much heinous shit and get away with it. It’s unbelievable.

#criminal justice #justice reform #prosecutors #police fuckery #justice system #justice system fuckery #seriously when i read articles about cases they pulll the dumbest shit and get away with hit #scumbags

39 notes · View notes

ivygorgon · 16 days

Text

AN OPEN LETTER to THE PRESIDENT & U.S. CONGRESS; STATE GOVERNORS & LEGISLATURES

Support Marijuana Decriminalization for a more Equitable USA

4 so far! Help us get to 5 signers!

I am writing to express my strong support for the decriminalization of marijuana at both the federal and state levels. The current approach to cannabis, rooted in policies dating back to 1971, requires urgent reconsideration given evolving social norms and scientific understanding.

The revelation by President Richard Nixon's domestic policy chief, John Ehrlichman, that the war on drugs was designed to target Black communities underscores the urgent need to rectify the injustices perpetuated by decades of punitive drug policies. The disproportionate impact of these policies on communities of color has fueled systemic inequities in our criminal justice system.

Decriminalization of marijuana would shift our focus from ineffective punitive measures to evidence-based public health strategies, emphasizing harm reduction and regulated use, whether medicinal or recreational. It's crucial to differentiate between decriminalization and unregulated use, prioritizing public health and equitable access.

I urge you to champion legislation that decriminalizes marijuana and addresses the racial disparities entrenched by outdated drug policies. By investing in research and public health initiatives related to cannabis, we can develop policies that protect public health while respecting individual freedoms.

In conclusion, federal and state-level decriminalization of marijuana is imperative to rectify the failures of past policies and promote equitable, evidence-based drug reform. I urge you to seize this opportunity to advance sensible, ethical drug policy reforms that reflect our evolving understanding of cannabis regulation.

Thank you for considering my perspective on this critical matter. I look forward to your leadership in championing meaningful drug policy reform.

📱 Text SIGN PWUITK to 50409

🤯 Liked it? Text FOLLOW IVYPETITIONS to 50409

💘 Q'u lach' shughu deshni da. 🏹 "What I say is true" in Dena'ina Qenaga

8 notes · View notes

reasonsforhope · 4 months

Text

"The New York City Council voted to ban most uses of solitary confinement in city jails Wednesday [December 20, 2023], passing the measure with enough votes to override a veto from Mayor Eric Adams.

The measure would ban the use of solitary confinement beyond four hours and during certain emergencies. That four hour period would be for "de-escalation" in situations where a detainee has caused someone else physical harm or risks doing so. The resolution would also require the city's jails to allow every person detained to spend at least 14 hours outside of their cells each day.

The bill, which had 38 co-sponsors, was passed 39 to 7. It will now go to the mayor, who can sign the bill or veto it within 30 days. If Mayor Adams vetoes the bill, it will get sent back to the council, which can override the veto with a vote from two-thirds of the members. The 39 votes for the bill today make up 76% of the 51-member council. At a press conference ahead of the vote today [December 20, 2023], Council speaker Adrienne Adams indicated the council would seek [a veto] override if necessary.

For his part, Mayor Adams has signaled he is indeed considering vetoing the bill...

The United Nations has said solitary confinement can amount to torture, and multiple studies suggest its use can have serious consequences on a person's physical and mental health, including an increased risk of PTSD, dying by suicide, and having high blood pressure.

One 2019 study found people who had spent time in solitary confinement in prison were more likely to die in the first year after their release than people who had not spent time in solitary confinement. They were especially likely to die from suicide, homicide and opioid overdose.

Black and Hispanic men have been found to be overrepresented among those placed in solitary confinement – as have gay, lesbian and bisexual people.

The resolution in New York comes amid scrutiny over deaths in the jail complex on Rikers Island. Last month, the federal government joined efforts to wrest control of the facility from the mayor, and give it to an outside authority.

In August 2021, 25-year-old Brandon Rodriguez died while in solitary confinement at Rikers. He had been in pre-trial detention at the jail for less than a week. His mother, Tamara Carter, says his death was ruled a suicide and that he was in a mental health crisis at the time of his confinement.

"I know for Brandon, he should have been put in the infirmary. He should have been seeing a psychiatrist. He should have been being watched," she said.

She says the passage of the bill feels like a form of justice for her.

"Brandon wasn't nothing. He was my son. He was an uncle. A brother. A grandson. And he's very, very missed," she told NPR. "I couldn't save my son. But if I joined this fight, maybe I could save somebody else's son." ...

New York City is not the first U.S. city to limit the use of solitary confinement in its jails, though it is the largest. In 2021, voters in Pennsylvania's Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, passed a measure to restrict solitary confinement except in cases of lockdowns and emergencies. The sheriff in Illinois' Cook County, which includes Chicago, has said the Cook County jail – one of the country's largest – has also stopped using solitary confinement...

Naila Awan, the interim co-director of policy at the New York Civil Liberties Union, says that New York making this change could have larger influence across the country.

"As folks look at what New York has done, other larger jails that are not quite the size of Rikers will be able to say, 'If New York City is able to do this, then we too can implement similar programs here, that it's within our capacity and capabilities," Awan says. "And to the extent that we are able to get this implemented and folks see the success, I think we could see a real shift in the way that individuals are treated behind bars.""

-via NPR, December 20, 2023

436 notes · View notes

reportwire · 2 years

Text

California Primary: Is This the End of the George Floyd Moment?

Since the massive nationwide protests that erupted in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, the debate over crime and public safety in the Democratic Party has been dominated by urgent calls for reforming police departments and confronting entrenched racial inequities in the criminal-justice system. History might record yesterday’s elections in San Francisco and Los Angeles as the end of that…

View On WordPress

0 notes

jasperjv · 1 month

Text

You know something that pisses me off? Drake Bell was "cancelled" or whatever for being inappropriate with teenage girls and embarrassingly immature. Now everyone's like "wow it turns out there are reasons he is the way he is" and suddenly you all feel bad for him like wow you don't fucking say. People have no space in their minds for critical thinking or nuance and it's infuriatingly lazy and unproductive, even counterproductive.

To quote @sapphling (RIP to that fucking blog gee I wonder what happened there:)

it's just absurd how many "you have to think CRITICALLY about kink" addicted-to-talking-about-reading-comprehension types on here have fully and uncritically bought the standard societal narrative that sexual violence is something that happens because some people are Born Perverts and that those Perverts wake up every day saying "I love sexual violence. Sexual violence is my kink. Today I am going to do sexual violence." it's a very safe and very satisfying lie to swallow which lets you absolve the systems of power which produce sexual violence, as well as any complicity you could potentially hold by propping them up; and it goes further to absolve the self of any potential individual responsibility, because of Course you're not capable of reproducing sexual violence or violating another person's consent -- because that's what Perverts do, and you're not a Pervert, and maybe the Pervert even absolves you of a little bit of that unspeakable unmentionable bigotry in the back of your mind (think about how many marginalized people's "callouts" are met with an "I always knew something was wrong, she always made me uncomfortable to look at, I always thought they were probably a creep," justified ex post facto by the presence of Perversion). it's the same thing that dyed-in-the-wool conservatives do with Kill All Pedophiles, it's been the same since the early 20th century conceptualization of The Pervert to explain why communism and discontent were gaining a foothold, it's one of the most politically unifying impulses of normative society: justify the status quo, explain violence as an outlier, attribute the outlier to a monster, redirect anger and remorse and action towards the monster. the reason why new conceptualizations of Perversion feel right to you may be less due to an inherent political brilliance which your perfect soul can see in them -- and in fact it might do you well to consider if these conceptualizations follow through to fact, if they protect the vulnerable, if they offer keen insight which would disrupt an order which presently produces an overwhelming amount of violence; or if they simply feel right because their adoption is politically, rhetorically, psychologically, and physically very, very easy

#quiet on set #systemic reform #rehabilitative justice #criminal psychology

7 notes · View notes

politijohn · 2 years

Text

Nothing to hide if you did your job…

Release the records

#politics #us politics #acab #criminal justice system #criminal justice reform #current events #mass shootings #school shootings #news #uvalde

325 notes · View notes

jesseleelazyblog · 1 month

Text

UNETHICAL EXECUTION IN GEORGIA: MARCH 20TH

Willie James Pie is set to be executed in Georgia on March 20th despite that fact that he is intellectually disabled, making this execution unconstitutional.

Links to Take Action:

links specifically for Georgia residents:

14 notes · View notes