“Our Annual Legislative Conference is a gathering to develop solutions to the challenges facing black communities around the world through issues forums, brain trusts, a town hall meeting, networking sessions, and more,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass (D-Calif.).
Criminal justice reform remains a pressing concern for American citizens regardless of political affiliations. A recent study conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of Justice Action Network, found that support for reform spans all sides of the political spectrum—with 68 percent of Republicans, 78 percent of Independents and 80 percent of Democrats supporting criminal justice system reform. With an issue so urgent to the nation, 2020 Democratic presidential candidates are being called upon to explain how they will fix the system in which more than 2.3 million people are incarcerated and where African-American citizens are disproportionately and excessively imprisoned and criminalized. Democratic candidate Kamala Harris is speaking out with a solution to overhaul the severely flawed institution if she becomes president.
The negotiated plea comes after an appeals court threw out his conviction last month over doubts about the arresting officer’s credibility.
The NAACP plans to highlight 110 years of civil rights history, and the current fight for voting rights, criminal justice reform, economic opportunity and education quality during its 110th national convention now happening in Detroit.
Nipsey Hussle and Meek Mill (courtesy photo) LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kim Kardashian West isn’t the only celebrity speaking out for prison reform. It’s a topic that was also very important to slain rapper Nipsey Hussle, and to Common, Kevin Hart and a host of others who consider the criminal justice system often unfair and dehumanizing. Hussle served time before he was shot to death on March 31 and was raising awareness for changes. Last October, he headlined a free #TimeDone campaign concert to bring awareness to the 70 million Americans living with a past conviction. In February, while attending
Courtesy Photo During a Tuesday morning press conference in Los Angeles, attorneys representing the family of Jonathan Hart announced a wrongful death civil rights lawsuit had been filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Walgreens, American Protection Group, S.E.B. Security Services, and Donald Vincent Ciota II of Covina for the Dec. 2, 2018 shooting death of 21-year-old Hart. The suit was filed by Douglas Hicks Law with co-counsel Girardi Keese on behalf of Hart’s estate and his twin sister Psykyssyanna Hart. “We are alleging that Walgreens, the largest pharmaceutical retailer in the world is responsible for the tragic death
Courtesy Photo NEW YORK (AP) — Advocates for legalizing marijuana have long argued it would strike a blow for social justice after a decades-long drug war that disproportionately targeted minority and poor communities. But social equity has been both a sticking point and selling point this year in New York and New Jersey, among other states weighing whether to join the 10 that allow recreational use of pot. Complicating the law-making process, sometimes even among supporters, are questions about how best to erase marijuana convictions and ensure that people who were arrested for pot benefit from legal marijuana markets. Advocates
Congressman Elijah E. Cummings Washington, D.C. – Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07) and Congresswoman Madeleine Dean (PA-04) introduced the Promoting Reentry through Education in Prisons (PREP) Act. The legislation would ease the barriers to reentry by ensuring incarcerated individuals receive the educational opportunities they need to successfully reenter their communities upon release from federal prison. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced companion legislation in the Senate. Providing incarcerated individuals with the resources needed to effectively reintegrate into society upon their release is essential in preventing recidivism. One in three American adults currently has a criminal record. Unfortunately, over two-thirds of formerly-incarcerated
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) talks to CNN’s Jake Tapper about whether she believes the United States is experiencing a constitutional crisis.
A 2012 Human Rights Watch report noted that the state of California had de facto sentenced 301 people to die in its prisons for crimes they committed when they were under the age of 18.
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Chairwoman Karen Bass (D-CA) released a joint statement on the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) National Institute of Justice (NIJ) selection of the Hudson Institute to host the Independent Review Committee (IRC) required under the First Step Act: “On April 8, 2019, the Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice announced the selection of the Hudson Institute to host the Independent Review Committee required under the First Step Act. After the announcement, the Department briefed Congressional staff on implementation of the First
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) and U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), in recognition of Second Chance Month, introduced legislation to ease the barriers to re-entry for formerly incarcerated individuals. The bicameral New Pathways Act provides more specific guidance for the Bureau of Prison to help individuals obtain federal identification documents upon release from prison, such as a driver’s license, birth certificate, Social Security card, photo ID or work authorization form. Providing formerly incarcerated individuals with the resources needed to effectively reintegrate into society is essential in preventing recidivism. One in three American adults currently have a criminal record. Unfortunately, over
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say a man arrested on a parole violation after being wounded in the Los Angeles shooting that killed Nipsey Hussle has been released from jail. Kerry Lathan had been in custody since being shot March 31 along with the rapper. KABC-TV reports Lathan walked out of LA’s Men’s Central Jail on Saturday. The state department of corrections arrested Lathan for associating with a known gang member — Hussle. But supporters assert Hussle was a former gang member who’d transformed himself into a pillar of the community. Besides, Lathan’s lawyer says, her client just happened to be in
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. French Hill (R-AR), and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) introduced landmark legislation to strengthen successful reentry and economic growth by restoring Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals. The bipartisan and bicameral Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act of 2019 expands educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals, which research shows has tremendous effectiveness and saves taxpayer dollars. Over 50 progressive and conservative organizations support this legislation. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mike Lee (R-UT) lead the bill in the Senate. A recent report from the Vera
WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN), Rep. French Hill (R-AR), and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA) introduced landmark legislation to strengthen successful reentry and economic growth by restoring Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated individuals. The bipartisan and bicameral Restoring Education and Learning (REAL) Act of 2019 expands educational opportunities for incarcerated individuals, which research shows has tremendous effectiveness and saves taxpayer dollars. Over 50 progressive and conservative organizations support this legislation. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Mike Lee (R-UT) lead the bill in the Senate. A recent report from the Vera Institute