Kelley Williams-Bolar: I ‘Never Thought I’d Be Prosecuted’

by Julianne Hing on September 27 2011, 1:17PM

The Ohio mom whose outrageous criminal case sparked a national outcry finally speaks out.

Topics: Schools & Youth

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Prison System Chains Women in Childbirth

by Michelle Chen on July 20 2010, 10:30AM

In many places around the country, it’s still legal to keep incarcerated women shackled while they go through labor.

Topics: Criminal Justice, Gender & Sexuality, On Gender

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New York Moves to Keep Incarcerated Parents Connected to Kids

by Michelle Chen on June 17 2010, 10:27AM

The prison system and the child welfare system both have the power to split families apart, and too often, they are tragically linked when the state imposes its judgment that a parent is no longer worthy of her child. For…

Topics: Criminal Justice, Schools & Youth

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States Can’t Lock Up Kids For Life, Says Supreme Court

by Kai Wright on May 18 2010, 10:46AM

The Supreme Court reined in juvenile imprisonment yesterday with a ruling that restricts states from locking up minors for life without parole for non-homicide convictions. The ruling expands on a 2005 decision that barred states from executing minors. CNN quotes…

Topics: Criminal Justice

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The Long Rap Sheet of New Orleans Cops

by Jordan Flaherty on May 13 2010, 12:00PM

As the Justice Department considers overhauling the city’s law enforcement, it will have to round up more than a few post-Katrina rogues. Even the coroner’s got a past.

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Fighting for Their Lives

by Leticia Miranda on March 15 2010, 12:00PM

The Supreme Court considers whether it’s cruel and unusual punishment to lock up teenagers for life without parole.

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Could Facebook Save
His Life?

by Leticia Miranda on March 15 2010, 12:00PM

Efrén Paredes Jr. has been serving a life sentence without parole since he was a teenager. Now, he and his community take his case online.

Topics: Criminal Justice

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The Right to Live Again

by Leticia Miranda on November 4 2009, 12:00PM

As California prepares to start shrinking its prison system, advocates see more peril than promise.

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Righting Wrongful Convictions of Youth: What You Can Do

by Terry Keleher on October 14 2009, 12:50PM

Each year in the US, millions of young people interact with juvenile and criminal courts where they often face unfair treatment and racial discrimination. Last week, Northwestern University Law School launched the Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth. The…

Topics: Criminal Justice

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NFL Comeback

by David Leonard on September 29 2009, 12:00PM

Race, media and the demonization of Michael Vick

Topics: Criminal Justice

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American Indians Look to Sotomayor for Change

by Matthew L.M. Fletcher on September 9 2009, 12:00PM

Justice Sotomayor could make a dent in reversing unjust Supreme Court decisions on tribal law.

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Good Gangs

by Michelle Chen on August 31 2009, 8:48PM

Over the past few years, the phenomenon of youth gangs has spawned its own field of criminology—part social science, part political spectacle. Police have been declaring war on gangs for decades, officials have deployed social workers, teachers and “gang…

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Beyond ‘Hard-Working’: Rinku Sen Talks About Talking About Race at Netroots Nation [VIDEO]

by Channing Kennedy on August 25 2009, 11:32AM

Courtesy of Sum of Change, here’s our own Rinku Sen (executive director of the Applied Research Center, publisher of ColorLines, author of The Accidental American) at Netroots Nation 2009. Speaking on the “Stepping it up: Creating Powerful Multiracial Alliances…

Topics: Criminal Justice, Immigration, Media, Video & Multimedia

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Bad (White) Men Punished

by Daisy Hernandez on August 13 2009, 12:00PM

A federal judge honors a 150-year-old treaty between the Oglala Sioux Tribe and the federal government.

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Prisons: The New Asylum for Youth

by Leticia Miranda on August 10 2009, 3:16PM

A New York Times article reports that more and more courts are ordering mentally ill youth to jail as community mental health programs are facing bigger cuts and thinning resources. “We’re seeing more and more mentally ill kids who…

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Oped: Boston’s race problem

by Talia Whyte on July 29 2009, 12:00PM

In one survey, 17 percent of respondents said they’d experienced racial discrimination from police.

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Arrest of Gang Intervention Leader Alex Sanchez Raises Questions, Concerns in Community

by Guest Columnist on June 25 2009, 10:20AM

By Roberto Lovato This post originally appeared on Of America. Today’s FBI arrest of Alex Sanchez, one of the most respected gang intervention leaders in the country, has raised major concerns in Los Angeles and around the country. As his…

Topics: Criminal Justice

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David Kao’s Murder Shows Anti-Asian Hate Crimes are Real

by Guest Columnist on June 17 2009, 6:07AM

by Christina Chen Four teens were charged last Thursday with the strangling death of 49 year old Chinese account executive David Kao, in Flushing, New York.  Under questioning the teens, aged 16 and 17, confessed to dragging, choking, and beating…

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Drug Policy is a Race and Poverty Issue — Let’s Push for Action

by Channing Kennedy on June 15 2009, 4:11PM

Ethan Nadelmann, director of Drug Policy Alliance, addressed the America’s Future Now conference last week, calling for broader and stronger involvement by progressives against draconian drug laws that disproportionately affect communities of color. From his remarks: The issue of race…

Topics: Criminal Justice

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Why Deport Formerly Incarcerated Immigrants? Is the System Broken?

by Seth Freed Wessler on June 15 2009, 11:32AM

ColorLines magazine is in Jamaica this week investigating the devastating effect of American deportation policies on families. Check back for more updates soon. Christopher Johnson, 38, was deported from Washington, DC to Jamaica six weeks ago, after he finished…

Topics: Criminal Justice, Immigration

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