Millions of Us Are Affected by Draconian Prison Penalties
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We are at a major turning point right now with mass incarceration, which is the No. 1 public health crisis as the Vera Institute says in its report.
Solitary Reform Shows Power of Brain Science to Change Policy
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Compelling brain science is finally starting to make its way into the formation of policies — and we need to keep it going.
Witnessing Murder: My Life’s Turning Point
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It’s cold out here and I’ve been practicing my left hand lay-up for about an hour now. I go up for another lay-up and miss it. It isn’t any help that the rim is slightly crooked. I can hear my brother talking about this girl he used to date and how she was good in bed.
It’s Time to Rethink Solitary Confinement for Juveniles in State Prisons and Jails
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Prolonged isolation has the potential to leave a permanent scar on many individuals, especially juveniles. It is thus time to reconsider the use of solitary confinement in state prisons and jails.
An Open Letter to Our Next President
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Dear Presidential Candidate,
We know you care about keeping our communities safe, ensuring the welfare of our children and guaranteeing a fair and equitable justice system for all.
Choosing the Positive Narrative for Black Children in America
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My son turned 13 last weekend. In the back of my mind, I’m thinking he is now eligible to be charged as an adult in the event he commits a stupid act that is deemed a felony offense, instead of celebrating a rite of passage. This is wrong.
An Open Letter to U.S. Senator Tom Cotton
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I am writing in regards to the concerns you recently expressed on the floor of the Senate about removing the Valid Court Order Exception from the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA).
Remembering Trayvon Martin: A Death That Brought A Movement To Life
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It was four years ago Friday that an unforeseen incident would be the catalyst to start a national movement. On the evening of Feb. 26, in Sanford, Florida, a 28-year-old man with a gun got out of his truck and confronted, chased, shot and killed a 17-year-old unarmed black kid. Trayvon Martin was merely walking home from a convenience store with a bag of Skittles and a can of Arizona Iced Tea.
An Insider’s Proposal for Change in the Juvenile Justice System
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By the time I was 24 I had spent 10 years in and out of juvenile justice programs and prisons in Iowa. Four of those years were spent languishing in solitary confinement cells and one year in Iowa’s own Supermax unit.
Why Youth Prisons Are Like Leeches
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Imagine you are feeling sick and your doctor hands you this hand-scrawled prescription: LEECH THERAPY. If you are like me, you may run out of the doctor’s office screaming.