Solitary anyone? Russell’s been in solitary confinement for the last 35 years. He’s not in prison because he hurt someone. It was a robbery committed by someone else that he got convicted of because of ineffective assistance of counsel. That happens all the time for those who cannot afford the best justice money can buy. […]
Indefinite Solitary Cofinement in Texas Read More »
Credit: Designed by Rikki Li In a recent computer class, our instructor asked if we knew why we had to exchange our identification cards for pens at the start of every class. After an awkward silence, I suggested, “Because the budget is tight, and you need to keep up with them?” The instructor condescendingly smiled at
Paternalism and Prison Read More »
Innovation is what made Texas what it is today. The willingness to dare, the challenges of taking on difficult tasks. Governor Abbott has talked about how Texas is a hub for innovation. That is true if what you’re looking are the opportunities for private business. When time is taken to compare innovation in public services,
PRISON INNOVATION OVERDUE Read More »
The Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” What it does not state is that all men are born into different circumstances. The child born to an emotionally mature, financially secure couple has a much greater chances of a bright future than the child born
The Justice Puzzle Read More »
The Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” What it does not state is that all men are born into different circumstances. The child born to an emotionally mature, financially secure couple has a much greater chances of a bright future than the child born
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 5th & 6th AMENDMENT? Read More »
Every ten years or so, Texas public agencies undergo review. The questions are: should the agency continue to exist? and if so in what form? This year the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is under review, as is the Parole Board, Managed Healthcare, and the Windham School District. The only public hearing during which stakeholders
Sunset Advisory Commission Read More »
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice needs structural transformation, as do the courts and the law. Here’s some of the evidence. TAKEAWAYS FROM ROBERSON HEARING: Robert Roberson was convicted of murder more than 20 years ago and was sentenced to death. He was scheduled to be executed in late November despite new evidence. The Parole
A TEMPORARY WIN FOR DEATH PENALTY OPPONENTS Read More »
People design prisons and can be changed by them. Accomplishing that requires an openness to innovation that is largely missing by correctional administrators. That cannot remain an obstacle to proposing changes to the prison environment that enable them to release people who are better off for having been inside the walls. Since momentum for humane
Normalization of the Prison Experience Read More »
This New York Times opinion piece focuses on one side of the punishment debate. Another is tom let the punishment fit the individual. Opinion guest essay Let the Punishment Fit the Crime Oct. 23, 2021 Credit…Eleni Kalorkoti Share full article By Ben Austen and Khalil Gibran Muhammad Mr. Austen is working on a book about crime, punishment
Let the Punishment Fit the Crime Read More »
FAIR PAROLE REVIEW? More than 40 years ago the Feds approach was PRESUMPTIVE PAROLE https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/presumptive-parole-dates-federal-approach Six years ago, Jorge Renaud provided an update in an article called “Eight Keys to Mercy”: How to shorten excessive sentences”: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/longsentences.html “Presumptive parole Presumptive parole is a system in which incarcerated individuals are released upon first becoming eligible for parole
FAIR PAROLE REVIEW IS POSSIBLE Read More »