The recent decision, In re: U.S. Bureau of Prisons, reversed a contempt order and injunction from the San Antonio-based western district court
Read More »Christopher Zoukis
Supreme Court Eases Armed Career Criminal Act Test for ‘Violent Felony’
The high court ruled that a state-law robbery counts towards triggering the mandatory 15-year sentence enhancement under the “three strikes” provision in the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA).
Read More »How the Federal Government Shutdown Affects Federal Prisons
Correctional officer absenteeism has at least doubled since the shutdown began, resulting in more frequent double shifts or persons in other jobs filling in for correctional officers.
Read More »Jailed for Murders He Didn’t Commit, Detroit Youth Davontae Sanford Can’t Collect from City
Davontae Sanford spent years in prison for a crime he was found to never have committed. Under a new Detroit law making wrongly convicted inmates eligible for $50,000 compensation per year of incarceration, Sanford’s new lawyers obtained a $408,000 award for him.
Read More »Back-End Sentencing: Re-Incarceration for Parole Violations
A paroled offender’s sentence doesn't always end upon release from prison. Back-end sentencing – re-incarceration for violating parole – is all too common.
Read More »The First Step Act and the Changing Face of the Law
The First Step Act shows that laws change, even though sometimes those changes take years, decades, or even centuries.
Read More »In Florida, Confusion on Restoring Felons’ Voting Rights
Confusion abounds regarding implementing the Voting Restoration Act, which restores voting rights to some former convicts in Florida.
Read More »Death Row Inmates at New Low as Sentences, Executions Fall
In 2018, American courts handed down fewer than 50 new death sentences, while the states still allowing capital punishment carried out fewer than 30 executions. This data, along with other recent updates, shows the decline of capital punishment in the U.S.
Read More »Bail Reform: Is it Time to Bail Out?
Bail helps to keep the penal process moving more smoothly, but there are nearly 40 million Americans who can’t afford bail or even a bail bond.
Read More »Sentencing 101: How the Justice System Works
An overview of the judicial process, what comes before sentencing, and key things to know each step of the way
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