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May 15, 2008
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Disenfranchisement News
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National: The Association of Paroling Authorities International Approves of Re-enfranchisement
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National: The Association of Paroling Authorities International Approves of Re-enfranchisement
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May 08, 2008
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Disenfranchisement News
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National: ‘What If' Disenfranchisement Was No More?
Tennessee: Arrest for Voting Further Disenfranchises Woman
Massachusetts: ‘The More We Imprison, the Less We Vote'
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National: ‘What If' Disenfranchisement Was No More?
Tennessee: Arrest for Voting Further Disenfranchises Woman
Massachusetts: ‘The More We Imprison, the Less We Vote'
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May 06, 2008
(Forbes.com)
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U.S. Prison Policy Needs Reform
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Citing that the United States currently accounts for approximately 25% of the global prison population, an article on Forbes.com lists various reasons why the U.S. has a high incarceration rate which includes "tough" federal and state sentencing guidelines. The article also points out the collateral consequences of incarceration including the racial disparity in prisons and voter disenfranchisement.
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Citing that the United States currently accounts for approximately 25% of the global prison population, an article on Forbes.com lists various reasons why the U.S. has a high incarceration rate which includes "tough" federal and state sentencing guidelines. The article also points out the collateral consequences of incarceration including the racial disparity in prisons and voter disenfranchisement.
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May 05, 2008
(New York Times)
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‘Drug War’ Unjust to African Americans: Two Reports Detail Racial Disparity in Arrests and Imprisonment
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The Sentencing Project's newest study, Disparity by Geography: The War on Drugs in America's Cities, is the first city-level analysis of drug arrests, examining data from 43 of the nation's largest cities between 1980-2003. The study found that since 1980, the rate of drug arrests in American cities for African Americans increased by 225%, compared to 70% among whites. Black arrest rates grew by more than 500% in 11 cities during this period and in nearly half of the cities, the odds of arrest for a drug offense among African Americans relative to whites more than doubled.
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The Sentencing Project's newest study, Disparity by Geography: The War on Drugs in America's Cities, is the first city-level analysis of drug arrests, examining data from 43 of the nation's largest cities between 1980-2003. The study found that since 1980, the rate of drug arrests in American cities for African Americans increased by 225%, compared to 70% among whites. Black arrest rates grew by more than 500% in 11 cities during this period and in nearly half of the cities, the odds of arrest for a drug offense among African Americans relative to whites more than doubled.
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May 05, 2008
(Washington Post)
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Fiscal Pressures Lead Some States to Free Inmates Early
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“At a time of shrinking resources, prisons are eating up an increasing share of many state budgets,” the Washington Post reports. As a result of fiscal pressures, many states are reversing tough-on-crime policies - including mandatory minimum prison sentences for some drug offenders - in an effort to deal with budget shortfalls.
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“At a time of shrinking resources, prisons are eating up an increasing share of many state budgets,” the Washington Post reports. As a result of fiscal pressures, many states are reversing tough-on-crime policies - including mandatory minimum prison sentences for some drug offenders - in an effort to deal with budget shortfalls.
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May 04, 2008
(Ottawa Citizen, CBC Ottawa)
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Marc Mauer Discusses "Race to Imitate" in Ottawa, Canada
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At the invitation of the Church Council on Justice and Corrections and the John Howard Society, The Sentencing Project's Executive Director Marc Mauer appeared in Ottawa, Canada to speak on the “Race to Imitate.” The Canadian government has been moving to adopt many of the “get tough” policies promoted in the U.S. in recent decades, leading Mauer to caution that such initiatives have been counterproductive in the U.S. Mauer was featured on CBC Ottawa's “Ontario Today” radio broadcast and a policy forum at St. Paul's University.
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At the invitation of the Church Council on Justice and Corrections and the John Howard Society, The Sentencing Project's Executive Director Marc Mauer appeared in Ottawa, Canada to speak on the “Race to Imitate.” The Canadian government has been moving to adopt many of the “get tough” policies promoted in the U.S. in recent decades, leading Mauer to caution that such initiatives have been counterproductive in the U.S. Mauer was featured on CBC Ottawa's “Ontario Today” radio broadcast and a policy forum at St. Paul's University.
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May 01, 2008
(National Public Radio)
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Blacks and the Criminal Justice System
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 Opening its new month-long series on the various aspects of the criminal justice system, NPR's News & Notes featured The Sentencing Project's Policy Analyst, Ryan King, who is interviewed by Farai Chideya on the racial disparity that currently exists in U.S. prisons.
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Opening its new month-long series on the various aspects of the criminal justice system, NPR's News & Notes featured The Sentencing Project's Policy Analyst, Ryan King, who is interviewed by Farai Chideya on the racial disparity that currently exists in U.S. prisons.
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May 01, 2008
(National Public Radio)
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Iowa Considering Racial Impact in Sentencing Laws
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Becoming the first state to pass legislation requiring state officials to examine the racial and ethnic impact of new criminal justice policies, Iowa's Governor Chet Culver addressed the importance of implementing steps to curtail Iowa's prison disparity. In July, The Sentencing Project found Iowa incarcerates blacks at a rate 13 times that of whites, more than double the national average. "Despite this distinction that we have rite now, historically we've been very progressive. It's my hope we can address this challenge and get back to leading the way" to provide fairness for all citizens," said Gov. Culver.
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Becoming the first state to pass legislation requiring state officials to examine the racial and ethnic impact of new criminal justice policies, Iowa's Governor Chet Culver addressed the importance of implementing steps to curtail Iowa's prison disparity. In July, The Sentencing Project found Iowa incarcerates blacks at a rate 13 times that of whites, more than double the national average. "Despite this distinction that we have rite now, historically we've been very progressive. It's my hope we can address this challenge and get back to leading the way" to provide fairness for all citizens," said Gov. Culver.
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April 28, 2008
(Boston Globe)
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Fixing our criminal sentencing system
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Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has earmarked $1.4 billion in the proposed 2009 budget for the sheriffs' departments and the Department of Correction – the bulk of it going toward incarceration, according to a Boston Globe op-ed by David W. White Jr., president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. The Commonwealth is dealing with overcrowded jails and prisons and White notes that a federal lawsuit has forced a county sheriff to select inmates for early release. White offers a wish list for legislators to consider before they recess which includes resisting calls for new mandatory minimum sentences that tie the hands of prosecutors, judges, and corrections officials.
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Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has earmarked $1.4 billion in the proposed 2009 budget for the sheriffs' departments and the Department of Correction – the bulk of it going toward incarceration, according to a Boston Globe op-ed by David W. White Jr., president of the Massachusetts Bar Association. The Commonwealth is dealing with overcrowded jails and prisons and White notes that a federal lawsuit has forced a county sheriff to select inmates for early release. White offers a wish list for legislators to consider before they recess which includes resisting calls for new mandatory minimum sentences that tie the hands of prosecutors, judges, and corrections officials.
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April 25, 2008
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Disenfranchisement News
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Pennsylvania: Voter Education Still Necessary on 8-year-old Reform
North Carolina: "Proud to Vote"
Virginia: Legislators, Community Gather to Discuss Right to Vote
National: Disenfranchisement Reform in Need of More Advocacy
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Pennsylvania: Voter Education Still Necessary on 8-year-old Reform
North Carolina: "Proud to Vote"
Virginia: Legislators, Community Gather to Discuss Right to Vote
National: Disenfranchisement Reform in Need of More Advocacy
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