Blog from the Justice Programs Office
Happy New Year! This week in news – two notable individuals were released from prison after the First Step Act took effect, and on the basis of clemency; the opioid crisis strikes Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria; and changes to juvenile justice systems across the country are in the works. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
Congress passes the First Step Act, the holidays bring a mix of joy and grief to families whose loved ones overdosed, and positive changes to public defenders’ officers are implemented. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
The First Step Act, Congress’ criminal justice reform bill, will go up for a vote, cocaine overdoses add another dimension to a crisis of fatal overdoses in the ongoing opioid epidemic, and the Vera Institute of Justice shares a report stating that women are the fastest-growing prison population. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
Congress’ criminal justice reform bill, The First Step Act, is at the center of discussions this week, opioid lawsuits thrust Florida into a frenzy, and Google partners with the 49ers to invest $2.4M into youth justice reform in California. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
The CDC publishes a staggering record of drug overdose fatalities in 2017, Michigan seeks to raise the age of juvenile court jurisdiction to 17, and Norfolk, VA stands out for its positive work in drug courts. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
Washington D.C. focuses on bipartisan criminal justice legislation, the aftermath of last week’s elections on youth justice, and emotional stories from veteran graduates of treatment court. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
The midterm election and criminal justice reform: Florida’s felon enfranchisement, Ohio’s attempted criminal drug possession reform, and Hawaii joins the nation in positive promotion of Veterans Treatment Courts. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
The opioid crisis devastates Native American communities, Tennessee awards $4 million in juvenile justice grants, and Michigan appoints a veteran as county public defender. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.
Anti-Bullying Month is an initiative supported by the American people and our government. Our country needs to heal in multiple spaces. Our people need love. Our kids and teens need us to guide them. We see the implications bullying has in our current political and social climates. It harnesses divide, boasts the wrong priorities, distracts and destroys.
To let light into the darkest spaces is immeasurably difficult. It takes deep breathing, stepping back, and utter discomfort to get to this place. It takes forgiveness. Change can only come through awareness, acknowledgement, and action.
Suspicious parcels targeting United States officials and CNN staff were, thankfully, kept out of harms way, a decision to end oversight of a juvenile court in Memphis causes uproar, and Wisconsin recognizes issues around paying public defenders. All of these stories and more in this week’s news roundup.