By Ana Martinez-Ortiz People in positions of power are often meant to protect people. Politicians are elected to act in the best interest of their constituents, law enforcement exist to protect people, judges ensure that the law is upheld and so on. But what happens when that honor turns into abuse of power? There’s a […]
UPDATE: Milwaukee County Supervisors OK Reducing Fine for Marijuana Possession to $1
By Edgar Mendez Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org. The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on Thursday adopted a resolution to reduce the fine for marijuana and drug paraphernalia possession of 25 […]
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Crime Prevention Starts with Economic Opportunity
By Dr. Carl Wesley I have dedicated my life to fighting for Milwaukee families to gain equitable access to the American dream. For many Black and brown families of Milwaukee this dream will remain on perpetual hold until there is sweeping policy driven criminal justice reform throughout the United States. The longer we wait to […]
Past U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Candidate for WI Governor Tony Evers, and Candidate for WI Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes Discuss Criminal Justice Reform
By Nyesha Stone I’m sure if you’re Black then you know at least one other Black person that’s in jail, especially if you live in the city of Milwaukee. According to City on a Hill, Inc.’s website, “Wisconsin has the highest incarceration rate for African American men in the nation, with 12.8% (or 1 in […]
Rep. Danny Davis Introduces Bail Reform Bill
Criminal Justice Reform: Rep. Danny Davis’ New Bill Pushes Back on Money Bail By Lauren Victoria Burke (NNPA Newswire Contributor) During a recent press conference on Capitol Hill, Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) said that at any given time there are roughly 500,000 people sitting in local jails waiting for their day in court. “These are […]
Dane County Board Moves to Reform Criminal Justice System
Groundbreaking effort will use data to seek better outcomes The Dane County Board has launched a pilot project to apply a data-driven assessment to reduce costly jailing of low-risk offenders. Slated to begin in 2017, the project will allow for a Public Safety Assessment (PSA) at initial court appearances to help determine flight risk or […]
Madison Police Give Nonviolent Drug Offenders Choice: Arrest Or Treatment
Additional Recovery Initiative To Start As Soon As January By Shamane Mills The Madison Police Department has received a three-year, $700,000 federal “smart policing” grant to try a new way to deal with nonviolent drug offenders who commit low-level crimes. Rather than arrest, drug users will be given a chance to get treatment. The heroin […]
Left, Right Seek to Halt $4.2 Billion in Asset-Seizure Abuse
by Curtis Bunn Urban News Service Darren wants his surname kept secret. After enduring civil-asset forfeiture, he fears reprisals from law enforcement. “And you know why? Because this thing has let me know for a fact there’s no limit to what the police will do,” he said. “And they have the law behind them.” The […]
Criminal Justice Reform Snagged in Campaign Politics
by Dee Hunter Urban News Service Planned reforms to federal drug and sentencing laws that imprisoned many African-Americans have become locked up by election- year politics. “The cost of incarceration and a growing awareness of the problems with mandatory minimum sentences have created a diverse coalition calling for reforms,” said Kevin Ring, of Families Against […]
Soaring Costs, Social-Science Data Drive Slash in State Prison Populations
By Nick Chiles Urban News Service As Earth’s most prolific jailer, America faces a thorny question: What do you do with millions of inmates when they return home? That challenge is at the heart of many bipartisan prison reforms that are sweeping the nation. Georgia recently tackled this issue. The staunchly Republican state has become […]