“It [the ombudsman’s office] has the potential to bring accountability and transparency to our correctional systems that frankly just hasn’t been there,” she said.
Maryland’s new prison watchdog just got its first leader
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
Gov. Wes Moore appointed Yvonne Briley-Wilson as the head of the new state agency that will examine prison conditions."Despite a wave of reforms across America that reduce the use of juvenile life without parole sentences, thousands of youth and emerging adults have been left behind even though their sentences are essentially the same."
Still Cruel and Unusual: Extreme Sentences for Youth and Emerging Adults – The Sentencing Project
www.sentencingproject.org
Despite reforms that reduce the use of juvenile life without parole sentences, thousands of youth and emerging adults have been left behind.This past legislative session, a bill passed that established an Office of the Correctional Ombudsman, which would provide oversight and serve as an independent watchdog for the Maryland prison system. It’s unclear when that office will get up and running.
"Cruel and unusual punishment:" Maryland's prisons lack A/C
www.wmar2news.com
Several family members of inmates reached out to us during the recent heat wave. Maryland is one of many states that does not have A/C in its prisons' housing units.Comment on Facebook Several family ...
I've seen the position posted, but haven't seen that it's been filled. How can we stay informed about this?
Clean Slate laws simply automate the process so an individual no longer needs to hire a lawyer, attend judicial hearings, and there is no cost to the individual whose record is expunged.
Setting sail for justice: Clean Slate policy straight ahead - Maryland Matters
marylandmatters.org
Cannabis pardons are a good step. But Maryland needs to adopt a Clean Slate law to automate the process of expunging criminal convictions without cost or hurdles.The Feds take a lesson from Maryland and other states...
Congress OKs bill overhauling oversight of troubled federal Bureau of Prisons
apnews.com
Congress has passed legislation overhauling oversight and bringing greater transparency to the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons, following reporting from The Associated Press that exposed syst...Congress Approves Major Overhaul of Federal Bureau of Prisons
Exciting news from Capitol Hill! Congress has just passed a landmark bill aimed at overhauling the oversight of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This significant legislation is set to bring about crucial reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and the overall functioning of our federal prison system. The bipartisan effort underscores the commitment to ensuring better conditions for inmates and addressing long-standing issues within the Bureau. This is a pivotal step towards a more just and humane correctional system.
apnews.com/article/federal-prisons-congress-oversight-abuse-transparency-a75ef934efd5d39bd5040ded...
Congress OKs bill overhauling oversight of troubled federal Bureau of Prisons
apnews.com
Congress has passed legislation overhauling oversight and bringing greater transparency to the crisis-plagued federal Bureau of Prisons, following reporting from The Associated Press that exposed syst...www.thebaltimorebanner.com/politics-power/state-government/baltimore-juvenile-justice-social-work...
Casi O’Neill works at the heart of Maryland’s youth legal system, but she rarely does her job. If she did, the specially trained social worker hired by the Maryland Office of the Public Defender would be assessing the complex needs of children charged with low- to moderate-level crimes.
Meet the only social worker assigned to Baltimore’s youth legal system
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
Instead of diverting some of the hundreds of children charged with less serious crimes away from the system the first time they land in trouble, Casi O’Neill spends the bulk of her time triaging tee...This evidence underscores the fact that we don’t have to return to a punitive playbook in the face of recent crime upticks.
Incarceration and Crime: A Weak Relationship – The Sentencing Project
www.sentencingproject.org
Crime rates and incarceration levels are not closely related. We don’t need to rely on mass incarceration to promote community safety.Members serve on seven work groups focused on these topics:
Education, workforce development and economic opportunity;
Prison, jail and detention facility reform;
Promoting successful re-entry and preventing reincarceration;
Criminal law and sentencing reform;
Health and human services;
and law enforcement policies and practices.
Group making gains on recommendations to reduce mass incarceration - Maryland Matters
marylandmatters.org
The goal is to complete a rough draft of recommendations by August and then a final report by January.Lawmakers want to toughen laws on youngest offenders committing fraction of crimes
Lawmakers want to toughen laws on youngest offenders committing fraction of crimes
www.thebaltimorebanner.com
Gov. Moore has committed to signing a juvenile justice bill that holds youth accountable
