#mandatory-minimums

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fromwww.dw.com
30 minutes ago

S. Korea: 90-year-old woman gets jail for money laundering

The defendant accepted illegal proceeds while being aware of circumstances indicating their connection to drug-related offenses. The judge noted the severe social harm caused by narcotics crimes and the need for strict punishment.
Law
MMA
fromSherdog
5 hours ago

Daniel Rodriguez recounts time in Mexican jail: 'It's the worst possible situation'

Daniel Rodriguez spent eight months in a Mexican jail for marijuana possession, facing challenges with food and the judicial system during his incarceration.
NYC politics
fromwww.foxnews.com
1 day ago

Gubernatorial candidate vows to pardon cop convicted of manslaughter in death of fleeing suspect

Bruce Blakeman plans to pardon Sgt. Erik Duran, convicted of manslaughter for the death of a fleeing suspect, calling the sentence unjust.
Social justice
fromTruthout
1 day ago

Pennsylvania's Abolitionist Organizers Win Victory Against Mandatory Life Without Parole

Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ruling overturns mandatory life sentences for felony murder, impacting over a thousand individuals, primarily Black.
SF parents
fromLos Angeles Times
2 days ago

Orange County dental assistant sentenced for sexually assaulting 3 girl patients

A dental assistant was sentenced to 15 years to life for sexually assaulting three young patients.
fromBoston.com
2 days ago

Retired Mass. State Police sergeant pleads guilty in PPP fraud scheme

Damian Halfkenny, 54, of Boston, was charged with one count of wire fraud, U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office said. A plea hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Boston
#nypd
US news
fromFOX 5 New York
5 days ago

Former NYPD sergeant sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison in cooler death case

A former NYPD sergeant was sentenced to 3-9 years for manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a suspect, causing a fatal crash.
Law
fromNew York Post
4 days ago

Ex-NYPD sergeant hauled off to jail after he learns fate for fatal NYC cooler throw: One of the 'darkest days' in our profession

A former NYPD sergeant received a 3-to-9 year prison sentence for killing a fleeing drug suspect, marking a significant case in law enforcement.
fromGothamist
4 days ago
Law

Former NYPD sergeant sentenced to up to 9 years for killing man by throwing cooler at him

US news
fromFOX 5 New York
5 days ago

Former NYPD sergeant sentenced to 3 to 9 years in prison in cooler death case

A former NYPD sergeant was sentenced to 3-9 years for manslaughter after throwing a cooler at a suspect, causing a fatal crash.
Law
fromNew York Post
4 days ago

Ex-NYPD sergeant hauled off to jail after he learns fate for fatal NYC cooler throw: One of the 'darkest days' in our profession

A former NYPD sergeant received a 3-to-9 year prison sentence for killing a fleeing drug suspect, marking a significant case in law enforcement.
fromGothamist
4 days ago
Law

Former NYPD sergeant sentenced to up to 9 years for killing man by throwing cooler at him

Public health
fromCity Limits
3 days ago

Opinion: Excise Taxes Can Help Fund Needed Addiction Treatment in NY

New York's alcohol sales generate $12 billion annually but do not address related health issues.
fromwww.dw.com
3 days ago

Scotland: Abusive man gets 8 years prison for wife's suicide

Lee Milne physically and psychologically abused Kimberly Bruce (Milne) and our evidence showed that this abuse was a significant contributing factor in her death. He deliberately and ruthlessly exploited Kimberly's vulnerabilities, which makes him culpable for her decision to end her own life.
UK news
Poker
fromReadWrite
3 days ago

Ex Philadelphia probation officer sentenced in illegal gambling case

A former probation officer was sentenced for running an illegal sports betting operation, facing jail time, home confinement, and financial penalties.
#rikers-island
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

Editorial | Rikers Island closure plan becomes an island of uncertainty | amNewYork

New York City struggles to meet the 2027 deadline for closing Rikers Island due to incomplete community-based jail plans and rising inmate population.
Brooklyn
fromGothamist
6 days ago

Mayor Mamdani opens new Bellevue Hospital unit for Rikers detainees

A new $241 million unit at Bellevue Hospital will house Rikers Island detainees with serious medical needs, improving care and supporting jail closure efforts.
New York City
fromGothamist
2 weeks ago

Man dies in custody at Rikers Island jail, officials say

A 39-year-old man died in custody at Rikers Island, prompting calls for accountability and the urgent need to close the facility.
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

Editorial | Rikers Island closure plan becomes an island of uncertainty | amNewYork

New York City struggles to meet the 2027 deadline for closing Rikers Island due to incomplete community-based jail plans and rising inmate population.
Brooklyn
fromGothamist
6 days ago

Mayor Mamdani opens new Bellevue Hospital unit for Rikers detainees

A new $241 million unit at Bellevue Hospital will house Rikers Island detainees with serious medical needs, improving care and supporting jail closure efforts.
New York City
fromGothamist
2 weeks ago

Man dies in custody at Rikers Island jail, officials say

A 39-year-old man died in custody at Rikers Island, prompting calls for accountability and the urgent need to close the facility.
US politics
fromAdvocate.com
4 days ago

A federal judge is forcing the Trump administration to answer for Renee Good's killing

Federal judge orders release of evidence related to Renee Good's killing by ICE officer, challenging the Trump administration's control over the narrative.
NYC real estate
fromwww.amny.com
4 days ago

State court system forms committee to consider reforms for overburdened housing courts | amNewYork

A blue-ribbon panel has been formed to improve New York City Housing Court's effectiveness, fairness, and accessibility amid rising eviction cases.
fromLos Angeles Times
5 days ago

'Ketamine queen' faces prison for selling drug that killed Matthew Perry

Jasveen Sangha pleaded guilty to one count of maintaining a drug-involved premises, three counts of distribution of ketamine, and one count of distribution of ketamine resulting in death or serious bodily injury.
SOMA, SF
#kevin-epps
fromKqed
5 days ago
Independent films

SF Filmmaker Kevin Epps Is Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting | KQED

fromKqed
5 days ago
Independent films

SF Filmmaker Kevin Epps Is Sentenced to Over 6 Years in Prison for Fatal Shooting | KQED

#matthew-perry
#murder
fromBoston.com
4 days ago
SF parents

Braintree man sentenced to life in prison for murdering Salem State student 40 years ago

fromBoston.com
4 days ago
SF parents

Braintree man sentenced to life in prison for murdering Salem State student 40 years ago

UK politics
fromwww.bbc.com
6 days ago

Reform would deny visas over calls for slavery reparations

Reform UK plans to deny visas to countries seeking slavery reparations from Britain if elected.
NYC LGBT
fromwww.amny.com
6 days ago

NYS corrections worker and felon boyfriend indicted for pimping out child

A corrections employee and her inmate partner were indicted for running a prostitution ring, including trafficking a child.
SF politics
fromTruthout
1 week ago

CA Should Send Prisoners Home Instead of Spending Millions on New Facilities

California's prison reform focuses on expensive new facilities rather than effective rehabilitation, with minimal budget allocation for actual rehabilitation programs.
Washington DC
fromSlate Magazine
1 week ago

They Had to Clean Solitary Cells. What They Saw Forced Them to Quit.

Solitary confinement work is demoralizing and involves invasive strip searches, contributing to severe mental health issues among incarcerated individuals.
Law
fromSlate Magazine
4 days ago

The Terrible, Hidden Stakes of One of the Thorniest Supreme Court Cases of This Term

Pitchford v. Cain highlights the complexities of racial discrimination claims in jury selection within the constraints of modern habeas corpus law.
US news
fromwww.npr.org
3 days ago

Months after the ICE shootings in Minnesota, a federal probe remains elusive

Federal investigations into three shootings involving immigration agents in Minneapolis are stagnant, with little cooperation from federal authorities.
fromFortune
4 days ago

'This utter lack of communication and consultation flies in the face of federal law': states push against immigration detention plans | Fortune

ICE purchased a 418,000-square-foot warehouse in Surprise, Arizona, for $70 million, with plans for a processing site capable of handling 1,000 to 1,500 immigrants daily.
US politics
Medicine
fromTruthout
1 week ago

Our Prison-Like Clinic System Is Thwarting Effective Opioid Addiction Treatment

Methadone is essential for opioid addiction treatment, yet its distribution is heavily regulated by law enforcement, complicating access for those in need.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
6 days ago

Treat jailed drug dealers like radical extremists, says prisons watchdog

Jailed drug dealers should be isolated and managed assertively to reduce violence and chaos in prisons.
#jasveen-sangha
New York City
fromwww.amny.com
6 days ago

MAMDANI'S FIRST 100 DAYS: Mayor opens Bellevue medical outpost for Rikers detainees, saying it's a step toward closing the jail | amNewYork

Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a new medical unit at Bellevue Hospital, marking progress towards closing Rikers Island and improving care for detainees.
fromwww.independent.co.uk
5 days ago

Crime victims and bereaved families given more time to challenge lenient sentences

Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman expressed her delight at the government's decision, stating that the change is long overdue and acknowledges the years of campaigning led by bereaved families like Tracey Hanson, who sought justice following the tragic death of her son Josh.
Law
US news
fromHoodline
5 days ago

Brooklyn Feds Sentence 18th Street Leaders to 115 Years

Three leaders of the 18th Street gang received over 115 years in prison for racketeering and violent crimes across multiple states and El Salvador.
Social justice
fromSlate Magazine
2 weeks ago

The Horrifying Secret of the Child Detention Center We Shared as Detainee and Warden

The Cheltenham Youth Detention Center has a troubling history of racial segregation and a lack of memorial for children who died in custody.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 days ago

Texas court overturns sentence for man on death row for nearly 50 years

The Texas court overturned Clarence Curtis Jordan's death sentence due to his intellectual disabilities and lack of legal representation for decades.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 week ago

Young adults facing life or indeterminate sentences almost doubles in a decade

The number of young adults receiving life sentences has nearly doubled in a decade, raising concerns about their mental health and future prospects.
UK politics
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

The Guardian view on prisons: sentencing reform has not eased the sense of crisis | Editorial

Prisons in England and Wales face a crisis with high violence, staff shortages, and inadequate reforms, necessitating urgent government action.
fromwww.bbc.com
1 week ago

Prison guard and gang jailed over contraband plot

Jason Thompson, a guard at HMP Isis, was suspended as the Metropolitan Police investigated his involvement in smuggling drugs and contraband into the prison. He was sentenced to four years and six months for conspiracy and misconduct.
UK news
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

California's new war on drugs': thousands arrested, few get treatment, data shows

Proposition 36, a state ballot measure, enacted harsher penalties for minor theft and drug offenses, with proponents pledging the crackdown would lead to mass treatment to keep people alive, out of jail, and off our streets. Case records, however, suggest the state is largely failing to meet the central goal of getting people help and instead conducting mass arrests and incarcerating more people with addiction.
California
US news
fromBoston.com
2 weeks ago

Worcester man gets 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting minors

Antonio Merced was sentenced to 30 years for sexually abusing three children and possessing child pornography.
NYC parents
fromBoston.com
4 weeks ago

Former Boston Public Schools teacher sentenced to 10 years in prison for child exploitation

A former Boston science teacher received a 10-year prison sentence for using Discord to solicit sexually explicit images from minors across multiple states and countries.
Brooklyn
fromGothamist
3 weeks ago

Screen the guards: Albany ponders prison bills

New York proposes random full-body scanner screening for corrections officers entering state prisons to reduce contraband, while also allowing visitor re-evaluation instead of immediate rejection when scanners detect suspected contraband.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

Judge Who Handcuffed Crying 13-Year-Old Girl Retiring - Above the Law

Judge Roger Benitez's actions in court raised serious ethical concerns, leading to a formal complaint and a light reprimand before his retirement.
SF parents
fromLos Angeles Times
2 weeks ago

Mom who brutally tortured, killed boy is denied resentencing. Under state law, she can try again

Pearl Fernandez has been denied resentencing for the murder of her son Gabriel for the second time, frustrating his relatives.
fromwww.mediaite.com
5 days ago

Michael Avenatti Moved From Prison To Halfway House

Michael Avenatti was sentenced in 2021 to 30 months over his Nike extortion scheme, which prosecutors said was for $25 million. He received another 48 months for theft and defrauding a client in 2022.
Law
#criminal-justice
California
fromCalifornia Post
1 month ago

Gavin Newsom's law grants parole to pedo with 300-year sentence

A California sex offender convicted of molesting multiple children faces early release under a 2020 law allowing parole for inmates 50+ who served 20+ years, sparking criticism of the elderly parole system.
California
fromCalifornia Post
1 month ago

Gavin Newsom's law grants parole to pedo with 300-year sentence

A California sex offender convicted of molesting multiple children faces early release under a 2020 law allowing parole for inmates 50+ who served 20+ years, sparking criticism of the elderly parole system.
#prison-reform
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

Plan to scrap most short jail terms comes into effect

Most offenders facing up to a year in jail in England and Wales will now likely receive suspended sentences under new reforms.
US news
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

A Criminal-Justice Activist's Baffling Crime

Prison-reform activist Alexander Friedmann was arrested for secretly smuggling weapons and tools into Nashville's new jail during construction, despite his prominent reputation in criminal-justice reform circles.
UK news
fromwww.bbc.com
3 weeks ago

Plan to scrap most short jail terms comes into effect

Most offenders facing up to a year in jail in England and Wales will now likely receive suspended sentences under new reforms.
US news
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

A Criminal-Justice Activist's Baffling Crime

Prison-reform activist Alexander Friedmann was arrested for secretly smuggling weapons and tools into Nashville's new jail during construction, despite his prominent reputation in criminal-justice reform circles.
Law
fromLos Angeles Times
6 days ago

'Gladiator fight' cases against L.A. juvenile hall staffers are falling apart

Many criminal cases against probation officers in California are collapsing after initial indictments for allowing youth fights in juvenile halls.
NYC politics
fromNew York Post
1 month ago

NY's top judge sparks outrage with wild suggestion to go easy when sentencing criminals

New York's Chief Judge Rowan Wilson faced ethics complaints after publicly urging judges to impose lenient sentences and encouraging voters to remove judges who impose lengthy prison terms.
Law
fromsfist.com
6 days ago

New California Law Would Open Up Conversion Therapy Practitioners to Malpractice Lawsuits

California's SB 934 allows greater civil damages for conversion therapy malpractice, extending the statute of limitations to 22 years for minors.
fromGothamist
1 month ago

NYC is looking to hire a 'jails czar' to help close Rikers

The high-ranking role comes with a $180,000 to $230,000 salary, the listing states, and "will serve as a trusted advisor to the mayor, first deputy mayor, and the administration's senior leadership on all matters related to the closing of Rikers."
New York City
#criminal-justice-reform
California
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Newsom changed California prisons. What will the justice system look like after he leaves?

California's criminal justice system has shifted toward rehabilitation under Governor Newsom, with fewer incarcerated people and expanded rehabilitation programs, raising questions about the next governor's direction.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

This Is Why Criminal Justice Needs Number Nerds - Above the Law

Data-driven evidence, not ideology, should guide criminal justice reform through incentive-based systems and rigorous testing of policies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

The criminal legal system punishes instability through policy choices rather than crime, with public defenders facing systemic barriers while seeking justice and reform.
California
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Newsom changed California prisons. What will the justice system look like after he leaves?

California's criminal justice system has shifted toward rehabilitation under Governor Newsom, with fewer incarcerated people and expanded rehabilitation programs, raising questions about the next governor's direction.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

This Is Why Criminal Justice Needs Number Nerds - Above the Law

Data-driven evidence, not ideology, should guide criminal justice reform through incentive-based systems and rigorous testing of policies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System - Above the Law

The criminal legal system punishes instability through policy choices rather than crime, with public defenders facing systemic barriers while seeking justice and reform.
Law
from48 hills
2 weeks ago

Judge sanctions public defender in case that raises critical issues about criminal justice - 48 hills

Public Defender Mano Raju was fined $26,000 for refusing cases due to overwhelming workloads, highlighting systemic issues in public defense funding.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

The Judiciary Is Still Unaccountable, And This Congress Won't Fix It - Above the Law

The Judiciary Accountability Act aims to extend anti-discrimination protections to judiciary employees, promoting transparency and accountability in the judicial system.
Law
from48 hills
3 weeks ago

Lurie wants to be tough on crime-but won't pay for the impacts on defendants - 48 hills

Increased arrests and prosecutions in San Francisco are costly, leading to understaffed public defense and potential legal ethics violations.
#prison-education
#in-custody-death-review
Social justice
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

Opinion: A California diversion program saved her from prison and dying young

Community-based diversion with behavioral health, job training, and supports can break cycles of trauma and incarceration and enable educational and professional recovery.
US politics
fromLos Angeles Times
2 months ago

U.S. senators tour California City Detention Center, decry conditions and inadequate medical care

Medical care and living conditions at California City Detention Facility are inadequate, with moldy food, foul drinking water, and growing detainee populations amid ICE expansion.
fromwww.amny.com
2 months ago

Op-Ed | Do rehabilitation programs in prison help, both legally and personally? amNewYork

RDAP is a voluntary program that lasts between nine and 12 months (ordinarily, it requires roughly 38 weeks to complete in five-day workweeks, three-hour-a-day segments). The 500-hour program strives to educate inmates on the dangers of addiction. Most importantly, relapse prevention is stressed with the goal of helping inmates during post-release stay clean and sober to avoid reoffending. Congress appropriates more than $100 million annually for RDAP.
Public health
fromNew York Post
1 month ago

Exclusive | Minor loophole: NYC Council bill could prevent 'young people' who commit crimes from getting arrested

A far-left Brooklyn pol is hoping the third time's a charm with socialist Zohran Mamdani now NYC mayor as she pushes legislation that could give "young people" carte blanche to commit crimes without fear of being arrested. The legislation, reintroduced for a third time on Jan. 29 by Democratic Councilwoman Crystal Hudson, would require that "young people" be "diverted" to "community-based organizations to receive services in lieu of criminal enforcement."
US politics
fromLos Angeles Times
1 month ago

Therapy, remorse: A look at how 'monster' child molester got parole and new efforts to alter law

He abused these children horrifically. He stole their childhoods. Someone that does these type of things, they don't deserve a second chance in life.
California
fromwww.npr.org
2 months ago

For those with addiction, going into and coming out of prison can be a minefield.

The Alaska Department of Corrections does not provide comprehensive access to this life saving medication. "I'm gonna give you a little pinch," Spencer said, sliding the needle into a fold of skin on the patient's belly for the subcutaneous injection. Alaska's not an outlier. Despite the fact that those recently released from incarceration are some of the most vulnerable to dying from drug overdose, addiction experts say that many jails and prisons around the country don't provide medication treatment.
Public health
fromwww.mercurynews.com
2 months ago

They were bothtrying to get control of the firearm': Oakland man gets 6 years in 2022 homicide

Donald Marler, 31, was transferred to North Kern State Prison on Jan. 7, two months after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in the shooting death of 38-year-old Nicholas Lord. In exchange for his plea, prosecutors threw out a murder charge, court records show. At Marler's preliminary hearing last April, a woman who was one of Lord's roommates testified that the two men started arguing about a stolen car inside their shared residence on June 7, 2022.
California
US news
fromThe Mercury News
2 months ago

Oakland man sentenced to federal prison for robbing banks

Naikano Tuipulotu was sentenced to five years in federal prison for committing multiple East Bay bank robberies and leaving notes with his fingerprints.
UK news
fromwww.independent.co.uk
1 month ago

Secret prison documents shows government plan to tackle IPP scandal will fail

At least 520 people serving abolished IPP sentences are projected to remain incarcerated in March 2030, leaving many indefinitely detained despite abolition.
California
fromwww.mercurynews.com
1 month ago

Opinion: California promised accountability for inmate deaths in jails. A year later, no results.

California's jail death review law preserves sheriff control, lacks enforcement authority, permits redactions, and produced no completed reviews within its first year.
California
fromReadWrite
2 months ago

Sacramento illegal gambling robbery sentences announced

Two men convicted for an armed robbery at an illegal gambling garage; one sentenced to 301 years to life, the other to 40 years and eight months.
Law
fromBoston.com
1 month ago

Parole rate is up in Mass., including for people with life sentences

Massachusetts parole rates increased in 2024, with life sentence parole rates rising from 57% to 72%, largely due to the Mattis court decision prohibiting life sentences without parole for offenders under 21.
California
fromwww.sandiegouniontribune.com
2 months ago

A California school shooter may win release. Other young offenders know what he faces.

California's youth-sentencing laws assume teenagers think differently than adults, leading to resentencing that can transform de facto life sentences into juvenile-limited custody.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Record number of offenders being recalled to prison in England and Wales

Record offender recalls have surged; many deliberately breach licence terms to return and traffic drugs while early-release rules and overcrowding reduce support and housing.
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