Carrie Blackwood’s Post

The lawsuit filed by the ACLU and HSSK challenging Connecticut’s pay-to-stay law has been resolved, but not before it resulted in major reforms protecting the financial rights of formerly incarcerated individuals. Key outcomes from the case include: ➡ In response to the filing of the action, the state amended the carceral lien statute to exempt all civil recoveries and $50,000 of a former inmate’s assets from collection by the state. ➡ The state agreed to withdraw its liens and collection efforts against the inheritances of the three named plaintiffs. Because the court determined that assessing what constitutes an excessive fine under the United States Constitution requires assessing each individual’s circumstances, the resolution was limited to the three plaintiffs rather than more broadly to similarly situated individuals. This is a significant step forward for justice and financial security for those impacted by incarceration in Connecticut! #JusticeReform #ACLU #FairnessForAll #probono #Connecticut

Expungement of Criminal Records Increases Public Safety This week, I was invited to speak at the Maine State Legislature’s Criminal Records Review Committee on the expungement of criminal records. Highlights discussed included research references in the Colby College Justice Think Tank policy paper Implementing Adult Diversion and Record Expungement in Maine, which I was honored to co-author. #chandlerdugal #victoriascott #catherinebesteman #criminaljustice Expungement provides an opportunity for rehabilitated people to petition for their conviction histories to be retracted from public records. 38 states have some form of felony expungement or sealing of records Several studies have shown that expungement increases public safety and reduces recidivism. In New York state, after 4.3 years of expungement, expungement recipients, even violent felonies, became less likely than the general population to commit a crime. In Michigan, a proven track record of public safety exists alongside 50 years of expungement law with only 0.6 percent of violent conviction expungement recipients reconvicted within two years and 0.8 percent within five years. ·       Moreover, according to the American Bar Association, the average recidivism rates were lower in states with automatic expungement statutes. Expungement of conviction histories reduces collateral sentencing consequences of exclusion from social and economic life that undermine rehabilitation. Prison Policy Initiative: ·      Formerly incarcerated individuals have a 7 times higher rate of homelessness than general population. ·      65% of formerly incarcerated individuals cannot find work after 4 years of release. ·      People who did find employment after release, earnings were lower than the general population: earning just 53% of the median US worker’s wage.

Advocacy and policy reform in the criminal justice system are crucial, which is why supporting #change is essential. It begins with our voices—let's use them to construct, inspire, and effect change! #weareallinthistogether #community #reentrymatters https://lnkd.in/g9aWuPpd

Advocacy and policy reform in the criminal justice system are crucial, which is why supporting #change is essential. It begins with our voices—let's use them to construct, inspire, and effect change! #weareallinthistogether #community #reentrymatters https://lnkd.in/gappUmRT

🚨 Youth Justice in Maryland: A New Challenge 🚨 Maryland’s recent juvenile justice law now allows detention for children as young as 10, sparking deep concern. Public Defender Natasha Dartigue calls it “a major step back,” stressing that expanding detention for minor offenses impacts marginalized children without improving public safety. Dartigue highlights that therapeutic and rehabilitative services are the real pathway to healing communities and fostering long-term benefits—without the trauma of incarceration. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/dwrh-xey #JuvenileJustice #YouthAdvocacy #RehabilitationNotIncarceration

April was first declared Second Chance Month in 2017. #SecondChanceMonth is a nationwide effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of criminal convictions, which follow people long after they complete their sentences. Last April, CLA CORI-Re-entry Senior Supervising Attorney Alyssa Golden wrote a letter, published in The Republican and MassLive.com, entitled "Beyond Second Chances." In her letter, she underscored the importance of understanding the systemic issues that can lead to criminal justice system involvement, and the importance of affirming the inherent dignity of all members of our community. Wrote Attorney Golden: “The criminalization of poverty, substance use, and mental illness, and the over-policing of communities of color, result in a cycle of incarceration and other forms of state supervision that are incredibly destructive for families and communities. There must be room for more than just a second chance.” -- Attorney Alyssa Golden, Senior Supervising Attorney for CLA's CORI/Re-entry Unit Read the full article : https://lnkd.in/ebSJRsx9 --- Do you have a criminal record that is impacting your ability to move forward in your life? Are you having trouble accessing housing or employment? You may be eligible for free criminal record sealing. Visit https://lnkd.in/gxZ-fRQ to learn more and apply for help from Community Legal Aid. #secondchances #secondchance #2ndchances #2ndchance #incarceration #reentry #re-entry #criminalrecordsealing #CORIsealing #legalaid #legalhelp #accesstojustice #reentryservices #socialjustice #racialjustice #returningcitizens #civillegalaid #criminaljustice

What Law and Order doesn't broadcast  As a child, I grew up always hearing “you would make an excellent lawyer!” from family and friends around me. I’m unsure if it is my ethics or my need to be a so-called “know-it-all” 😂. However, what I do know is that I am aware of the importance of fighting for the equality of those all around me. Being a college student and expanding my knowledge to the active world around me has been a blessing. This pushed my dedication to reading between the lines and finding discrepancies within our own country. True crime and law TV shows flooded media trends, which obviously sparked my own interest in them as well. However, as someone who needs to know how it works in our day to day– I started to do outside research on cases and justice systems. I came to the realization that the way our TV screens portray what happens in the justice system is far from correct. No one becomes a lawyer from watching Law and Order, but the consumption of shows/media like this limits the average American from considering what is actually happening in our justice system. Did you know that the incarceration rate in the United States is incredibly high? And within that incarceration rate, did you know that the majority is minorities? You may think: how could that be true– but ignoring the numbers is limiting yourself to your own civic duties. If only 13% of our population is black americans, and 37% of people in jail are black americans, what does that say about our justice system? This raises another question I am more than dedicated to answer in this field of study– what are we going to do to fix it? With ambition and determination, I want to focus myself on a future full of criminal justice and law. The fight is everlasting to fix the incarceration rates and how they are discriminatory towards those whose voices are heard quieter in our nation. Do you know someone in this fight? Initiative, P. P. (n.d.). Race and ethnicity. Prison Policy Initiative. https://lnkd.in/gXY92EMS 

Youth Justice programs and Restorative Justice programs do not compete, and each type of program has unique factors that make it beneficial to participants. When it comes to addressing criminal behavior among young people, two approaches often come into play: youth justice and restorative justice. Understanding the distinctions between these approaches is crucial for professionals working with youth, policymakers, and community members invested in fostering safer and more supportive communities. 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐯𝐬. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬 The primary difference between youth justice and restorative justice lies in their goals and methodologies. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 : This system typically focuses on holding young offenders accountable through legal and corrective measures. It often involves court proceedings, probation, and sometimes detention, aiming to punish and deter future offenses. The emphasis is on the offender's responsibility and the legal ramifications of their actions. 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑱𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒆 : This approach prioritizes healing and repairing the harm caused by criminal behavior. It involves a process where victims, offenders, and community members come together to discuss the impact of the crime, identify needs, and develop solutions collaboratively. The goal is to promote healing, reconciliation, and accountability. Restorative justice seeks to restore relationships and prevent future harm by addressing the needs of all parties involved.