FAMM’s Post

Ashtian Barnes should be alive today! TCRP and Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell (@wtotrial) have filed a friend of the court brief in Barnes v. Felix case, asking the United States Supreme Court to end the Fifth Circuit’s harmful "moment-of-threat" doctrine that Officer Felix used to justify Ashtian's death. Last year, TCRP released its Safe Passage: Traffic Safety & Civil Rights report, highlighting how minor traffic stops lead to senseless violence, family separations, wealth extraction, and incarceration. Today, that Report was featured in our brief to the United States Supreme Court asking for justice for Black and Brown drivers across Texas. No one should fear for their life simply due to a traffic stop. This case is crucial for the safety and civil rights of Black and Brown communities who are unfairly targeted by police. Read the full report here and follow TCRP for more updates about this important case. https://lnkd.in/g-vd8Gdf

🌟 Michigan’s Criminal legal Reform: Expanding Opportunities for Young People in the carceral System 🌟 I'm honored to join Professor Matt Lassiter at the University of Michigan’s Speaker Series on November 13, where we’ll discuss the urgency of recent Michigan Supreme Court decisions to raise the juvenile age threshold to 18, with potential to include 19- and 20-year-olds. This reform follows the landmark People v. Parks (2022) case, which prohibits mandatory life without parole (LWOP) for adolescents under 18, advocating for individualized and rehabilitative approaches that align with modern developmental insights. As Michigan continues to hold the largest population of individuals sentenced as youth, these reforms are crucial for providing pathways to reentry and support systems that empower young people. This shift from punitive measures to rehabilitative justice aligns with the Alternative Sentencing & Reentry Solution’s commitment to advancing research and advocacy for meaningful change. asrs4juveniles.org Join us in this conversation on how we can build a justice system that prioritizes growth, support, and second chances. #MichiganJusticeReform #YouthJustice #UniversityofMichigan #SecondChances #PeoplevParks #SpeakerSeries 📅 Wednesday, November 13 | 8–9pm 📍 3427 Mason Hall, University of Michigan

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 

Prop 47 is at risk of being rolled back by Prop 36, which will be on the ballot this November (in California). Prop 36 not only threatens to undo Prop 47 but will also introduce new penalties for drug use, various theft offenses, and broad sentencing enhancements that would apply to any type of crime. I recently co-authored an op-ed that appeared in voiceofsandiego.org about Prop 47, highlighting the #facts that support its success. As noted in the op-ed, "Proposition 47 is a public safety measure as well as a legal reform measure. This law has fostered safer communities for everyone by addressing many root causes of involvement in the criminal legal system." Please read it when you have a chance. As #voters, we must be armed with the facts. https://lnkd.in/g9BsVVjc

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

Civil legal aid programs like Community Legal Aid play a vital role in helping people overcome the collateral consequences of criminal convictions. "Even years after people have served their sentence and remained free of further criminal involvement, the records of their incarceration follow people and have an impact on their lives, making it hard to return to work or find a stable place to live. The result is that many people are locked out of opportunities to secure steady employment or affordable housing." Legal aid advocates help people with criminal records understand their rights and get the second, third, and fourth chances they need. #LegalAidChangesLives #SecondChances #ReEntry

As a lawyer, it can be easy to start believing that legal advocacy is the most important tool for creating change. But organized and activated communities are the true driver of continued and sustainable change. Raj Jayadev at Silicon Valley Debug brought the principles of community organizing into courthouses and created the participatory defense model. Not only did he win a MacArthur 'genius' award for it, he has now written a book, Protect Your People: How Ordinary Families Are Using Participatory Defense to Challenge Mass Incarceration. This is a great way to learn more about the power of participatory defense. https://lnkd.in/gmVk39TM

We appreciate the insights and voices of those working in criminal justice reform. We're incredibly grateful for the tremendous response to our survey on disability and the criminal legal system. We want to ensure every passionate advocate gets a chance to share their perspective with us. The survey closing date has been extended to this Friday, February 16. If you're dedicated to transforming the criminal legal system or know someone who is, now's the perfect time to share your insights with our Ending Incarceration program. Dive into the conversation and share your invaluable feedback at https://bit.ly/3UBX6o0. #ActivatingChange #CriminalJusticeReform #TransformativeJustice #Reentry #MassIncarceration #Justice #CriminalDefense

Under the ambit of criminal justice system, Juvenile delinquency is a global issue deeply established in various sectors of society that exert influence over people’s lives (Hartjen, 2008). Children represent significant assets within our society, shaping the future progress of nations. The prosperity of a nation correlates with each passing generation, but if these assets become involved in unethical behavior, it can destroy societal segments. Juvenile delinquency, fundamentally, involves the violation of laws by individuals who have not yet reached the age of maturity (Bartollas et al., 1985). [....] Read the full article https://lnkd.in/d4kXC25R

It's tears me apart to see these numbers even though I’m already fully aware of Alabama's ongoing pattern of incarcerating Black children it just kills me!! This not only perpetuates systemic injustice but it also fails to address the root causes of youth involvement in the legal system. We have to stop saying “Look at what you’ve done!” and start asking “What happened to you?” We must prioritize rehabilitative approaches over punitive ones to truly foster growth and healing for our youth. #JusticeReform #ItTakesAllofUs #RestorativeJustice #AlabamaJustice