Bruce Reilly
National report on public housing has a local link
I first encountered this public housing issue over a decade ago while living in Rhode Island, first in prison, then as a member of DARE. When I began inquiring about the precise rules regarding criminal convictions being a barrier to entry, and a cause for eviction, I got only a few vague answers. I even [...]
‘Accidental Racism’ The Song, Not The Practice
The sensational buzz around country star Brad Paisley‘s song “Accidental Racist” is perfect fodder for a Twitter blurb- but is this the extent of racial analysis we can muster in America? If someone stops reading this article at the first sentence, I feel like this provides a more appropriate response than the shallow condemnations filling the [...]
Move RI Beyond the Box: Stop Job Discrimination
This past week, the House Labor committee heard from “Ban the Box” supporters, including a short film to illustrate the challenge of finding employment, and a new life, with a criminal past. The film (available here) makes the case for House Bill H5507, known as “Ban the Box.” This piece of legislation removes that question, [...]
NYPD Faces Scrutiny On Stop And Frisk Tactic
This article originally appeared in The Guardian, here. Bruce Reilly’s five-part series of articles on Floyd and stop-and-frisk appears this week on Unprison. The New York Police Department is on trial in Floyd v City of New York, and the public is watching. It is ironic that the policy of recording “stops, questions, and frisks” originated with the 1999 police [...]
Former Prisoner Facing ‘Backlash’ For Pursuing Education
This post, by TTEF President Andres Idarraga on behalf of the Board of Directors, originally appeared on TTEF’s blog. The recent controversy surrounding a young man pursuing his education at the University of Rhode Island raises several societal issues. (“One student’s journey from state prison to URI sparks inquiry,” Katherine Gregg, 2/24/13). Should we encourage [...]
What Will Obama Gun Regulation Accomplish?
Recent controversy over which actual weapons were used at Sandy Hook, including MSNBC’s report as to whether an assault weapon was used at all, is likely to have no impact on the government response moving forward. Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Similarly, the fact that the government told [...]
‘Les Mis’: Jean Valjean Is a Friend of Mine
Most reviews of Les Miserables discuss the singing, editing, and acting, disregarding the original text of Victor Hugo. I write the simple reflections of a former prisoner who read this ex-con tale while sitting in a cell, with only a feint hope of ever being an ex-con at all. The movie, by the way, is a masterpiece. To me, [...]
Four Reasons the NRA is a Red Herring
In the wake of another tragedy, calls for gun regulation rises again. Many citizens do not tend to “wait and see” what the politicians will do, and many expect a little saber-rattling and then see their elected officials bow down to the powerful pro-gun lobbyNational Rifle Association. People have already begun targeting the NRA as [...]
NY Bets on Success with Social Impact Bonds
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently announced a new initiative that could save government money, decrease the crime rate and strengthen urban communities. Global investment bank Goldman Sachs will invest $10 million in a program to reduce recidivism among released adolescent prisoners at Riker’s Island. This will make the city the first in the nation to [...]
Save Olympic Basketball from Kobe, Lebron
With a career record of 54-1, the U.S. Olympic basketball team, a collection of NBA All-Stars, MVPs, scoring champions, and defensive players of the year are poised to dominate yet again. And yet again I’m bewildered by the media makers who try to capture our attention of this entertaining coronation ceremony where our team often [...]
Pot Decriminalization in RI: Just a Starting Point
Rhode Island became the latest state to lessen the punishments for small amounts of marijuana, popularly known as “decriminalizing” it. Six years ago, there were many doubters and few reformers on board. Yet it appears America is fed up with many facets of drug policy. Organizations that have been seen as fringe radicals, such as [...]
Feds v. States: Who Decides Death Penalty Fight
Can the Feds order a state to execute a man? This is the question that the Supreme Court may ultimately answer regarding Jason Pleau, arrested last year for killing a man during a robbery. What appeared to be a routine case in Rhode Island, a state of one million people that averages about 30 murders [...]
Why RI Should ‘Ban the Box’ on Job Applications
Every week in Rhode Island thousands of people are ushered through the court system, and every year nearly 20,000 will be released from prison. There are 30,000 people currently on probation, as we have one of the highest rates of government supervision in the nation. Over 100,000 Rhode Islanders have some manner of conviction on [...]
Who Should Be ‘Crashing the System?’
The recent article by Michelle Alexander appearing in the New York Times, “Crash the System,” has stirred up a great deal of interest among the activist community. Most of the people I have heard from, however, have been those who never faced imprisonment- including many lawyers and law students… i.e., people who actually read the New York Times or [...]
RI Voters’ Poll: Seeking Major Changes In Marijuana Policy
A new poll of 714 Rhode Island Voters indicates overwhelming support for medical marijuana, compassion centers, and decriminalization of less than one ounce of the plant. The medical marijuana law, gone unused by Rep. Bob Watson (if he were to qualify) garnered support of 72%, including a whopping 82% of Dems, 61% GOP, and 57% [...]
Wyatt’s Wall Streeters to RI: “Buy My Prison, PLEASE!”
Recent talk continues about the state buying a troubled asset, the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls. The thinking is that the state could purchase the outlandishly overvalued prison, refinance it, and operate a modest profit margin while saving the bondholders on Wall Street. Naturally, such a deal would take decades, if ever, to pay [...]
Why Getting Tough Is Weak
This week the Senate Judiciary voted to eliminate Good Time for people convicted of murder or serious sex offenses (1st degree child molestation, 2nd degree child molestation, kidnapping of a minor, and 1st degree sexual assault). (Good Time is the 10 days per month a prisoner receives for good conduct. In a month where the [...]
How To Confront a Candidate, or How to Drink Liberally.
It is often bemoaned that candidates only talk about certain issues, only debate the same topics, and hardly ever disagree on anything of true substance. “My economic package is better than yours.” “I’m tougher on our enemies than the other guy.” Blah, blah, blah. When we consider that Obama, Bush, and McCain all agreed on [...]
Santorum and Romney Square Off On Felon Disenfranchisement
Rick Santorum asked Mitt Romney point blank: “Do you believe people who were felons, who served their time, who exhausted their parole and probation, should be given the right to vote?” This was in response to an ad by Romney’s “Super-PAC” attacking the former Pennsylvania senator. The ad says Mr. Santorum voted to “let convicted felons vote” [...]
Philadelphia Freedom: Is This The New Swing Vote?
A coalition of seventeen organizations have recently embarked on a revolutionary voter registration drive, and what better place to be revolutionary than Philadelphia? The Returning Citizens Voter Movement is directed towards formerly incarcerated people, engaging many more people with felony records who never went to prison, and far more people without records who have a [...]
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