Voting for prison reform promises
It was three and half years ago, at the Roger Williams University Symposium “Sounding the Alarm on Mass Incarceration” (which I wrote about in RIFuture back in 2013), when Rhode Island started a difficult, ambitious statewide conversation about undertaking major criminal justice reform efforts. Now, at the end of another election cycle, voters that care […]
One last plea to Raimondo to veto Kristen’s Law
At 4pm on Monday evening, where one would usually find state representatives milling about before their floor sessions, demonstrators gathered inside the State House to make one last plea to Governor Raimondo to veto Kristen’s Law, a statute which mandates a life sentence for individuals involved in the exchange of controlled substance in the case […]
Raimondo supports Kristen’s Law, a member of her drug task force doesn’t
Amid reports that Gov. Raimondo is planning on signing Kristen’s Law (H 7715)—a bill passed in the House last week which mandates a life sentence for individuals who sell controlled substances involved in fatal overdoses—many are saying that the bill will only increase the number of overdose deaths, including one of the governor’s own appointees […]
A.T Wall to retire from ACI after decades of instituting progressive prison reform
Ashbel T. Wall is retiring in early 2018 after leading the Adult Corrections Institute for 18 years. Better known as A.T., he leaves his post as the longest serving warden in the nation with a reputation for bringing progressive reform to Rhode Island’s state prison system. “A.T. is a treasure and has dedicated his life […]
The March for Racial Justice in Rhode Island
Well over 400 people converged on India Point Park for the March for Racial Justice (M4RJ). Sister marches were held across the country. In Providence, the “march” was actually more of a rally.
ACLU challenges DOC’s use of ‘civil death’ statute in denying rights to prisoners
The state’s “civil death” law, enacted more than a century ago, declares people sentenced to life in prison to be “dead” for virtually all legal purposes, even though most of them are eligible for parole after 20 years.
K-Love must continue WBRU tradition of engaging with ACI, prison populations
That Rhode Island’s 95.5 WBRU has, for around 50 years, served as Rhode Island’s alternative radio station and our state’s lifeline to the national music scene is only half of its significance. WBRU is also one of the community’s most direct communicative links into the Adult Correctional Institution. Listen to WBRU on Sundays and you’ll […]
Free Hugo Mejia movement comes to Providence
“An attack on immigrants is an attack on all working people,” said Kelley, a business manager with IUPAT. “Whether you live on the west coast, or the east coast, or in the center of our country, if you attack one working person, regardless of immigration status, you attack all of us.”
Prison education programs save money and reduce recidivism
If you want to measure the morality of a nation, just pay attention to how its treats its poor and its prisoners. Here in America, we incarcerate our citizens at a rate higher than any developed nation in the world. Attitudes about criminal behavior differ widely in other countries. A good example is Japan. In […]
DARE packs Providence Housing Authority to demand changes to discriminatory policies
For the past two years, the Behind the Walls Committee at Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE) has led a campaign to provide fair access to public housing for people with criminal records and their families.
DARE demands Providence Housing Authority end discrimination in public housing
Current PHA (Providence Housing Authority) policy denies most formerly incarcerated people their right to safe and stable housing, as well as preventing them from reuniting with their families and reintegrating into society.
Law professors explore the impact and scope of Trump’s executive orders on immigration
Immigration is complicated. Trump’s executive orders made it more complicated. Here’s what legal experts think, and where they don’t know what to think.
Memo to POTUS: Pardon ALL non-violent drug offenders
What if President Obama used his last days in office to pardon all the non-violent drug offenders in the federal justice system? According to PrisonPolicy.Org there are just over 100,000 drug offenders in federal prisons. Let’s say that half of them are non-violent offenders. That’s 50,000 men and women and children* who could be released before the inauguration. […]
Frias versus Mattiello in the shadow of prison gerrymandering
Speaker Mattiello and challenger Frias actually have 1,230 fewer constituents they have to reach out to and represent. Although they are treated as residents of District 15 for purposes of carving up that district, these incarcerated persons are not considered residents there for any other meaningful purpose, including for purposes of voting.
New group begins study of solitary confinement at ACI
How many Rhode Island inmates are put in solitary confinement? Why are they there? How long do they stay? “And what do they actually look like,” asked Providence Rep. Aaron Regunberg, chair of a new state commission that will answer these and other important questions about the use of solitary confinement at the ACI.
Providence holds solidarity march for National Prison Strike
A march from Kennedy Plaza to the Providence Public Safety Complex, with a brief, tense stop in front of the Providence Place Mall was held in Providence Friday evening in solidarity with a National Prison Strike, on the 45th anniversary of the Attica Uprising. After gathering in Kennedy Plaza, across from Providence City Hall, the […]
Political forces align against progressives ahead of primary
Two races of special importance to Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello are being influenced through mailers sent out by a not-so-mysterious group calling themselves “Progress RI” which is funded by the Rhode Island Brotherhood of Correctional Officers (RIBCO).
Trump hits Minneapolis, the city hits back
Coincidentally, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump came to Minneapolis MN on the same day I made my first visit to the city. This turned a day that I had planned to spend sightseeing into a day of traveling to three different anti-Trump events.
Rhode Island’s response to Dallas defines our priorities
No press conferences were planned for Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. It took the death of police officers to do that. That alone signals our priorities as a culture.
A post-mortem for probation reform
The Justice Reinvestment reform package died at some point late last Friday night, passing the Senate but never making it out of the Judiciary Committee in the House. This was a surprising conclusion to nearly a year of momentum building around the issue of mass probation and mass incarceration, and is indicative of the uphill […]
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