Blog
Filter Provides In-Depth Look at the The Power and Prejudice of DAs on Drugs
Prosecutors wield enormous power in the “war against drugs.” They have the ability to widen the net of who is convicted of drug charges in the way they interpret and pursue laws. This ranges from charging mothers addicted to drugs with child abuse, to combating anyone whose opinion differs from their own.
CJPC Supports and Strategizes with Stop Killing Us
On Saturday, December 8, CJPC Executive Director Dawn Blagrove joined Rev. Curtis E. Gatewood, President & Founder for JUSTICE Ministration and the Stop Killing Us (SKU) Solutions Campaign and other community activists and families of police violence victims for a “Uniting the Streets” gathering in Durham (both pictured above).
Midterm Wins for Reform Means Change is Possible — with Your Help!
While the election was truly a nail-biter, and ultimately filled with outcomes both wonderful and challenging, one thing was clear – the people of North Carolina are beginning to demand accountability and reform from their local elected officials. For that, we are inspired to keep the momentum going to bring real and lasting change to North Carolina’s criminal justice system, county by county.
MATCH and Pharoah's Daughter Provide Much Needed Services to Incarcerated Women and their Families
In North Carolina, moms that have given birth in prison are in need of many resources they are not offered by the current government systems. However, two incredible organizations in North Carolina are addressing the needs of mothers who have given birth in prison.
NPR Series Explores Discipline and Women In Prison
In a series of four podcasts, NPR and the Northwestern University School of Journalism found that female inmates are disciplined disproportionately in prisons. Women get disciplined at higher rates than men, especially with smaller infractions. They get written up at two to three times the rate that men do for minor violations.
Prison Policy Initiative Examines Housing Insecurity Among Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
A recent new report from the Prison Policy Initiative provides the first estimate of housing insecurity in the 5 million formerly incarcerated individuals in the US. The report breaks down the prevalence of homelessness by demographic area and begins to assess some causes and solutions to the problem.
Haywood and Jackson Become First Counties to Pilot Pretrial Release Program
Beginning in 2019, Haywood and Jackson counties will become the first judicial districts in North Carolina to pilot a pretrial release program. The goal of this program is to reduce mass incarceration and recidivism rates.
Kalief Browder Documentary on Netflix Paints Vivid Portrait of a Broken, Inhumane Justice System
The Spike documentary, “Time: The Kalief Browder Story,” released in 2017 and available now on Netflix, paints a vivid picture of Kalief Browder’s hellish experience with the criminal justice system, a story that could seem unbelievable for Americans that are unfamiliar with criminal justice issues.
Poetic Justice Event Educates Regarding the Death Penalty, But Also Heals and Transforms
Poetic Justice, the Carolina Justice Policy Center’s inaugural annual fundraiser held last month, was not only educational, it was also a profoundly moving experience for both the audience and speakers. This powerful event paired spoken word artists with criminal justice advocates to tell true stories from the criminal justice system.
How a "Free Tablet" Program Ends Up Costing Incarcerated People $9 Million in Hidden Fees
Recently, a company called JPay signed a contract with the New York Department of Corrections to give the people incarcerated there free tablets. The Prison Policy Initiative decided asked an important question about this contract that the lawmakers didn’t: “What would motivate a company to give away 52,000 tablet computers for free?” What they discovered was that the free tablets were part of a larger “bundled services” contract for JPay.
Finding the Blood on North Carolina’s Hands in Montgomery, Alabama
It wasn’t until I saw the coffin-sized metal box above my head with the name Wake County on it that I froze. My body could no longer move, as tears streamed silently down my cheeks. The box bore three simple pieces of data: the name of the county I had lived in for much of my life, the name George Taylor, and the date he was mutilated, shot over 100 times, and hung from a tree by four white men: November 5, 1918.
Prison Safety Issues in North Carolina Indicative of Larger, National Issue
The prison safety issues in North Carolina are representative of a larger, national issue. Federal prisons nationwide are understaffed and have been so for some time. However, the hiring freeze at the beginning of the Trump administration and emphasis on reducing the size of both the government and the budget has intensified the problem under the Trump administration.
Raleigh Community Calls For Civilian Police Oversight Board
The Police Accountability Community Taskforce, or PACT, is calling for the creation of an official community police oversight board in Raleigh. The Carolina Justice Policy Center and an advocacy group called Save Our Sons are also working with PACT.
Durham County Jail Suicide Hazards
From 1998 to 2017, 12 people committed suicide in the Durham County jail by hanging themselves from window bars or ventilation grates. Although public records show that Durham County officials were aware of the suicide hazards, the last updates are just now being finished to fix these hazards. Although 144 of 576 windows were fixed […]
North Carolina Expands Opportunities for Certificates of Relief
In mid-June, the North Carolina Senate passed House Bill 774, “Amend Certificates of Relief.” Courts can issue “certificates of relief” to individuals. With this certificate, if that person is hired and commits a crime involving their job or employer, the employer is not held liable. Because the new law gives people with criminal records more […]