by Mandie Sellars | Apr 10, 2018 | Criminal Justice Reform, Emancipate NC News
In Richmond, VA, a new diversion program is providing an opportunity for transformative self reflection. The program, called “Writing Your Way Out: A Criminal Justice Diversion Program” allows participants to take a Virginia Commonwealth University writing course as...
by Mandie Sellars | Apr 10, 2018 | Emancipate NC News, Policing
Shaunte Southern is a Sergeant in Gaston County, North Carolina. He has served primarily with patrol and the SWAT team. In a recent essay he wrote for The Undefeated, he opens up about racism in law enforcement. He writes, “[t]o be honest with you, I...
by Mandie Sellars | Apr 10, 2018 | Emancipate NC News, Ending the Death Penalty
The American Bar Association has created a new web resource devoted to the clemency process in death penalty cases. The resource, called the Capital Clemency Resource Initiative Clearinghouse, is the result of a collaboration between the ABA Death Penalty...
by Mandie Sellars | Mar 7, 2018 | Criminal Justice Reform, Emancipate NC News, Mass Incarceration
In theory, debtor’s prisons in the United States have been abolished long ago. In practice, however, the criminalization of poverty is a common problem. North Carolina is no exception. Not only are people often jailed for the inability to pay court fines and fees,...
by Mandie Sellars | Feb 28, 2018 | Emancipate NC News, Policing
As the topic of police brutality becomes more widely discussed, police departments are taking proactive steps to reduce excessive use of force. In a recent article by the Washington Post, authors examine what it takes to reduce deadly shootings. Some measures being...
by Mandie Sellars | Feb 28, 2018 | Emancipate NC News, Mass Incarceration
The U.S Imprisonment rate has dropped 11% since peaking in 2008, according to the Pew Charitable Trust Public Safety Performance Project. This marks the lowest rate since 1997. The decrease has coincided with long-term reductions in crime. Since 2008, combined...
