Covid Toll in Prisons, FL Pay-to-Stay & More
“Mortality in U.S. prisons increased 77% in 2020 compared to 2019 — 3.4 times the rise among the free population.”
During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the death toll among incarcerated individuals in the U.S. skyrocketed at a rate over three times higher than the general population, according to a new study. The numbers, thought to be the most comprehensive review of state and federal-level prison data to date, paint a grim picture of the pandemic's impact behind bars. Older prisoners bore the brunt of the crisis and experienced a disproportionate rise in deaths.
"It will be on her credit history, it will make it difficult for her to get a job, for her to get housing, to buy a car, or do anything else that she needs to do, to be able to return to society.”
Advocates are taking aim at Florida's pay-to-stay law, which authorizes the state to charge inmates $50 per day for their prison sentence in a scheme that amounts to booking prison cells like forced hotel rooms. Critics also pointed out that the state can continue levying the charges even if a person is released from prison early, while still charging the next incarcerated person for the cell.
“The employers I have spoken to across Missouri care deeply about keeping the state strong and prosperous – but they also care about doing the right thing.”
Poised to become the thirteenth state with an automated expungement law, committees in Missouri's House and Senate considered a Clean Slate law last month. This week, RBIJ's Maggie O'Donnell joined Empower Missouri to present the business case for expungement, supported by more than 150 businesses. Automatically clearing criminal records provides a lifeline to millions, potentially saving Missouri billions in lost earnings annually, and enhances community safety.
"...acquitted conduct cannot be considered as relevant conduct for the purposes of guidelines calculation, 'unless such conduct also establishes, in whole or in part, the instant offense of conviction.'"
The U.S. Sentencing Commission voted unanimously to restrict the contentious practice of using acquitted conduct in federal sentencing last week. Set to take effect in November, the change comes after several people sued over the practice's violation of due process rights, and the U.S. Supreme Court asked the Commission to review the issue. Commissioners signaled a vote on whether or not to make the change retroactive should be expected in the future. Justice Action Network praised the decision.
“Now, 17-year-olds will be charged as adults in [Louisiana] for any crime committed.”
The overturn of Louisiana's "Raise the Age" law is now official, as legislation signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry took effect last week, allowing 17-year-olds to be tried and jailed as adults. Advocates have warned that the state's jails will likely be overwhelmed from the change.