Maryland Faces COVID-19 Crisis in Prisons Without Immediate Steps to Decarcerate

The nonprofit Recidiviz has created an online model built specifically for institutional populations that projects transmission of the COVID-19 virus using state-specific data on the prison population, age distribution, and steps taken to mitigate the spread of the virus. The model predicts that Maryland’s prisons will soon be overwhelmed with individuals infected with COVID-19. As of April 26th, Maryland reported 207 positive cases in its prisons. This includes 157 staff and 50 incarcerated individuals. The model predicts that number will rise to 791 incarcerated individuals and 331 staff within a … Continued

[PRESS RELEASE] NEW POLICY BRIEF: COVID-19 Threatens Explosion in Maryland Prisons Without Immediate Intervention

(Washington, DC, April 23, 2020) – The Justice Policy Institute released a new policy brief on COVID-19 explosion in Maryland prisons. As of April 22nd, Maryland reported 136 positive cases of COVID-19 in its prisons. A forecasting model predicts that number will rise to 523 incarcerated individuals and 222 staff within a week. In two weeks, 1,832 incarcerated people and 452 staff are projected to test positive for the virus. In three weeks, 4,873 incarcerated individuals and 1,033 staff are projected to test positive. At that time, over 400 incarcerated … Continued

The Ungers, 5 Years and Counting: A Case Study in Safely Reducing Long Prison Terms and Saving Taxpayer Dollars

The Ungers, 5 Years and Counting A landmark court case, Unger v. Maryland, offers powerful lessons for policymakers and stakeholders interested in tackling mass incarceration. The 2012 case centered on remedying improper jury instructions and applied to a cohort of people who had been sentenced prior to 1981. The decision resulted in the potential release of 235 people from Maryland prisons who had served more than 30 years, and their release story created a natural experiment from which other states can learn. What makes the Unger decision particularly unique is … Continued

Raise the Age

Over the past ten years, half of the states that had previously excluded all 16- and/or 17-year-olds from juvenile court based solely on their age have changed their laws so that most youth under age 18 who touch the justice system will fall under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system. These policy changes are part of a shift to “raise the age”–reforms focused on moving out of the adult criminal justice system the tens of thousands of youth under 18 who are automatically treated as adults because of age of … Continued

Advocates Urge Removing Influence of Money in Maryland’s Pretrial System

Non-profit groups in Maryland call for legislative action following report of special interest influence on pretrial justice system A new report by Common Cause Maryland shows the for-profit bail bond industry is using its money and influence in Annapolis to protect a failed money bail system that discriminates against poor and low income people, undermines public safety, and squanders taxpayer dollars. The study—Play to Pay?—ranks Maryland third, after California and Florida, in the amount of money bondsman give to state legislators.    Three separate statewide judicial and legislative studies and a 2014 … Continued

JPI Announces its Newest Board Member

Michael Satin is an attorney with Miller & Chevalier in Washington, D.C.  He is an experienced trial lawyer who has tried dozens of cases at the state and federal level and has also argued before the D.C. Circuit and the D.C. Court of Appeals. His practice focuses on white collar defense and complex civil litigation, and he represents both individuals and entities. Prior to joining Miller & Chevalier, Michael worked at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS), where he represented indigent men and women charged with … Continued

THE TIME IS NOW TO RAISE THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY

We, the undersigned organizations dedicated to the well-being of children and youth and other supporters, call on you to pass legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility before this legislative session ends June 17th. We cannot wait any longer. Currently, New York is one of only two states that still prosecute all 16- and 17 –year- olds in the justice system as adults. The tragic suicide of Kalief Browder illustrates the urgent need to raise the age immediately. Mr. Browder experienced all of the harms that result from prosecuting … Continued

Sticker Shock West Virginia

From March 2 to March 8, JPI, the ACLU of West Virginia, and other organizations committed to justice reform will be highlighting the high cost of youth incarceration in West Virginia. And we need your help! Copy and share the following posts & images (inspired by our report, Sticker Shock: Calculating the Full Price Tag for Youth Incarceration, and the work of ACLU-WV on truancy reform) on your social media profiles. Below, you’ll also find Twitter info for many of West Virginia’s elected leaders. Let’s convince policymakers it’s time for … Continued

Jason Ziedenberg Testifies in Support of DC’s Youth Offender Accountability & Rehabilitation Act

Earlier today, JPI’s Director of Research & Policy, Jason Ziedenberg, testified before the DC Council in support of the Youth Offender Accountability & Rehabilitation Act (YOARA), which strives to reduce the number of youth held in adult correctional facilities pretrial.  Below is a transcript of Jason’s testimony. Jason Ziedenberg, M.S. Research and Policy Director Justice Policy Institute www.justicepolicy.org COUNCILMEMBER TOMMY WELLS, CHAIRPERSON COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY BILL 20-825, THE “YOUTH OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY AND REHABILITATION ACT OF 2014”  Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 11 a.m. John A. Wilson Building,Room … Continued

Marc Schindler Testifies in Support of DC’s Youth Offender Accountability & Rehabilitation Act

Earlier today, JPI’s Executive Director Marc Schindler testified before the DC Council in support of the Youth Offender Accountability & Rehabilitation Act (YOARA), which strives to reduce the number of youth held in adult correctional facilities pretrial.  Below is a transcript of Marc’s testimony. TESTIMONY BY MARC SCHINDLER Executive Director, Justice Policy Institute DC COUNCIL COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY AND PUBLIC SAFETY BILL 20-825, THE “YOUTH OFFENDER ACCOUNTABILITY AND REHABILITATION ACT OF 2014” Wednesday, October 22, 2014, 11 a.m. John A. Wilson Building,Room 412 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. … Continued