Private Prisons Are Back: Here’s Why That’s a Terrible Idea

From the Project on Government Oversight (http://www.pogo.org/): Attorney General Jeff Sessions reversed the Justice Department’s decision last year to phase out its use of private prisons, despite new reports raising concerns about their use. Read more at http://www.pogo.org/blog/2017/02/private-prisons-contractor-jeff-sessions-attorney-general-program.html.

No Quick or Easy Remedy–Forfeiture Rules

Pennsylvania’s Controlled Substances Forfeiture Act allow all seized assets to go directly to the offices of prosecutors. The ACLU-PA found that prosecutors overwhelmingly target disadvantaged individuals without the means to fight the forfeiture in court. Photo from Occupy.com. From Molly Tack-Hooper, Staff Attorney, … Continued

When Police Arrest Children

 Photo from Steven Lane of The Associated Press. From Harold Jordan, ACLU-PA Senior Policy Advocate One of the issues that the ACLU has been working on diligently, for years, has been student and youth rights. This week, NBC News aired a series of reports … Continued

Leading Nurses Association Takes Official Stance Against Death Penalty

The American Nurses Association has come out with a strong rebuke of capital punishment. By Kim Bellware, 02/22/2017 08:53 pm ET The American Nurses Association has taken an official position opposing the death penalty for the first time in its organization’s history. The organization … Continued

Faith Leader Sign-On Letter for Christopher Young—Religious Discrimination for Jurors on Death Penalty Case: Deadline COB February 6

This joint statement is intended for all faith leaders across the United States, regardless of position on the death penalty.  All faith leaders are asked to sign the statement below concerning the exclusion of a potential juror in the Texas death … Continued

Advocates Urge Caution in Closing Prisons

Posted at http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2017-01-24/civil-rights/advocates-urge-caution-in-closing-prisons/a56073-1 January 24, 2017 – Andrea Sears, Public News Service (PA) Play Audio in Browser Window More than 49,000 inmates currently are held in Pennsylvania state prisons. (ErikaWittlieb/pixabay.com) HARRISBURG, Pa. – Governor Tom Wolf wants to close two … Continued

Is the Commonwealth Doing Enough (re: Prison Population)?

By Andy Hoover Communications director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary has been closed since 1971. Pennsylvania’s prison secretary wants to close two more prisons. Last Friday, Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel announced that the DOC will … Continued