All about Policing with a sprinkle of Criminal Justice – written by a Secret Contrarian
“Escape From New York” by Jarrod Shanahan analyzes the 1970s New York City carceral crisis, centering on prisoner-led resistance against the Department of Correction. The text highlights how alleged liberal reforms fueled the expansion of mass incarceration while documenting heroic, rebellious actions from within facilities like Rikers Island.
Read on HERE
In 2018, voters formally abolished slavery from the Colorado Constitution with a ballot measure that eliminated a century-old exception for prisoners.
— Read on www.courthousenews.com/colorado-judge-tours-prison-at-heart-of-inmate-slavery-claims/
California adopted major sentencing changes under Govs. Gavin Newsom and Jerry Brown. A new report shows very few people went back to prison after release.
— Read on calmatters.org/justice/2025/09/california-prisons-recidivism-study/
See the report HERE
U.S. families lose nearly $350 billion each year due to the incarceration of a loved one in jail or prison, according to a recent report from the criminal justice advocacy group FWD.us. The estimate includes both direct expenses and long-term losses in household income.
— Read on ohiocapitaljournal.com/briefs/us-families-shoulder-nearly-350b-in-annual-costs-tied-to-incarceration-report-finds/
Get the report HERE
Probation and Parole in the United State
— Read on bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/probation-and-parole-united-states-2023
In 1983, to help fight the wrongful charge, Calvin Duncan began to teach himself the law, while being held within the Orleans Parish Prison in New Orleans. In his new book The Jailhouse Lawyer, co-written by Sophie Cull, he writes about that time in his life:
— Read on thelensnola.org/2025/07/08/we-helped-each-other-we-taught-each-other-the-law/
Friday, May 30, 2025
As authorized by the County Legislature, Erie County DEP commissioned a Needs Assessment of the current Erie County Holding Center and Erie County Correctional Facility. The intent was to critically evaluate the condition of each facility and associated programs, to estimate future bed space and programming needs, determine what a new state of the art, trauma informed facility would need to include, and develop preliminary cost estimates. The Consultant Team completed their report in May 2025.
A presentation was given by the Consultant Team to elected County officials and staff members on May 29, 2025.
The Final Report can be viewed here.
Visit https://erie.gov/jailstudy to view the full website.
Collect administrative data from probation and parole agencies in the United States. Data collected include the total number of adults on state and federal probation and parole on January 1 and December 31 of each year, the number of adults entering and exiting probation and parole supervision each year, and the characteristics of adults under the supervision of probation and parole agencies. Published data include both national- and state-level data. The surveys cover all 50 states, the federal system, and the District of Columbia. They began in 1980 and are conducted annually.
— Read on bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/annual-probation-survey-and-annual-parole-survey
A facility built for progress reflects ‘decades of neglect’ and the city’s deepest struggles, from mental illness to systemic dysfunction.
— Read on www.themarshallproject.org/2025/04/21/st-louis-justice-center-jail-reform
All about Policing with a sprinkle of Criminal Justice - written by a Secret Contrarian
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