When Tennessee sentenced Christa Pike to death on March 30th, 1996, for a crime she committed as an eighteen-year-old, she became the youngest woman to receive a death sentence in the modern era. As the judge sentenced her to die, Christa—her face still sprinkled with adolescent acne—sobbed uncontrollably and called out for her mother. If the State carries out her execution, it will be the first time Tennessee has executed a woman since 1819.
— Read on dpw.lawschool.cornell.edu/advocacy/christa-pike/
Tag: Corrections
Escape from New York
“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
Colorado judge tours prison at heart of inmate slavery claims | Courthouse News Service
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/
New laws shrank CA prison population. What happened after release – CalMatters
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
US families shoulder nearly $350B in annual costs tied to incarceration, report finds • Ohio Capital Journal
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 States, 2023 | Bureau of Justice Statistics
Probation and Parole in the United State
— Read on bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/probation-and-parole-united-states-2023
‘We helped each other. We taught each other the law.’ | The Lens
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/
ECHC Needs Assessment Report – Erie County NY
Final Report Issued for Erie County Holding Center and Erie County Correctional Facility Comprehensive Facility and Operational Needs Assessment
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.
New York City Health Justice Network Recidivism Evaluation Study
Annual Probation Survey and Annual Parole Survey | Bureau of Justice Statistics
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
