New Bill Would Fund PA’s Ailing Public Defender System

Posted at https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2022-09-26/civil-rights/new-bill-would-fund-pas-ailing-public-defender-system/a80744-1 September 26, 2022 – Edwin J. Viera, Public News Service (PA) Play Audio in Browser Window A new bill in Pennsylvania would provide money for public defenders, who say they’re struggling to take on the cases of … Continued

Lack of PA Juvenile Detention Space Reaches Critical Stage

Posted at https://www.publicnewsservice.org/2022-08-31/juvenile-justice/lack-of-pa-juvenile-detention-space-reaches-critical-stage/a80459-1 August 31, 2022 – Danielle Smith, Public News Service (PA) Play Audio in Browser Window One goal of youth and family support services is to keep kids out of juvenile detention, but for those who are accused … Continued

Diversion Helps to Fight Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Justice

From the Sentencing Project (http://www.sentencingproject.org): The Sentencing Project released an in-depth analysis about the juvenile justice system’s unequal and limited use of diversion from court involvement, particularly for Black youth. Nationwide in 2019, 52% of delinquency cases involving white youth … Continued

PA State Prisoners with Mental Illnesses Spend Three Times Longer in Solitary than Other States

From Spotlight PA (https://www.spotlightpa.org/): State prisoners in Pennsylvania with mental illnesses are spending three times longer in solitary confinement than their counterparts, according to a study published in the journal Criminology. As we mentioned earlier in the week, attempts to … Continued