Today we pause to give thanks for all of the things that we are grateful for everyday: our families and friends, our clients and colleagues, our God-given talents and abilities, our opportunities and challenges, trials and tribulations, our democracy, our community, our potential for growth and development, and each day that we awake to experience something new in this beautiful world. Thank you all for sharing your lives with us and for trusting us as your law firm. Happy Thanksgiving! We'll be back in the office next week.
"There’s a common misconception that probation and parole — sometimes called community supervision — are more lenient alternatives to incarceration. But justice officials are recognizing that community supervision can be a tripwire that perpetuates incarceration based on crimeless technical violations."
Community supervision, once intended to help offenders, contributes more to mass incarceration
buff.ly
Justice officials are recognizing that community supervision can be a tripwire that perpetuates incarceration based on crimeless technical violations"Americans' belief that the U.S. criminal justice system is "not tough enough" on crime is now half of what it was in Gallup's initial reading of 83% in 1992. The latest measure, at 41%, is the lowest on record and down slightly from the previous reading in 2016 -- although it remains the view of the plurality. At the same time, there has been a seven-percentage-point uptick among those who say the system is "too tough" (21%) and no change among those who think it is "about right" (35%)."
Fewer Americans Call for Tougher Criminal Justice System
news.gallup.com
A dwindling percentage of U.S. adults say the criminal justice system is "not tough enough" (41%), while an expanded 21% say it is "too tough" and 35% maintain it is "about right.""We must begin at the point where we first decide to consider a behavior criminal. We need justice system leaders to more carefully consider who they’re bringing into the system, and why."
Opinion: The need to rethink what we treat as ‘crimes’
whyy.org
We need justice system leaders to more carefully consider who they’re bringing into the system, and why, writes the chief public defender for Philadelphia."Since President Richard Nixon initiated the war on drugs in the 1960’s, the US has spent almost $1 trillion in a nationwide campaign that has been unsuccessful in curbing drug use or the drug trade. For decades, the answer to addiction was simply throwing people in prison. As the largest consumer of illegal drugs, it’s no wonder that the US also leads in the number of incarcerated individuals.
The drug war painted users as criminals, which hurt their chances of getting real treatment for their illness. If the war on drugs hadn’t stigmatized people with addiction, there might have been less people suffering from it today, not to mention decreased demand for illegal drugs nationwide."
Decriminalization: an alternative to incarceration
www.talonmarks.com
In a huge step towards ending the drug war, Oregon voters decriminalized all drugs and it is time for the rest of the U.S to do the same.Don't go hungry.
Second Harvest continues Grab & Go Meals for children in Chatham, Effingham
www.wtoc.com
America’s Second Harvest of Coastal Georgia continues to partner with several locations in Chatham and Effingham counties to provide Grab & Go Meals for children.Obviously, these are just talking points of a political platform as of yet, but we'll be watching with interest.
What Biden’s Win Means for the Future of Criminal Justice
www.themarshallproject.org
Joe Biden ran on the most progressive criminal justice platform of any major party candidate in generations. So what can he actually do?At what point should a teenager be declared irredeemable?
Supreme Court Examines When Juveniles May Be Sentenced to Life Without Parole
www.npr.org
New Justice Barrett, a mother of 7, is among those now weighing when juvenile offenders are so incapable of rehabilitation that they may be sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.What happens if you are part of a multi-car accident and the at-fault driver only has $25,000 in liability coverage?
Minimum liability coverage for bodily injury in GA is $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident; it is $25,000 for property damage.
If you, and others, are injured by a driver with minimum coverage, the insurance company will pay up to $25,000 to each claimant, but no more than $50,000 no matter how many people are injured or how badly they are injured. Uninsured/Underinsured motorist coverage can help.
Stay tuned to learn about the different types of uninsured motorist coverage.
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