This has been a big week for juvenile justice. First, the Supreme Court ruled that adults and children who were sentenced in their youth to mandatory life in prison without parole should be allowed to ask a court to reconsider their sentence. And second, President Obama banned putting incarcerated children in solitary confinement in federal… Read More
If the mainstream media were to discuss a secret police bunker where suspects were “disappeared” – held against their will, without criminal charges, and subject to secret, violent interrogations – most people would likely think the bunker was in an authoritarian country lacking in constitutional protections like ours. The media shies away from such coverage… Read More
An independent news organization sued Denver today to force the release of video and audio recordings showing deputies’ use of force on Michael Marshall that caused his death DENVER – The Colorado Independent, a non-profit news organization, filed a lawsuit today against the City and County of Denver, seeking the release of video and audio… Read More
The Milwaukee Common Council today approved a $5 million settlement that will be divided among 74 African American young men — including a 15-year-old boy and a wheelchair-bound paraplegic — who were subjected to illegal body cavity and strip searches by Milwaukee Police as part of a wide spread and racially discriminatory pattern and practice… Read More
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King, Jr. On Martin Luther King Day this year, let’s think about how we can contribute to fighting injustice. All year, we blog about how broken our criminal justice system is, but we rarely talk about what can be done about it on a… Read More
Ever heard of police officers “testilying” in court? “Testilying” is the cynical euphemism that cops use for testifying falsely in order to secure convictions against people whom they believe to be guilty. But there is obviously another word for it: police perjury. “Testilying” is rationalized as somehow justified because the cop’s goal is to make… Read More
At Altering Convictions we share our perspective about combating police brutality, opposing mass incarceration, and fighting injustice. All of our pieces presume a few basic truths that are inarguable. It is unacceptable for law enforcement to treat certain people’s lives as expendable. Law enforcement should honor everyone’s constitutional rights. And all people should be treated… Read More
Chicago’s long time police shooting problem has finally made national news, with the horrifying video of an officer senselessly gunning down Laquan McDonald as the impetus for closer scrutiny. With the spotlight shining on it, the Chicago Police Department is doubling down with a shockingly counterproductive change that will only worsen the situation. It is… Read More
