Larry Hannan
Larry Hannan is a reporter and researcher at the Fair Punishment Project at Harvard University.
New Jersey Governor-Elect Promising Bold Criminal Justice Reform Agenda
The landslide election of Phil Murphy to be the new governor of New Jersey is likely to put the Garden State at the forefront of criminal justice reforms in the United States.
Larry Hannan Nov 09, 2017
Another death sentence overturned in Las Vegas due to prosecutors racial bias.
Last, month the Nevada Supreme Court threw out the death sentence of Julius Bradford after defense attorneys raised concerns that his trial was marred by the illegal exclusion of minority jurors.
Larry Hannan Nov 08, 2017
Hawaii Law Enforcement “Power Couple” Faces Criminal Charges
Retired Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha and his wife, Katherine, a deputy prosecutor, have been arrested on multiple federal charges, including conspiracy, making false statements to federal officers, obstruction and bank fraud.
Larry Hannan Nov 01, 2017
New Data Throws Fuel on the Fire for Nashville Bail Reform
Talk of bail reform in Nashville is getting an assist from recently released data showing that the majority of individuals arrested for misdemeanors remain in jail until their cases are concluded.
Larry Hannan Oct 27, 2017
TN court rules that prosecutor unconstitutionally excluded a black woman from jury
The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee ruled recently that District Attorney General Robert Carter’s office improperly use a peremptory challenge during jury selection to prevent a black woman from serving on a jury. As a result, the court threw out Collins’ conviction and sentence.
Court rules Miami prosecutor was wrong to threaten police critic
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit ruled that Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez-Rundle had “no basis in the law” when she threatened to prosecute a man for recording a conversation he had with the Chief of the Homestead Police Department. As a result, James Eric McDonough’s federal lawsuit against Fernandez-Rundle can proceed.
Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney has used forfeiture funds to help pay $2.2 million in no-bid contracts to friend and former colleague
A recent report by CityBeat shows that Hamilton County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Deters has engaged a longtime friend and former subordinate in a number of no-bid contracts totaling approximately $2.2 million. Two-thirds of the funds paid by Deters to Dennis Lima and his technology company have come from funds collected by his office through criminal forfeiture efforts.
Larry Hannan Jul 19, 2017
New Orleans D.A. ordered to reveal names of prosecutors who issued fake subpoenas
Orleans County District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro has been ordered to disclose the names of all the prosecutors in his office who used “fake subpoenas” to compel witnesses to talk with them. Cannizzaro was given 20 days to produce the names of prosecutors who engaged in the practice during 2017. He then must provide the same information going back to 2013.
Prosecutor pushes for Virginia man’s execution despite signs of serious mental illness
By all accounts William Morva has serious mental health issues, but he is still likely to be executed next month, with the prosecutor who convicted him pushing for his execution.
Larry Hannan Jun 29, 2017
The sad, stupid and tragic fall of Seth Williams
The future was limitless for Seth Williams when he was sworn in as district attorney of Philadelphia almost eight years ago.
Larry Hannan Jun 28, 2017
California district attorney resigns after pleading no contest to felony
Contra Costa District Attorney Mark Peterson has resigned in disgrace after taking thousands of dollars from his campaign account and spending it on meals, clothes and for other personal needs.
Dallas County prosecutors will not charge police in teenager’s tasing death
Police officers in Mesquite committed a crime when they tased a teenager in 2013 who would later die. But because it took the office of Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson so long to come to that conclusion, the officers cannot face criminal charges.
Larry Hannan Jun 27, 2017
Ohio prosecutor seeks to deny DNA testing for man facing execution
In criminal cases, prosecutors are supposed to turn over favorable evidence to the defense. But Portage County Prosecutor Vic Vigluicci has a different idea of what he actually needs to hand over, and it’s now up to the Ohio Supreme Court to decide whether he’s violating the rules of evidence.
Larry Hannan Jun 26, 2017
Honolulu prosecutor subject of criminal probe
Keith Kaneshiro, the city prosecutor in Honolulu, has become a suspect in a widening federal public corruption investigation that has already snared one of Kaneshiro’s top prosecutors and her husband, the city’s former police chief.
Austin prosecutor declines to retry couple locked up for over 20 years
Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore has acknowledged that the satanic child sex abuse crimes that have kept Dan and Fran Keller in prison for over a generation probably never happened.
Larry Hannan Jun 23, 2017
Indiana prosecutor considers locking up mothers of newborns
Madison County prosecutor Rodney Cummings is considering criminally charging women who give birth to babies who show signs of drug addiction at birth by demonstrating withdrawal symptoms like tremors, excessive crying, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Appeals court admonishes district attorney candidate for misconduct
A candidate for district attorney in Ontario County, New York has been criticized by the state’s appellate court for prosecutorial misconduct.
Larry Hannan Jun 22, 2017
Larry Krasner gets endorsement of Philadelphia black police officers union
Since Larry Krasner began his campaign for Philadelphia District Attorney, the consensus has been that he will have to win over the stringent objections of the Philadelphia police.
Larry Hannan Jun 21, 2017
California man facing execution as District Attorney Mike Ramos disputes substantial evidence that he is innocent
Many people don’t think Kevin Cooper belongs on California’s death row. But the prosecutor’s office that sentenced him more than 30 years ago maintains he is guilty, and wants to see him executed.
District attorney defends prosecution of man convicted of killing father of basketball superstar Michael Jordan
It was the crime that caused the greatest basketball player in history to become a minor league baseball player who couldn’t hit a curve ball. And 20 years later, doubt has emerged over whether the man convicted of killing Michael Jordan’s father is actually the one who pulled the trigger.
Larry Hannan Jun 20, 2017
Florida prosecutors begin dealing with unanimous jury requirement for death sentences
For decades Florida has had a death penalty system that allows prosecutors secure a death sentence with a simple majority, seven of 12 jurors, in favor.
Larry Hannan Jun 19, 2017
Michigan man’s exoneration after decades in prison shows importance of holding prosecutors accountable
Ledura Watkins spent 41 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. And the only evidence prosecutors had against Watkins in the early 1970’s was a single hair.
Larry Hannan Jun 16, 2017
Orleans district attorney Leon Cannizzaro sought to jail domestic violence victim
Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro sought to jail a victim of domestic violence after she refused to to to respond to a fake subpoena his office sent her demanding that she meet with them.
Larry Hannan Jun 15, 2017
Number of people locked up in rural jails is skyrocketing
A new report shows that the number of people locked up in rural jails has continued to significantly increase, making it difficult to decrease the total number of people locked up in the United States.
Larry Hannan Jun 14, 2017
Longtime Miami prosecutor faces criticism after failing to prosecute corrections officers
After almost a quarter century in the job, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle is facing criticism like never before.
Utah case shows difficulty in holding unethical prosecutors accountable
Prosecutors have an enormous amount of power, and are very rarely held accountable when that power is abused.
Larry Hannan Jun 12, 2017