More from The Appeal:
As a staff member of the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, I fight for all children, especially those impacted by systemic racism in our criminal justice system.
Catherine Jones Dec 15, 2020
Simmons, an attorney, is fighting to give people “a first chance so they won’t need a second chance later on in life.”
Eoin Higgins Nov 04, 2020
The attorney, who is a person formerly convicted of a felony, has attracted support and praise from people around the country.
Eoin Higgins Oct 20, 2020
Truitt Watts, who is serving a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole at Oregon State Correctional Institution, describes the programs that helped him recover from addiction and address his past.
Truitt Watts Oct 13, 2020
Mayor Ted Wheeler’s popularity has declined after a summer of protests against police violence in the Oregon city.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Oct 07, 2020
Local law enforcement tear-gassed and beat protesters and journalists.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Aug 03, 2020
Federal agents have been unfairly arresting Black and brown people for decades. Now that white Portlanders are seeing it up close and personal, they are outraged. Better late than never.
If the justice system’s goal is to produce healthy, safe, and productive members of society, then it must begin with support from corrections staff and healthy relationships with peers.
Anthony Richardson Jul 22, 2020
The onset of COVID-19—and the need for social distancing—gave an unexpected boost to efforts against plans for a new prison in Washington.
Victoria Law May 04, 2020
Cayce French, who is serving life in prison at the Oregon State Correctional Institution, describes how getting clean and participating in rehabilitation programs has transformed his identity.
Cayce French Apr 27, 2020
The COVID-19 crisis is shining a light on America’s worsening housing crisis and limited resources for response.
Mara Kardas-Nelson Mar 27, 2020
Advocates for the area’s homeless residents say the pandemic will worsen the crisis they have already been living through.
Jay Willis Mar 26, 2020
I learned later than I should have what you probably already know: that it is strength not weakness to lean on somebody when you feel vulnerable and defeated and let them help you.
Seth Koch Mar 13, 2020
The state’s attorney general decided to support resentencing hearings in two high-profile cases, though she had fought appeals in the past.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Mar 12, 2020
Lawmakers are recognizing the harms of mass incarceration. But some governors are reluctant to use their clemency power to address them.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Mar 05, 2020
The Appeal and Oregon Justice Resource Center announce “Left Behind,” firsthand accounts of growing-up in prison from individuals sentenced as children.
Bobbin Singh Mar 03, 2020
The Washington State Patrol has added thousands of old sealed juvenile records to a database it shares with law enforcement agencies across the country—erasing for many their chance of a clean slate.
Tori Marlan Sep 24, 2019
Despite supporting Oregon’s new juvenile justice law, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum is still fighting to keep people in prison who received life sentences as minors.
Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg Sep 03, 2019
Republican Mike Dunleavy was elected on a platform to ‘Make Alaska Safe Again’ and has rolled back recent changes.
Zachary A. Siegel Jul 11, 2019
Washington detains more children for status offenses such as truancy and running away than any other state in the country. State lawmakers want to change that.
Charlotte West Mar 19, 2019
More states are giving undocumented immigrants driver’s licenses, but many DMVs are sharing their information with ICE.
Debbie Nathan Dec 21, 2018
More than one dozen sheriffs support Measure 105 that would allow for cooperation with federal authorities even when an immigrant suspect has not been apprehended for any crime.
Mike Faulk Oct 30, 2018
Washington case raises questions about the role of court appointed special advocates.
Roxanna Asgarian Sep 28, 2018
This fall, however, an initiative goes to voters that would change the law on deadly force by the police, which has led to no officer there being convicted of wrongfully killing someone in the line of duty in more than 30 years.
Mike Faulk Sep 20, 2018
Despite a 2015 Supreme Court ruling limiting the mandatory minimum law, few people are seeing relief.
Levi Pulkkinen Sep 11, 2018
In these cases, the state is moving to punish people who say they were charged before regulations were clear.
Michael Sainato Aug 24, 2018
Max Rivlin-Nadler Feb 14, 2018
Carimah Townes Dec 20, 2017
“I always thought there had to be some sweet spot between 15 months and forever.”
Rebecca McCray Nov 16, 2017
Elliott Young Nov 15, 2017
In this Oregon capital case, it could ensure that the state doesn’t execute the wrong man.
Jessica Pishko Oct 13, 2017
Rebecca McCray Oct 11, 2017
Police say the tool is outdated.
Carimah Townes Sep 12, 2017