Los Angeles County Homeless Residents Say Sheriff’s Department Is Targeting Them The ACLU of Southern California is suing the city of Lancaster and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for excessively citing people living at desert homeless encampments in the Antelope Valley. Francisco Aviles Pino
In Los Angeles, Police-Backed Street Cleanings are Upending the Lives of Homeless People The city is ramping up a cleanup program that activists fear will worsen the criminalization of homelessness. Eliyahu Kamisher
‘Weird News,’ ‘Dumb Criminals’ and the Media’s Monetization of Human Misery There’s a cynical local-to-national news pipeline designed to mock the powerless under the guise of “odd” news stories. Adam H. Johnson
New York City’s Homeless Diversion Program is ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ Reform, Advocates Say A new effort to reduce arrests and summonses is criticized as continuing to criminalize homelessness. Raven Rakia
In Pennsylvania, Detention as a First Option Heavy reliance on pretrial incarceration in Berks County subjects people to poor medical care and unsanitary and unsafe conditions. Joshua Vaughn
Pleading Guilty to Get Out of Jail The criminalization of poverty in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, has led to a staggering increase in incarcerated people, all at a huge cost for defendants and taxpayers alike. Joshua Vaughn
Justice in America Episode 12: The Criminalization of Poverty Josie and Clint talk with Sara Totonchi, the Executive Director of the Southern Center for Human Rights. Josie Duffy Rice, Clint Smith
San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Chesa Boudin Announces Run for District Attorney In a wide-ranging interview, Boudin, a progressive reform candidate, told The Appeal he wants to redefine ‘public safety’ to encompass the rights of both victims and defendants. Melissa Gira Grant
Could New Cash to Fight Homelessness in San Francisco Mean Less Reliance on Police? Supporters hope the passage of Prop C may herald a more compassionate—and effective—approach. Melissa Gira Grant
How Alabama’s Fines and Fees System Preys On The Poor Terrance has been jailed repeatedly over court debt for fishing to feed his family. Maura Ewing
Charlotte District Attorney Says He Won’t Stop Prosecuting Panhandlers A judge’s decision could end the practice of jailing people for soliciting money along streets and highways, but DA Spencer Merriweather has been slow to embrace the change. Steven Yoder
‘You’re Breaking the Law As Soon as You Stop Walking’: How Colorado Cities Criminalize Homelessness Bryce Covert
New Jersey Governor-Elect Promising Bold Criminal Justice Reform Agenda Phil Murphy has promised marijuana legalization, end of cash bail and will look at ending minimum mandatory sentences Larry Hannan
New Jersey Governor-Elect Promising Bold Criminal Justice Reform Agenda Phil Murphy has promised marijuana legalization, end of cash bail and will look at ending minimum mandatory sentences Larry Hannan
New Data Throws Fuel on the Fire for Nashville Bail Reform The majority of people who face misdemeanor charges remain behind bars just because they are poor Larry Hannan
