“Jailed for Being Too Poor”
From limiting diversion fees to offering meaningful alternatives to counterproductive fines, prosecutors can play an important role in ensuring the criminal justice system promotes public safety and accountability — and doesn’t criminalize poverty or punish the poor — writes FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky in a Huffington Post Op-Ed.
“Wealth should not determine who gets a second chance.”
“Winning for Justice”
In a USA Today op-ed, four-time WNBA champion Maya Moore, Kansas City (Kansas) DA Mark Dupree, and Fair and Just Prosecution’s Executive Director Miriam Krinsky discuss the need for prosecutors to evaluate “success” in the justice system with measures that quantify and value the legitimacy and fairness of our system of justice.
“Success for prosecutors can no longer be defined by the number of cases charged, the length of sentence imposed, or the number of convictions obtained. It should be defined by whether we are standing up for the most vulnerable in our community … [a]nd it should be defined by whether we are promoting a justice system that deals with all individuals with fairness and compassion.”
“Promoting Integrity In Conviction Integrity Review“
In Huffington Post op-ed, FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky discusses the history of conviction integrity and review units and the importance of implementing best practices in prosecutors’ offices aimed at scrutinizing and promoting the integrity of all aspects of prosecutive decision making, from charging, to plea bargaining, to case handling.
“With Money Bail, System Continues to Criminalize Poverty”
In USA Today op-ed Winnebago County (Oshkosh, WI) District Attorney Christian Gossett and Fair and Just Prosecution Executive Director Miriam Krinsky discuss concerns with the current money bail system and urge prosecutors to “do what they can to ensure the criminal justice system does not perpetuate the modern-day debtors’ prison.”
“As DOJ Rolls Back Monitoring of Police Conduct, More Prosecutors Should Step Up Their Efforts“
USA Today op-ed in which Christy Lopez, former Deputy Chief of U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, and Fair and Just Prosecution Executive Director Miriam Krinsky discuss the key role of prosecutors in curbing police misconduct and upholding community trust.
“We need to take the long view and recognize that prosecutors who step up to stop police misconduct are furthering what should be America’s shared goal of advancing trust and confidence not only in our police departments, but in our entire system of criminal justice.”
“Prosecutive Winds Of Change”
King County (Seattle, WA) Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg and Fair and Just Prosecution Executive Director Miriam Krinsky underscore the important role of prosecutors in promoting a sensible and fair justice system and describe how newly elected local prosecutors are pushing the criminal justice system away from “tough on crime” attitudes and toward new prevention-oriented thinking. Read more here.
“The Constitutional Crisis in Florida We’re All Missing”
Washington Post op-ed in which Denver (CO) District Attorney Beth McCann, District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine, and Fair and Just Prosecution Executive Director Miriam Krinsky underscore the importance and implications of prosecutorial discretion and independence.
“Our Work to Reform the Juvenile Justice System Is Not Yet Complete”
District of Columbia Attorney General Karl Racine, Fair and Just Prosecution Executive Director Miriam Krinsky and Campaign for Youth Justice Chief Executive Officer Marcy Mistrett recount recent reductions in juvenile crime and incarceration rates driven by the implementation of smart-on-crime strategies and also identify the many areas where changes are still needed. Read more here.