Will the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department finally be held accountable?
NOV. 28, 2023 – Recently released videos show LASD deputies assaulting individuals held in the county’s jails, just the latest evidence of the horrific conditions of confinement in Los Angeles. These videos come 10 years after a commission of community leaders investigated LA’s jails and issued recommendations to address a decades-long pattern of excessive force by sheriff’s deputies. Yet, far too little progress has been made as the department has resisted meaningful and lasting reform. In this op-ed in the Los Angeles Daily News, FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky and Impact Justice President Alex Busansky – who were part of the Citizens’ Commission on Jail Violence a decade ago – call for long-overdue measures to protect those in the care of the county and ensure the LA Sheriff’s Department is held accountable.
“True progress at [the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department] requires sustainable reforms and culture change. The time for accountability is long overdue, and decision makers have all the evidence they need to take action today.”
The Maryland Supreme Court must allow unconstitutional convictions to be overturned
NOV. 27, 2023 – In September 2022, Adnan Syed walked out of prison 22 years after he was sentenced to life for the murder of his former girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. Now, the Maryland Supreme Court is considering whether to reinstate his conviction – not because of new evidence, but due to a procedural issue. In this op-ed in The Baltimore Sun, FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky and the University of Maryland Clinical Law Program Director Leigh Goodmark explain how the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for efforts to address unconstitutional and wrongful convictions across Maryland and the nation.
“[All victims] have important rights in the criminal process, but preserving a wrongful conviction, even temporarily, benefits no one. Wrongful convictions are extraordinarily harmful, not just to the wrongfully convicted, but to crime victims as well as society as a whole.”
Florida’s Supreme Court must protect voters from Gov. DeSantis’ overreach
NOV. 26, 2023 – Since assuming office, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has removed 23 locally elected officials throughout the state – an astounding number that underscores the governor’s complete disregard for the rights of voters. On Dec. 6, the Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding the constitutionality of the governor’s baseless suspension of State Attorney Monique Worrell. In an op-ed in the Orlando Sentinel, former Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Pariente and FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky urge the Court to defend democracy by setting limits on the governor’s power to remove duly-elected officials.
“If people think their votes don’t matter and believe the system is unfair, they are less likely to participate in it. This extends to the criminal legal system, which relies on the cooperation and trust of the public to keep all of us safe. Anyone who cares about government, the safety of our communities, and law and order should be afraid of such an outcome.”
Every prosecutor’s office should be investing in data
OCT. 30, 2023 – The decisions made by each of the more than 2,000 prosecutors’ offices nationwide have significant impacts on individuals and their communities, but few offices collect and share data in ways that help inform policy choices and improve case outcomes. Thankfully, a new generation of prosecutors is investing in data infrastructure that helps improve both equity and transparency, thereby strengthening trust in the system and promoting public safety. In an op-ed in The Crime Report, FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky, Data Innovations Director Ryan Gentzler, and Research & Policy Associate Michaela Bono explain why elected district attorneys – and the officials who fund them – must prioritize data to build a better justice system.
“[M]aking the investment and addressing the short-term obstacles to enhancing data capacity…is more than worth the long-term gains in fairness, transparency, and fortifying faith in a system where bonds of trust have been eroded.”
Juvenile court fees and costs are invisible shackles that tether children to a broken system
AUG. 14, 2023 – Across the country, far too many children passing through juvenile court systems are burdened with myriad fines, fees, and other costs without any regard for their ability to pay – often forcing youth and their families into desperate situations that cause irreparable harm and increase the likelihood of recidivism. In an op-ed in The Imprint, FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges Executive Director Joey Orduña Hastings, and Gault Center Executive Director Mary Ann Scali explain why policymakers must take action to eliminate the financial demands imposed on children and families by the criminal legal system.
“Requiring children to pay to move through the legal process is unjust and ineffective, and provides no public safety benefit. Even modest fees and costs act as invisible shackles, tethering children to a broken system and perpetuating cycles of discrimination, poverty and incarceration.”