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Prosecution Declined

Eleanor Klibanoff

December 05, 2019 |

Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisville, Kentucky

The way in which Kentucky’s Louisville Metro Police Department handles rape cases has come into question. The department’s low level of cases being brought to trial is because of the extra step police officers take: checking with prosecutors to see if they’ll take the case to court. If prosecutors won’t, the police don’t make arrests. The policy is justified as victim-centered. But experts say this, combined with other problematic practices by the LMPD, can leave survivors feeling as though they aren’t believed and alone with their trauma.

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Public Defender Turns to Texting System to Notify Clients of Santa Barbara County Court Appointments

Giana Magnoli

November 29, 2019 |

Noozhawk |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Santa Barbara, California

California’s Santa Barbara Public Defender’s office is working with the company, Upstart, to use a texting notification system to remind people about their court dates. Upstart costs $20K to set up and then $2 per client, but has worked with counties across the country and seen a 75% drop in failure-to-appear violations. For California, the Heising-Simons Foundations is funding its implementation in seven different counties.

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Ruff justice: Meet the dogs helping put child rapists behind bars

Dhashen Moodley Danny Booysen

November 19, 2019 |

Bhekisisa |

Podcast |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: South Africa, Johannesburg

A practice in Johannesburg is making the courtroom and trial process less scary for sexually abused children by letting them play the role of court officials alongside therapy dogs in a pretend court. The Teddy Bear Foundation, responsible for this role play activity, wants children to be less scared but also prepared for their day in court when it comes.

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The judge, jury and lawyers are kids. But punishments at N.J. youth court are real.

Barry Carter

November 18, 2019 |

NJ Advance Media |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Newark, New Jersey

The 10-year-old Newark Youth Court has heard some 700 cases in which high school students serve as judge, jury, and lawyers in proceedings that avoid school discipline or criminal charges with creative exercises in personal accountability. Taking aim at fights, disruptive behavior, or more serious offenses involving weapons or drugs. the Youth Court seeks to encourage better life choices. Outcomes may exclude punishment altogether, imposing community service (including Youth Court jury duty) or other alternatives to jail, avoiding criminal records that can ruin someone's future.

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Pennsylvania will no longer hold death-row prisoners in endless solitary confinement

Samantha Melamed

November 18, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Pennsylvania

Following an ACLU-led civil-rights lawsuit, the Pennsylvania Department of Correction has implemented huge changes to the treatment of death row inmates. In prisons across the state, individuals who have been sentenced to death no longer have to undergo strip searches, are allowed to have contact visitations with family and friends, can apply for prison employment, and socialize with others in their unit.

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Court Order Would Allow Abuse Victims to Testify by Video. Will Attorneys Object?

Whitney Bryen

November 08, 2019 |

Oklahoma Watch |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has given judges the option to allow victims of abuse to testify via video rather than in person. When victims must testify in person, they may suffer re-traumatization or might simply not show up in court. Advocates say the video option allows victims to seek justice while not having to face their abuser. However, some judges may refuse to grant this option on due process grounds.

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How More Than 50 Women Walked Out of a Prison in Oklahoma

Cary Aspinwall

November 04, 2019 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Taft, Oklahoma

More than 500 people in Oklahoma had their drug possession felony sentences commuted after voters approved an initiative that changed some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The commutation led to a mass release of prisoners, something that took collaboration between social service groups to make sure those leaving had housing, job support, and other essentials.

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NYC: Where the Police Offer a Free Art Class Instead of Prosecution

Rebecca Bellan

October 22, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Since 2015, Project Reset has diverted potential criminal cases to programs that change behaviors without imposing punishment or staining people's records with criminal convictions. Art classes, behavioral therapy, and restorative dialogue have made 16- and 17-year-olds in the program significantly less likely to commit new offenses, while 98% of those admitted to the program have completed it. Offered in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx, the program helped the Manhattan district attorney nearly cut in half the number of prosecutions of low-level misdemeanors and violations.

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A Decade Of Diversion: Franklin County's Court For Addiction Recovery

Paige Pfleger

September 26, 2019 |

WOSU |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Columbus, Ohio

Merging accountability with treatment promotes recovery for those charged with drug possession. In Franklin County, Ohio, the municipal court system operates a program called Helping Achieve Recovery Together. The court recovery program provides a two-year track for participants to receive mental health support from peers and the courts, with the goal of moving them from the criminal justice system and into treatment.

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A Decade Of Diversion: Franklin County's Court For Sex Trafficking Survivors

Paige Pfleger

September 25, 2019 |

WOSU |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Columbus, Ohio

Treating women who are coerced into human trafficking as victims provides opportunities for recovery. Alongside the passage of legislation against human trafficking in Ohio, Franklin County courts have implemented a recovery program. Changing Actions to Change Habits (CATCH), provides victims of human trafficking with support in the form of housing, food, and treatment for addiction and trauma. In exchange for participation in the program, women can have their records expunged.

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