The Special Council on Criminal Justice Reform issued several recommendations last month in an effort to curb prison spending. If left unchecked, the panel says, Georgia’s prison population will explode another 8% by 2016, requiring another $264 million to accommodate the population. [Read more…]
Atlanta Police Raid Home of Civil Rights Leader
Barbara Arnwine is the executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. But her job title didn’t do her any good on November 21. Three days before Thanksgiving her home was raided by Atlanta police. [Read more…]
Georgia Offenders Released From Sex Offender Registry
The Georgia sex offender registry was known as being one of the most all-encompassing in the nation. New changes recently made, however, are allowing some offenders to get their named removed from the list and move on with their life. In an effort to save law enforcement time and money, some low risk offenders will no longer be required to register and others can petition the court to have their name removed on a case by case basis. [Read more…]
Dekalb County Officers Beat Suspect, Face Criminal Charges
Two Dekalb County police officers have been charged with beating a suspect and violating their oaths. They were caught by one of their own, who nobly reported them right away. While we often hear stories of police officers sticking together no matter how questionable the acts of one are, this is a story of one officer doing the right thing. [Read more…]
Intense Henry County Drug Court Keeps Offenders Busy and Out of Jail
The new Henry County Drug Court is one of 33 such courts in the state. These courts are known as accountability courts and are designed to provide select offenders with an alternative to jail or prison time in exchange for an intense period of supervision and accountability, which simultaneously saves the county thousands. [Read more…]
Woman Reports Truck Stolen, Arrested and Jailed for Someone Else’s Crime
When you call the police to report a crime, the thought probably doesn’t even cross your mind that you will be the one arrested and jailed. But that’s exactly what happened to Teresa Culpepper on August 21. [Read more…]