Oakland County is suing Michigan over who should pay to uphold the right to counsel at arraignment. The lawsuit highlights a critical justice issue: without early legal representation, poor defendants face jail and high costs. The proposed standards could cut jail expenses—but local governments want the state to foot the bill.
Do you care about your freedom? If so, this article is for you. Norway and North Korea – What do they have in common? Overall, not much, with a significant difference between the two countries being that Norway is ranked number one on the 2017 World Press Freedom Index and North Korea is ranked 180—the
As marijuana legalization spreads, courts are grappling with its impact on child custody and visitation. Parents risk losing custody, even for legal use. With conflicting laws and few precedents, judges must balance child safety with evolving legal standards. The debate over marijuana use and parental rights is just beginning.
Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, liberals and conservatives, there was support from both the right and the left to dismantle the “war on drugs” and reduce mass incarceration. For a number of years, citizens have rejected the politicians’ shibboleth of “tough on crime.” Public opinion polls supported treatment over incarceration, particularly for non-violent crimes. Prisons were closing,
Psycho, lunatic, cripple: all words that now have a demeaning connotation. If someone had a medical condition and got labeled with these words, they were not being complimented. These words, and others even worse, created a stigma that resulted in a person having problems getting proper help, or even participating in society. This article is
JSI Co-Founder Judge Peggy Hora (Ret.) delivered drug court training in Australia and New Zealand, meeting with legal leaders and presenting on best practices. From Melbourne to Auckland, her international work highlights the global impact of evidence-based justice and the growth of non-adversarial court models.
When my partners and I created the Justice Speakers Institute, the main goal was to work to improve justice throughout the world but, admittedly, I also wanted the opportunity to travel. As a result, I purchase a lot of airline tickets flying from Detroit Metropolitan Airport, a Delta hub. I have had my share of
The number of people claiming that the American governmental system is broken and that it is impossible to fix is growing. Anti-democratic rhetoric is now common. On Twitter, Facebook and other social media, people routinely claim that our founders created a republic, not a democracy, while others express support for rolling back democratic election reforms.
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Specialty Courts: What the Evidence Actually Shows
Do specialty courts improve public safety and r... -
Words Matter: How Language Shapes Justice in Treatment Courts
Words influence more than conversation—they sha... -
An Effective Framework for Responding to Substance Use Disorders in the Justice System
Substance use disorders affect every part of th...
