If your driver’s license were suspended, what would you do? What could you afford to do? You’re not allowed to drive on a suspended license, but you have to get to work. Could you afford to take a Lyft or Uber every day? Is there public transportation? Could you...
sentencing
Supreme Court backtracks on life sentences for juveniles
In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Miller v. Alabama that seemed to hold life sentences without parole for juveniles unconstitutional. The court found that locking a juvenile away for life without the possibility of parole was cruel and unusual...
What is felony murder?
Murder is always a felony, so why do we have the term “felony murder”? It refers to a rule that most states, including Wisconsin, follow. When a person decides to participate in a felony of any kind, they can be charged with murder if someone dies as a result of that...
Evers pushes juvenile justice overhaul, legislature may push back
In 2018, former governor Walker and lawmakers agreed in principle to shut down the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake youth prisons, which have a history of abuse. The idea was to replace them with several new facilities, including a new state prison for serious juvenile...
Why crime and punishment can be a bad match
Proponents of longer prison sentences argue they accomplish multiple objectives, including properly punishing a person who commits a crime, making it safer for the rest of society and serving as a deterrent to others who may commit similar crimes.Never mind that long...
Less time for drug crimes cuts criminal justice race disparities
An unfortunate fact about our criminal justice system is that minorities are frequently sentenced to more time for the same crimes as whites. In the U.S., African-Americans, for example, make up 13.3 percent of the population but account for 38 percent of people...
Supreme Court to determine eligibility for reduced sentences
In the federal justice system, most criminal sentences are determined by formulas in the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. The guidelines are determined by an agency called the U.S. Sentencing Commission.Sometimes the Sentencing Commission determines that the sentencing...
Examining racial disparities in sentencing and plea bargaining
In many ways, news that disparities exist in the U.S. criminal justice system based on race evoke thoughts of Captain Renault, Claude Rains' character in "Casablanca," shutting down Rick's Café and exclaiming, "I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in...