On AlterNet: incarceration

Stories, blog posts, and videos tagged as "incarceration"

African American Leader Offers Profoundly Emotional Account of Her Personal Journey to Make the End of the Drug War on Minorities Her Priority

Alice Huffman, AlterNet. February 4, 2012.

As we reflect on the great milestones the black community has reached, we cannot forget the drug war that continues to hold many back.

On MLK Day: How a Racist Criminal Justice System Rolled Back the Gains of the Civil Rights Era

Amy Goodman, Michelle Alexander, Randall Robinson, Juan Gonzalez, Democracy Now!. January 15, 2012.

For Martin Luther King, Jr. day, Democracy Now! hosts a discussion of mass incarceration among African-Americans and how it has created a new Jim Crow era.

Why Jurors Should Refuse to Convict Drug Arrestees

Tony Newman, AlterNet. December 22, 2011.

Jurors are not required to enforce unjust laws, and can legally refuse to convict a person, even if he or she appears to be guilty.

1 out of 3 Arrested by Age 23? Why the War on 'Pot' is a War on Young People

Paul Armentano, NORML. December 19, 2011.

A new study estimates that one-third of U.S. young people will be arrested or taken into custody for illegal or delinquent offenses, including pot, by the age of 23.

The Holiday Season is a Time for Clemency

Anthony Papa, AlterNet. December 19, 2011.

A former drug war prisoner explains how clemency set him free, and why he has made it his mission to help other prisoners find freedom.

Drug Czar Says African Americans Are More Affected by the 'Drug Problem' -- Here's Why That's Propaganda

Tony Newman, AlterNet. November 28, 2011.

Ignoring the disproportionate racial impact of drug law enforcement while focusing on the disproportionate racial impact of the drug problem is simply Orwellian.

Should the Infamous Cameron Douglas Really be Behind Bars?

Anthony Papa, AlterNet. October 7, 2011.

This week, Michael Douglas's incarcerated son Cameron testified at his alleged drug supplier's criminal trial. But does he even deserve to be behind bars?

Lockdown America: Prison Expert Christian Parenti on America's Staggering Incarceration Rate

Charles Shaw, openDemocracy.net. May 12, 2011.

The Land of the Free punishes or imprisons more of its citizens than any other nation. Parenti explains why.

More Black Men Now in Prison System Than Were Enslaved

Dick Price, LA Progressive. March 31, 2011.

Law Professor Michelle Alexander says the shocking incarceration rate is due to the War on Drugs, a war waged almost exclusively in poor communities of color.

In Drug Courts, Judges Practice Their Own Version of Justice - And "Treatment"

Margaret Dooley-Sammuli, AlterNet. March 29, 2011.

Drug courts must be standardized, they must be held accountable and they must not be our primary policy approach to drug use and addiction.

The Dangerous Conservative Philosophies That Put People Behind Bars

Mike Konczal, New Deal 2.0. January 7, 2011.

Two conservative ideologies are at work behind the huge prison population.

Historic Georgia Inmate Strike: Prisoners Demand Human Rights, Education, Wages for Work

Bruce Dixon, Glen Ford, Black Agenda Report. December 17, 2010.

Georgia prisoners have began a courageous, peaceful and nonviolent protest strike for educational opportunities, wages for their work, medical care and human rights.

A Crisis in New Orleans: The Incarceration Capital of America

Jordan Flaherty, CounterPunch. November 10, 2010.

New Orleans' jail, damaged by Hurricane Katrina, needs to be replaced. How big will the city make it, and in what direction will that take the city's criminal justice system?

The Brutal Horror of Prison Rape, as Told by Its Victims

Kimberly Yates, Bryson Martel, AlterNet. June 23, 2010.

Speaking out to put an end to the thousands of men and women who have become the victims of sexual violence.

All of Us Use Drugs, But Only Some of Us Go to Jail

Tony Newman, AlterNet. May 22, 2010.

Despite a $40 billion a year "war on drugs," our country is swimming in them. They aren't going anywhere.

Sting, Soros, Montel and More: We Are the Drug Policy Alliance

Ethan Nadelmann, AlterNet. May 17, 2010.

It's time now for DPA to launch a new organizational identity that fully expresses each of our roles as agents of change.

Ten Things You Can Do to Reduce Incarceration

Walter Mosley, Rae Gomes, The Nation. November 3, 2009.

Come out of the closet about your drug use; hire a formerly incarcerated person; vote for politicians who are smart on crime.

Rockefeller Drug Laws Are a Crime

Anthony Papa, Gabriel Sayegh, AlterNet. March 5, 2009.

Drug addiction shouldn't be a crime -- the real crime would be if reform of New York's draconian drug laws were stymied yet again.

Obama vs. McCain: Progressive Voter Guide to Drug Issues

AlterNetOctober 10, 2008.

Find out how Obama and McCain compare on everything from drug sentencing laws to drug use in politicians' personal lives.

On Prisons, Borders, Safety, and Privilege: An Open Letter to White Feminists

Jessica Hoffmann, make/shift. April 4, 2008.

It's time for white feminists to challenge their own privilege, listen to all voices and take on the issues that matter.

Remembering Reproductive Rights for Prisoners

Pamela Merritt, RH Reality Check. April 3, 2008.

One in 100 American adults are incarcerated. Their reproductive rights are crucial in the struggle for social justice.

Making Connections Between Feminism and Prison Abolitionism

Samhita Mukhopadhyay, The Nation. March 29, 2008.

The high STI rates among incarcerated people illustrate how social justice movements overlap. Now it's time for activists to talk to each other.

2008's Ten Worst Places to Be Black

Bruce Dixon, Black Agenda Report. February 13, 2008.

Sorry Obama, Black America is not "90 percent of the way" to equality.

2007's Top 10 Rights & Liberties Stories

AlterNet Staff, AlterNet. December 14, 2007.

Happy holidays! Now, let's talk about fascism.

The Escalation of Girl Fights

Earl Ofari Hutchinson, AlterNet. November 13, 2007.

Violence is no longer just a male thing; women are joining in on brawls in increasing numbers.