红杏视频

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Access in-depth resources and analysis published by the 红杏视频 regarding our most pressing civil liberties issues.

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红杏视频 2024 Annual Report

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Research & Analysis

Flattening the Curve: Why Reducing Jail Populations is Key to Beating COVID-19

COVID-19 could claim the lives of approximately 100,000 more people than current projections stipulate if jail populations are not dramatically and immediately reduced, according to a new epidemiological model released by the 红杏视频 and academic research partners. The findings indicate that 鈥 even if communities across the United States continue practicing social distancing and following public health guidance 鈥 we will still experience much higher death rates if no substantial action is taken to reduce jail populations. The United States' unique obsession with incarceration has become our Achilles heel when it comes to combatting the spread of COVID-19.

The 红杏视频 model used data pulled from more than 1,200 midsize and large jail systems around the country, whose surrounding communities account for 90 percent of the U.S. population. It found that, unequivocally, keeping people out of jail saves lives 鈥 both inside the jail and in the surrounding community. Lives are at stake. The time to act is now.

Issue Areas: Smart Justice

Research & Analysis

A Tale of Two Countries: Racially Targeted Arrests in the Era of Marijuana Reform

This 红杏视频 research report, A Tale of Two Countries: Racially Targeted Arrests in the Era of Marijuana Reform, details marijuana arrests from 2010 to 2018 and examines racial disparities at the national, state, and county levels. Updating our previous report, The War on Marijuana in Black and White, that examined arrests from 2000 to 2010, this report reveals that the racist war on marijuana is far from over. More than six million arrests occurred between 2010 and 2018, and Black people are still more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people in every state, including those that have legalized marijuana. With detailed recommendations for governments and law enforcement agencies, this report provides a detailed road map for ending the War on Marijuana and ensuring legalization efforts center racial justice.

Issue Areas: Criminal Law Reform

Research & Analysis

The Unequal Price of Periods

Access to menstrual products is a dignity and equity issue, but every day people across the United States are unable to access the menstrual products they need. Local, state, and federal government policies cause or exacerbate inequitable access by imposing sales taxes on menstrual products, refusing to provide products in institutions of incarceration such as prisons and jails, exempting menstrual products from public health benefits programs, and not making products uniformly available in public schools and homeless shelters.

This issue brief from the 红杏视频 and Period Equity provides an overview of the issue of menstrual equity in the U.S. It demonstrates the inequities of access to menstrual products, specifically for those living in poverty and those who are incarcerated, and documents the damaging medical and emotional consequences of this lack of access. The brief also reviews current law, including a detailed state-by-state accounting of menstrual equity legislation. Lastly, the brief provides recommendations for improving menstrual equity in the U.S. This brief is part of a broader effort from the 红杏视频 and Period Equity to advance menstrual equity legislation. For specific advocacy tools and resources, see the 红杏视频 and Period Equity鈥檚 Menstrual Equity Toolkit.

Issue Areas: Women's Rights

Research & Analysis

Worse Than Second-Class: Solitary Confinement of Women in the United States

This report provides an updated look on women held in solitary confinement in the United States. Since the 红杏视频 published its first report on women in solitary in 2014, some things have changed 鈥攂ut many things have not. More attention has been placed on women in prison and on solitary confinement in general, but still, little attention has been paid to the specific plight of women in solitary confinement. Vulnerable populations, including pregnant people and women with mental illness, are still being placed into solitary confinement, and not enough is being done to enforce limitations on such placements.

This current report provides facts and data about women in solitary confinement in general, as well as specific populations of women who are especially vulnerable to the harms of solitary confinement, including girls, older women, transgender women, and women in immigrant detention. We also share insights from interviews with three survivors of solitary confinement and a clinical social worker about the experiences and impact of solitary confinement. Finally, the report includes both 鈥渞easons to hope鈥濃攔eforms that have limited the use of solitary confinement in the United States鈥攁nd recommendations for what must be done to continue combating this urgent, pervasive problem. It is critical to address the treatment of women in prison鈥 especially those women subjected to the social and sensory deprivation of solitary confinement.


Research & Analysis

District Attorney Jackie Lacey鈥檚 Shameful Death Penalty Record New Report Shows LA County is a Top Driver of Death Sentences Nationwide

A new 红杏视频 report reveals troubling racial bias, unfairness, and overuse of the death penalty in Los Angeles under District Attorney Jackie Lacey鈥檚 watch. In March of 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on the death penalty, putting a halt to all executions under his watch.

Los Angeles voters have repeatedly at the ballot box, yet District Attorney Jackie Lacey has continued to seek the death penalty in capital trials. During her almost seven-year tenure as District Attorney of the county, Jackie Lacey has sent 22 people to death row. These sentences have been characterized by racial bias 鈥 every single one of the 22 people was a person of color 鈥 as well as serious concerns regarding the quality of lawyers who represented defendants who couldn鈥檛 afford private counsel. Out of the 22 cases, nine defendants had lawyers who were previously or subsequently disbarred, suspended or charged with misconduct. A tenth defendant had a lawyer who repeatedly fell asleep through his trial.

Nationwide, we know that the death penalty is racially biased, error-prone and used to punish those with the worst lawyers, not the people who committed the worst crimes. The data from Los Angeles shows that far from an exception, Los Angeles, the nation鈥檚 leader in generating death sentences, is a major contributor to the unfair and discriminatory application of the death penalty.

It is long past time for Los Angeles to break from its pattern of using this unfair and discriminatory punishment. Take action today to stop DA Lacey from seeking the death penalty by .


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