By Guy Hamilton Smith April 1, 2025 Nine Families from Missouri Two things happened this past week that have been in process for years. Most important first: we went to trial. Nine pseudonymous plaintiffs in a civil rights lawsuit offered evidence in a federal trial in Jefferson City, Missouri about the impact that the sex offense registry has had on them. This case, like many others like it around the country, has largely centered on the question of whether or not the registry is punishment. Amongst the claims that survived…
Read MoreDay: April 2, 2025
My Release Came with Another Set of Shackles
Source: prisonerswithchildren.org 3/25/25 Being released from incarceration was supposed to be a step toward freedom, but the reality of wearing an ankle monitor made it feel like another form of imprisonment. The heavy, restrictive device clamped around my ankle was more than just an inconvenience—it was painful, physically damaging, and emotionally degrading. One of the first issues I encountered was the physical harm caused by the monitor. The device was bulky, and with every step, it rubbed against my skin. Within days, painful blisters formed, making walking difficult. The irritation…
Read MoreCyprus: Bill proposes chemical castration as alternative to life sentences
Source: cyprus-mail.com 3/28/25 Convicted child sex offenders could have the option to trade their life sentences for chemical castration if a bill proposed by Dipa MP Michalis Yiacoumi is passed. Under the proposed regulations, a convicted offender can apply to the council for the release of prisoners, which would have the authority to grant early release if the convict agrees to undergo chemical castration. The bill builds on the 2014 law that mandated life sentences for child sex crimes, making it stricter by allowing harsher sentences for child abuse and extending…
Read MoreThe never-ending sentence: How parole and probation fuel mass incarceration
Source: theconversation.com 4/2/25 The U.S. operates one of the largest and most punitive criminal justice systems in the world. On any given day, 1.9 million people are incarcerated in more than 6,000 federal, state and local facilities. Another 3.7 million remain under what scholars call “correctional control” through probation or parole supervision. That means one out of every 60 Americans is entangled in the system — one of the highest rates globally. Yet despite its vast reach, the criminal justice system often fails at its most basic goal: preventing people from being rearrested, reconvicted or reincarcerated. Criminal justice…
Read More