“Psychology textbooks likely would not have predicted that Nneka Jones Tapia would be one of the first clinical psychologists in American history to run a jail, serve as Managing Director at one of the country’s premier social impact organizations, or even graduate from college. However, Dr. Jones Tapia has never been overly concerned with what others perceive as insuperable obstacles.”
Read More“While the political climate surrounding gun control legislation remains deeply divided, this settlement constitutes a historic utilization of existing law to hold gun manufacturers accountable. The families are hoping that this settlement will send a message to gun manufacturers’ banks and their insurers, illustrating that improper behavior is expensive; by placing pressure on banks and insurers the hope is that gun manufacturers will make their practices safer and correspondingly save lives.”
Read More“As public health concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased attention on jail populations and the national racial reckoning after George Floyd’s death forced communities to reconsider the current criminal justice system, pretrial reform in North Carolina has become a prominent topic of interest.”
Read More“Derek Johnson asserted that Ahmaud Arbery’s story “shook the conscience of our nation and world.” Shake the world it did, as audiences watched in horror at the vicious confiscation of Arbery’s life by vigilantes disguised as neighbors. Buried within the pages of history are thousands of other Ahmaud Arberys; nameless victims of malicious assaults on humanity. Their deaths may not be digitized and ingrained in our minds like Ahamud’s, but their memories should nonetheless impel an upheaval of bigoted culture in America and the reconstruction of one less rooted in malevolency.”
Read MoreThe United States is the only country in the world that allows for those under the age of 18 to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP). Within the U.S., North Carolina is one of only 25 states that has not banned the punishment altogether. Since the practice was introduced in 1994, a series of legal battles nationally and within the state have slowly eroded the use of juvenile LWOP, and one case currently pending review before the state Supreme Court could effectively end the sentence for good.”
Read More“Wisconsin law states the use of deadly force to be permissible when a person has a reasonable fear of death or bodily harm. Due to the defense’s claim of self-defense, the burden is on the prosecution. Therefore, they would have to prove that Rittenhouse had no reasonable fear of death or bodily harm.”
Read More“Time and time again, a self-described upstanding citizen yields to their implicit biases and perceives innocent Black and Brown Americans as threats and, emboldened by stand-your-ground philosophies, pursues and executes them; in turn, these laws jettison the central tenets of self-defense and instead reward aggression, bequeathing any citizen a license to kill anyone they deem a potential threat.”
Read More“In examining the bills, the impact of input by pro-law enforcement organizations like the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association (NCSA) is evident. For example, while HB 436 mandates mental health awareness training for officers, it requires only two hours of training every three years – hardly a step up from the previous requirements, and a win for the NCSA in maintaining the status quo.”
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