Luchas Wright III’s Post

Another great article posted by the Director of Second Look Network at The Sentencing Project regarding use of clemency powers to address excessive sentences. The number of older people in State & Federal prisons is increasing faster than any other age group. How could anyone claim that the point of incarceration was to incapacitate the truly dangerous when there are more people older than 55 in US prisons (165,000) than there are people in the high-crime range of 18-24? Geriatric healthcare in prison is both disgraceful and expensive. It costs on average, 3x more to incarcerate an older person than a younger one. Governor Andy Beshear could help alleviate the excessive costs mass incarceration has incurred on Kentucky as a proponent for second chances, and providing additional resources to protect public education and access to affordable healthcare-basic rights to the citizens of the Commonwealth. #SecondLookLaws #FreeKarenBrown  

Another great article posted by the Director of Second Look Network at The Sentencing Project regarding use of clemency powers to address excessive sentences. The number of older people in State & Federal prisons is increasing faster than any other age group. How could anyone claim that the point of incarceration was to incapacitate the truly dangerous when there are more people older than 55 in US prisons than there are people in high crime range of 18-24? Geriatric healthcare in prison is both disgraceful and expensive. It costs on average, 3x more to incarcerate an older person than a younger one. National survey data according to the Prison Policy Initiative show that most victims support violence prevention, social investment, and alternatives to incarceration that address the root causes of crime, not more investment in carceral systems that cause more harm. Governor Andy Beshear could help alleviate the excessive costs mass incarceration has incurred on Kentucky as a proponent for second chances, and providing additional resources to protect public education and access to affordable healthcare-basic rights to the citizens of the Commonwealth. #SecondLookLaws #KyFreeKarenBrown

The challenges we face as Latinas make us stronger! The stereotype types still exist, further providing the opportunity to educate others, and advocate. A few examples I've encountered during interviews: 1. We were expecting an Asian for the interview, but we noticed you are from a different ethnicity. 2. Will you be having or expecting any kids soon? 3. Please do not share your age as leading a department at a young age. Comments shared with me after an interview by panel members... They knew you were the ideal candidate for this role, but your confidence intimidated the leader. The stories go on... The main point is we as Latinas should be viewed for what value we bring to the table versus the race we represent. Your level of intellect is great, you have the right skills, but... Yes, our culture is part of who we are, but that doesn't define the aptitude, skills, and talent we bring to the table. I hope soon, we as leaders, start landing higher leadership roles and are respected for our talents, we as a society need to set examples for the next generation. I hope these barriers, I have faced as a first-generation college graduate, navigating the professional world in a way solo, are less of a burden to the next generation, especially my talented Latina daughters. #LatinasLead #womenshistorymonth #womenempoweringwomen

Over the weekend, we joined forces in Selma to address the urgent matter of #VotingRights. Meanwhile, our legal team is in Mississippi working alongside ACLU, ACLU of Mississippi, Mississippi Center For Justice, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP to prevent the dilution of Black voting power. Dive deeper into this crucial trial: https://lnkd.in/eVG2iNb4 

This President's Day, we honor the legacy of our nation's presidents and reaffirm our promise to stand by your side, defending your rights in the face of adversity. 🇺🇸 https://lnkd.in/ekv3NJZ #personalinjurylaw #personalinjurylawyer #atlantabusiness #atlantalawfirm

Justice Teh Hwee Hwee's keynote address at this year's Family Conference 2024 (her first family conference as Presiding Judge of the Family Justice Courts (FJC), after being appointed on 1 October 2023). As FJC approaches its 10th year anniversary, Justice Teh shared, among other things, (i) the four major trends in the development of our family justice jurisprudence, (ii) developments in FJC's processes, procedures, and practices, and (2) key reforms to FJC's court system and structure. These three broad themes underscore the immense work done by the many stakeholders in the family justice ecosystem, which, with a touch of magic, collectively forms the ingredients of the special lacquer Justice Teh referred to when she analogised the work FJC does with the ancient art of kintsugi. The analogy also symbolises the reality, perspectives, and aspirations of the FJC - those who walk through its doors are "broken" or "fractured"; and while one acknowledges (and to a certain extent accepts) the irreversible moments and fragments of the past, with an open heart and mind, something beautiful (though different) can emerge for the future. Borrowing the words of Rumi, "the wound is the place where the Light enters you".  And to get there, different people need different types of lacquer. #singaporelaw #familyjustice #singapore

“Traditional public defense is case-centered. Holistic defense is client-centered.” I started out as a public defender at Legal Aid in the Bronx criminal defense division in 1997. I’ve witnessed the change Sellitti speaks about. It took a long time, but it seems that this is becoming a nationwide understanding of our role and how we are tasked with so much more than just “prepping for trial.” Perhaps to the disappointment of many new public defenders, trials are sometimes very few and far between. The statistics are pretty clear as to the percentage of our cases that go to trial (.2% is generous). Sometimes we are the client’s conduit to every need. Housing, immigration, mental health, civil collateral consequences, re-entry to society after serving time, etc. The reason we are tasked with these responsibilities is because our clients’ needs go unmet in their communities. It is only when they have entered the criminal legal system that our offices see how neglected many of our clients have been. We need to continue to raise awareness as to our needs for more funding because we really are a huge contributor in making our communities safer.

It’s good to see renewed interest in constitutional reform.  The Civil Rights Act probably should be codified as a Constitutional Amendment.  And we need to bring our interest in civil liberties and privacy into the digital age with new Amendments. #ethics #government #AI #publicpolicy #civilliberties #civilrights

Every defendant, no matter who they are, deserves to have a fair trial. That rule applies to former Presidents of the United States – and most importantly, to you and I. Read Judge John Wilson's (ret.) column in today's usagovpolicy.com