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Jaws of Justice Radio
It is the intention of Jaws of Justice Radio to investigate how to achieve justice in America, this includes issues of economic injustice, political injustice and the criminal justice system. We want to put a human face on those caught in the grasp of injustice and those that are part of an unjust system. We strive to dispel the misconceptions created by the news and entertainment industry, politicians and our educational system.
The Death In Custody Reporting Act, Why Is It Important?
While the debate about and examination of police officers killing citizens continues, a new law has been passed and signed focusing on the number of citizens dying while in custody. Incarcerated citizens are out of sight and out of mind for the majority of Americans, but they are probably more at risk for death at the hands of authorities than those of us walking around in society. Most incarcerated citizens that die in custody die of neglect, refusal of medical care and abuse by staff. Last year Florida privatized the health care in its prisons and has seen deaths in custody explode to over 250, in part because of denial of services to inmates. The NAACP made this issue one of their legislative priorities and with the help of some in congress from Representative Bobby Scott and Senator Blumenthal were successful in getting the Death In Custody Act passed and signed into law.
On this edition of JoJR host Margot Patterson speaks with Hilary Sheldon, Washington Bureau Director and Senior Vice President for Advocacy for the NAACP and Representative Bobby Scott of Virginia about the effort to get this legislation passed, why it was necessary and how the information will be used to make changes.
Alex Friedmann of Prison Legal News on Prison Privatization
We replay an interview Keith Brown El did with Alex Friedmann, Associate Director, Human Rights Defense Center and Managing Editor for Prison Legal News about Prison Privatization. This is something that has happened at all levels of government from Federal and State Penitentiaries down to county and city jails. While Missouri does not allow privatization of jail administration many of the services from medical to food service are operated by private corporations.
Alex Friedmann is the Managing Editor for Prison Legal News, a monthly publication that reports on criminal justice and corrections-related litigation and news. He also volunteers in a non-compensated capacity as President of the Private Corrections Institute, a non-profit citizen watchdog group that opposes for-profit prisons and serves as a clearinghouse for information related to the privatization of correctional services. He is further a former prisoner who served ten years in Tennessee prisons and jails, including six years at the privately-run South Central Correctional Facility in Wayne County, Tennessee, which is operated by Corrections Corp. of America (CCA). He committed the crimes of armed robbery and assault with attempt to commit murder in 1987, and the crime of attempted aggravated robbery in 1991. He has completed his prison sentence and entire term of parole, and has taken responsibility for his actions. He is an advocate for prisoners’ rights and criminal justice reform who believes in equal justice for all citizens. He rejects our nation’s practice of for-profit incarceration.
Prison Legal News
P.O. Box 1151, Lake Worth, FL 33460
Phone: 561-360-2523 https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/
Private Corrections Institute
http://www.privateci.org/
