Felony murder laws are among the most extreme and unjust policies in the U.S. criminal legal system. These laws allow prosecutors to charge individuals with murder even if they did not kill anyone, did not intend to kill, and in some cases, were not even present when a death occurred. The result? Harsh, disproportionate sentences… Continue reading What is Felony Murder?
Tag: criminal legal system
Chain Gang All Stars
Satire. Artists of all types use it to hold a mirror up to society, maybe one of those fun house mirrors that distorts the image, makes it large, twists it around. In that redefined image, there’s a truth, one that perhaps we’re often guilty of not seeing. The mirror makes it easier for us to… Continue reading Chain Gang All Stars
A Just Future
At EJUSA, our vision extends beyond merely imagining a transformed society. We envision a world where all people, in all communities, can live free from harm. Central to achieving this vision is the acknowledgment and repair of historical and ongoing harms, especially those stemming from racial terror that is deeply embedded in the fabric of… Continue reading A Just Future
Unveiling the Roots
Introduction Welcome, dear readers, to a journey through the intertwined threads of history, injustice, and the pursuit of a more equitable future. At Equal Justice USA (EJUSA), we set our focus with precision on dismantling the pervasive structures of anti-Blackness ingrained within the American criminal legal system. Historical Roots and the Legacy of Virginia Slave… Continue reading Unveiling the Roots
Why We Don’t Say “Gang”
For years there has been a constant debate around the word“gang” and what it means. For some, it means a group of close knit people, like when you say “the whole gang’s here.” For others, it’s a loaded term. It means a group of organized criminals. A quick Google image search will show you exactly… Continue reading Why We Don’t Say “Gang”
Expanding Our Vision to Include Restorative Justice
I’ve been waiting to tell you this news for some time. Today, Equal Justice USA officially welcomed the Restorative Justice Project onto our team. Impact Justice, an ally organization in the justice movement, has been operating the Project, launched by the visionary sujatha baliga, since 2015. Impact Justice felt like now was the right time… Continue reading Expanding Our Vision to Include Restorative Justice
Equal Justice USA Welcomes the Restorative Justice Project
Spinoff from Impact Justice Completes EJUSA’s Practice Model with a Response to Harm that Aligns with Mission and Values Equal Justice USA (EJUSA) announced today that it was growing to absorb the Restorative Justice Project, which is being spun off by Impact Justice. The Project will join EJUSA’s existing slate of programs that are transforming… Continue reading Equal Justice USA Welcomes the Restorative Justice Project
Evangelicals Reject a Fear-Based Criminal Legal System
I was at the train station in Charlottesville talking to two women about our mutual appreciation for the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which they would see in DC. They shared about their work as librarians. I shared about Equal Justice USA and our desire for every community to be safe and healthy, where violence is… Continue reading Evangelicals Reject a Fear-Based Criminal Legal System
An Eye-Opening & Cathartic Trip to Alabama
EJUSA staff members and partners traveled to Montgomery, Alabama to visit Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The tour group included partners from our Evangelical Network and Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. Here are reflections from our staff. Demetrius Minor, Manager, Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty We… Continue reading An Eye-Opening & Cathartic Trip to Alabama
Newark’s Community-Centered Public Safety Ecosystem
In 2018, I left the Department of Justice after a dozen years as a prosecutor. I had seen our criminal legal system up close and came away certain that it was too big, too rigid, and too steeped in its racist origins to ever deliver true justice. I wanted to find the solutions to violence,… Continue reading Newark’s Community-Centered Public Safety Ecosystem