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2012
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To Build a Better Criminal Justice System: 25 Experts Envision the Next 25 Years of Reform
By Mauer, Marc, editor; Epstein, Kate, editor.
The Sentencing Project (Washington, DC).
It is hoped that this volume sparks a conversation regarding the adoption of a “strategy that emphasizes opportunity rather than punishment as the guiding theme of our vision for public safety … [these essays] are broad-ranging both in vision and strategy. They contain the perspectives of leading thinkers in the field … [who] look to a day where public safety is not premised in maintaining a world-record level of incarceration. But there is a diversity of views on how we might get to that point”... Read More
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68 pages
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2012
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Felony Disenfranchisement: An Annotated Bibliography
By Bronstein, Benjamin; Pierce, Jerome; Sangster, Achilles, II; Mauer, Marc, editor.
The Sentencing Project (Washington, DC).
“This bibliography provides an overview of the scholarship on felony disenfranchisement over the past two decades … it will prove useful to policymakers, scholars, journalists, and others engaged in examining this fundamental issue of democratic participation” (p. 1). Annotations are provided for 71 journal articles and five books.... Read More
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37 pages
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2011
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Sentencing Reform: Amid Mass Incarcerations--Guarded Optimism
By Mauer, Marc.
“As we analyze the admittedly modest openings for reform regarding mass incarceration, we are presented with a classic case of whether the glass is half empty or half full.” The author presents the relevant facts in order for the reader to come to their own conclusion. This article is also a great read for legislators looking for strategies to address their own problems with incarceration growth. Sections discuss: the changing climate for criminal justice reform; current reform at the state leve... Read More
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10 pages
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2011
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Voting Behind Bars: An Argument for Voting by Prisoners
By Mauer, Marc.
“This Essay makes the argument that felony disenfranchisement policies are inherently undemocratic no matter how applied, including for persons serving prison sentences” (p. 550). This article is divided into six parts: overview of felony disenfranchisement in the U.S.; the modern-day movement for disenfranchisement reform; challenging prisoner disenfranchisement—the philosophical debate; disenfranchisement of prisoners is counterproductive for democracy and public safety; international perspect... Read More
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18 pages
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2011
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Addressing Racial Disparities in Incarceration
By Mauer, Marc.
The influence of disproportionate incarceration on public safety, the offenders themselves, and local communities is examined. Sections of this article include: overview of racial disparity In the criminal justice system—crime and arrest rates; racial disparity as a function of criminal justice decision making—law enforcement practices, prosecution, and sentencing; implications of racial disparity in incarceration; recommendations; and conclusion.... Read More
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15 pages
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2010
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Two-Tiered Justice: Race, Class, and Crime Policy
By Mauer, Marc.
The negative influence of a segregated society on its criminal justice system, in particular incarceration, is explained. This chapter is divided into the following sections: the development of mass incarceration; segregation and the growing prison system; segregation and it contribution to unfair and ineffective crime control policies; segregation and the drug war; impact on communities; impact on political power and efficacy; and conclusion.... Read More
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15 p.
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2010
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Downscaling Prisons: Lessons from Four States
By Green, Judith; Mauer, Marc.
The Sentencing Project (Washington, DC).
Policy makers in states looking to reduce the number of individuals incarcerated in their prisons should read this report. The practical ways (via policies and reforms) significant declines were achieved in the prison populations of Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York are explained. Substantial case studies are used to describe sentencing reforms, alternatives to “prison bound” people, reduction in time served in prison, parole release rates, revocation reductions, and other relevant topi... Read More
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62 p.
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2009
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Racial Impact Statements: Changing Policies to Address Disparities
By Mauer, Marc.
The need for and use of racial impact statements to reduce disproportionate rates of incarceration are explained. This article contains these sections: reports that offer hard numbers; scope of racial impact statements; preparation; policy implementation; the growing movement to address disparity; and conclusion. “Racial impact statements offer one means by which policy makers can begin to engage in a proactive assessment of how to address these challenging issues in a constructive way.”... Read More
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4 pages
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2009
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Incarcerated Parents and Their Children: Trends 1991-2007
By Schirmer, Sarah; Nellis, Ashley; Mauer, Marc.
The Sentencing Project (Washington, DC).
Issues surrounding the impact of incarceration on parents and their children are discussed. Sections contained in this report include: introduction with key points; incarcerated parents -- population, marital status, and gender; minor children of incarcerated parents -- number, racial and ethnic population, and contact with parents; public policy impact; recommendations for public policy; and conclusion.... Read More
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11 p.
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2009
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The Changing Racial Dynamics of the War on Drugs
By Mauer, Marc.
The Sentencing Project (Washington, DC).
Factors behind the changes in drug offense convictions from 1999 to 2005, a 21.6% decrease for African-Americans and a 42.6% increase for whites, are investigated. Sections of this report are: overview; changing racial dynamics of incarceration for drug offenses; assessing the declining black population of drug offenses; factors contributing to the decline in African-American drug offense incarceration; the rising white proportion of drug offense prison terms; and conclusion.... Read More
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20 p.
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2009
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The Impact of Mandatory Sentencing Policies in the United States: Prepared for the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Canada
By Mauer, Marc.
The Sentencing Project (Washington, DC).
This testimony addresses the experience of the U.S. in utilizing mandatory sentencing in the hope that it “will be useful in [the Committee’s] consideration of proposed changes in Canadian law” (p. 1). Points explained in Mauer’s analysis include: mandatory sentencing has failed to enhance public safety; mandatory sentencing results in excessive punishment; and mandatory sentences transfer discretion from judges to prosecutors.... Read More
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5 p.
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2009
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Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System: Prepared for the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
By Mauer, Marc.
The Sentencing Project (Washington, DC).
This testimony addresses the “profound impact of disproportionate rates of incarceration in communities of color” (p. 1). Topics covered include: causes of racial disparity—disproportionate crime rates, disparities in criminal justice processing, overlap of race and class effects, and impact of “race neutral” policies; and policies and practices to reduce racial and ethnic disparities—adopt racial impact statements to project unanticipated consequences of criminal justice policies, assess the ra... Read More
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8 p.
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