It is unacceptable that society continues to turn a blind eye to the systemic racism that exists in the criminal justice system. While most of us don't have a daily/active role in the criminal justice system, we do have a say on funding spent on prisons. I suggest we measure every dollar we spend on prisons and jails against every dollar we spend on education and prevention.

According to the Colorado.Gov website, heroin overdoses in Colorado doubled between 2011 and 2015. It has continued to increase since then. It has gotten so bad that many of us at least know someone who has lost a close friend or family member to a drug overdose. I know several. When an overdose occurs, it is not an uncommon thing for people to leave and never call for medical attention because they are in fear of what will happen if the police show up. They wonder "Will I go to jail and be charged for the drugs in the house?" among many other rational thoughts about possibly getting in trouble. This is a massive problem as those who should have survived and would have survived if medical attention had been saught end up passing away. In the past, Colorado had a serious issue with minors dying from alcohol poisoning. They found that many of these deaths happened while drinking with other minors and that the other minors fled because they were afraid of being charged by the police with possession and consumption. To rectify this situation the legislation passed C.R.S. 18-13-122, which exempts a minor and up to two other minors from criminal prosecution when they call for medical assistance for a minor in need of medical assistance from alcohol poisoning. We absolutely must extend this protection to people of all age with illicit drugs to help prevent deaths by overdose. Those who seek help for another who is in need of medical attention due to illicit drug use should be exempt from criminal prosecution. This would not save all people from overdoses; however, it would save those that are with others that would otherwise be afraid of being charged. People should not die from an overdose simply because the only people that could help them were afraid of the police, the people who are supposed to be there to help and protect others. Please help us petition the Colorado State legislature and the Governor on this matter.

Schumer's actions demonstrate just how far public opinion on marijuana policy has come. He’s one of the nation's top Democrats and for years has opposed legalization efforts. There’s never been more momentum to push for sensible federal marijuana laws than there is right now. Under current federal scheduling, marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug — that means the federal government considers it just as dangerous as heroin. Schumer's proposal would change this and bring federal policy in line with public opinion. Marijuana is already legal for medical use in 29 states and for adult recreational use in nine plus Washington, D.C. A Gallup survey from October showed 64% of Americans believe marijuana should be legal and that a majority of Republicans do as well. Most importantly, federal marijuana reform is needed as a key component of sentencing and criminal justice reform. We need to address the racial disparities in our marijuana and drug law enforcement and encourage states to do the same because that’s where most marijuana arrests and jailings are happening. Our project, Nation of Second Chances, seeks to humanize those who spent decades in prison for nonviolent drug offenses, by telling the stories of those freed by President Obama's historic clemency initiative. Our hope is that these stories will change minds and hearts by demonstrating the needless hardships these people and their families endured, and the wonderful things they’re accomplishing with new found freedom." Let's show Congress that the time for reform is now. Please sign our petition calling on Congress to decriminalize marijuana.

Bobby Shmurda is a political prisoner.

Warden Neal of Indiana State Prison Michigan City, IN. and Assistant Warden George Payne need to resign immediately due to the continued conditions at the State Prison. One person was burned alive April 7, 2017, because no one would roll the doors under Warden Neal's watch. Many other men suffered serious smoke inhalation due to being left in the cell house for quite sometime following the death of the inmate, and most have not received medical treatment. Since the fire retaliation began. Cameras are now placed in the attorneys booths, all mail including legal mail is copied and the offender gets the copy while the original is maintained. These men have no means of getting outside help, because their mail is scrutinized. The grievance policy has went to the wayside. No more touching upon arrival at the prison between loved one's, nor when leaving. Inmates are forced to wear jump suits backwards which is not only extremely uncomfortable, but dangerous. If an inmate were to be attacked get near an electrical spark there is no way to get out of this heavy garment. Drugs and contraband are easily obtained from the guards. This place was built in the mid 1800's and is not fit for human habitation. If a family member calls the prison regarding their loved one, the loved one is usually shaken down with orders from Assistant Warden George Payne to the guards to not leave until there is some sort of infraction found. Please take a stand and sign and support.

Inmates rights are violated due to misconduct of excessive force and abusive tactics, monopolizing the individual's rights from allowing them their legal right to be released from custody immediately.

The war on drugs costs $50 billion. 1,249,025 people were arrested for possession. In the US, more then 15 million abuse prescription drugs. U.S drug sales are over $450 billion. The drugs caused over 55,000 overdoses last year. Cannabis caused no deaths. It's time to legalize it.

Nick Beebe's murder has gone 12 years without being solved. We need justice for the Beebe family. What better way than have a cold case team take it head on? The TV series Cold Justice is interested and wants to help with the permission of Osceola County Officials. Let's all let them know that we want this case taken by Cold Justice. JUSTICE FOR NICK!!!

SB 1437, as introduced by Skinner; accomplice liability for felony murder. Existing law defines murder as the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought. Existing law defines malice for this purpose as either express or implied and defines those terms. This bill would prohibit malice from being imputed to a person based solely on his or her participation in a crime. The bill would prohibit a participant or conspirator in the commission or attempted commission of a felony inherently dangerous to human life to be imputed to have acted with implied malice unless he or she personally committed the homicidal act. Existing law defines first-degree murder, in part, as all murder that is committed in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, specified felonies, including arson, rape, carjacking, robbery, burglary, mayhem, and kidnapping. Existing law, as enacted by Proposition 7, approved by the voters at the November 7, 1978, statewide general election, prescribes a penalty for that crime of death, imprisonment in the state prison for life without the possibility of parole, or imprisonment in the state prison for a term of 25 years to life. Existing law defines 2nd-degree murder as all murder that is not in the first degree and imposes a penalty of imprisonment in the state prison for a term of 15 years to life. This bill would prohibit a participant or conspirator in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of one of the specified first degree murder felonies in which a death occurs from being liable for murder, unless the person personally committed the homicidal act, the person acted with premeditated intent to aid and abet an act wherein a death would occur, or the person was a major participant in the underlying felony and acted with reckless indifference to human life. Existing law, as added by Proposition 8, adopted June 8, 1982, and amended by Proposition 21, adopted March 7, 2000, among other things, defines a serious felony. Existing law, also added by Proposition 8, adopted June 8, 1982, and amended by Proposition 36, adopted November 6, 2012, commonly known as the Three Strikes Law, requires increased penalties for certain recidivist offenders in addition to any other enhancement or penalty provisions that may apply, including individuals with current and prior convictions of a serious felony, as specified. This bill would include in the list of serious felonies the commission of a felony inherently dangerous to human life wherein a person was killed. This bill would provide a means of resentencing a defendant when a complaint, information, or indictment was filed against the defendant that allowed the prosecution to proceed under a theory of first degree felony murder, 2nd degree felony murder, or murder under the natural and probable consequences doctrine, the defendant was sentenced for first degree or 2nd degree murder or accepted a plea offer in lieu of a trial at which the defendant could be convicted of first-degree or 2nd-degree murder, and the defendant could not be charged with murder after the enactment of this bill. The bill would provide that the court cannot, through this resentencing process, remove a strike from the petitioner’s record. By requiring the participation of district attorneys and public defenders in the resentencing process, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

The opioid epidemic is killing more than a hundred Americans every day. More than 2 million Americans are addicted to opioid painkillers or heroin, but only 1 in 5 is receiving treatment for their disorder, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Mobile methadone treatment vans have been serving people with opioid addiction in rural towns and underserved inner-city neighborhoods for nearly three decades. Equipped with a bathroom and private counseling rooms, the vans offer low-income residents drug screenings, addiction assessments, and counseling. For many, methadone is an effective addiction medicine that successfully reduces drug cravings and wards off relapse. It is, unfortunately, out of reach of the many who live far from America's approximately 1,500 dispensing locations. Communities need more of these mobile units and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, which regulates dispensing of the FDA-approved addiction medicine, has refused to license any new methadone vans since 2007. That’s why state and local addiction agencies and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) have requested DEA to rescind the ban. However, the DEA has failed to act. Together, we can ensure that the Drug Enforcement Administration approves the use of mobile methadone units.

Crime victims in New Jersey do not receive the support they need to heal from their trauma. In particular, communities of color are the most harmed and least helped and victims in these communities are left to fend for themselves following victimization.

Around 9:30 pm on the night of Sunday, March 18, Stephon Alonzo “Zoe” Clark was murdered by Sacramento police in his own backyard. Police fired 20 shots while his family inside the home took cover. SacPD questioned his family for several hours about what they heard before his grandmother, Sequita Thompson, dared to push the window curtain aside and saw her grandson’s body. That’s how she found out he’d been killed. Predictably, the Sacramento Police Department has done their best to criminalize Clark. First, they claimed that Clark was armed, but then their story changed and they claimed that he was holding a toolbar. It has since been revealed that the only item found nearby was his cell phone. We know that police lie and criminalize victims in order to shift blame. We cannot trust them to investigate themselves. However, there is body camera footage. Sacramento city council policy dictates that video footage and audio recordings be released within 30 days of the shooting but SacPD Chief Daniel Hahn has promised the council that the footage would be available to the public by the end of the week. We know that video footage clearly demonstrating police misconduct does not automatically lead to justice. A joint investigation between the SacPD and District Attorney Anne Marie Shubert is ongoing but we know that District Attorney Shubert has a pattern of declining to prosecute killer cops who murder Black people. The cops who murdered Dazion Flenaugh and Joseph Mann are free today. We have to let Shubert know that we are watching this case closely, that she cannot let another killer cop get away with murder, and that we want justice for Zoe. We need to demand that charges are brought in this case.