Criminal (In)justice

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Bonus: Patterns and Practices Apr 25, 2021

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Following Derek Chauvin's conviction in the murder of George Floyd, the Justice Department launches a "pattern or practice" investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department.

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Bonus: Chauvin Guilty Apr 23, 2021

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A Minneapolis jury has found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on all three counts in the murder of George Floyd. What does it mean for criminal justice reform?

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#135 The Unlikely Philly DA Apr 13, 2021

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In the US, the local prosecutor – usu the district attorney has a huge influence on the criminal system. The DA influences who gets prosecuted, for what, how long they serve if convicted – even who gets the death penalty. So what happens when the usual tough on crime DA gets replaced – by someone determined to bring transformational change to prosecution?

We’ll talk with Larry Krasner, the unlikely Philly DA; his election and attempt to bring that change to an entrenched system is told in “Philly DA,” a multi-part documentary airing on PBS beginning April 20. Krasner’s memoir, “For the People,” about his life and career up to the day of his swearing in, will be published the same day.

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Bonus: What's a Hate Crime, Exactly? Apr 06, 2021

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The apparently racially-motivated spa murders in Atlanta have reignited discussion about hate-crime statutes. How do these laws work? How often are they applied, and to what ends?

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#134: Is Police Reform Over? Mar 23, 2021

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For years, advocates for better policing have pushed various reforms: consent decrees, civilian oversight, body cameras. But after George Floyd’s death and 2020, is reform still a viable alternative? Or is it defund or bust?

Our guest is Christy Lopez, Professor of Practice at Georgetown Law. She headed multiple police reform investigations at the U.S. Department of Justice, and now runs the Innovative Policing Program at Georgetown. Her article, “Defund the Police? Here’s What That Really Means,” ran in the Washington Post on June 7, 2020.

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Bonus: A Dream Fulfilled Mar 15, 2021

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A happy ending to the story of Chris Young, as told by former federal judge Kevin Sharp back in episode #55.

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#133 Re-entry After Exoneration Mar 09, 2021

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We’ve spoken here about exoneration of the wrongfully convicted – how difficult and how important it is. But what happens to the exoneree – to that person – after release? How does that person build a life after years in prison, for something he or she did not do? We’ll talk to filmmaker Jia Wertz; she looks at these questions through the case of exoneree Jeff Deskovic in her debut film “Conviction,” available now on Amazon.

"Conviction"

Trailer

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Bonus: Baltimore's Surveillance Drones Grounded Mar 02, 2021

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An ambitious but controversial program to surveil the entire city of Baltimore from above is on hold after its philanthropic backer had second thoughts.

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#132 Re-entry: What Research Shows Feb 23, 2021

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Returning to life outside of prison: It’s called re-entry. Getting people ready to go home just makes sense if you want them to succeed, and over 95 percent of all imprisoned people are eventually released. But we didn’t always do much to assure reentry success, and in many places and many ways, we still don’t. What does the evidence show about what works?

Our guest is Dr. Christy Visher, Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware and Director of the University’s Center for Drug and Health Studies. She was one of the principal investigators for the path-breaking study “Returning Home: Understanding the Challenges of Prisoner Reentry.”

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Ask Dave: What About Accomplice Liability? Feb 20, 2021

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David from Skokie wonders if Donald Trump could be charged as an accomplice in the January 6 killings at the U.S. Capitol.

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