Criminal Justice http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90482523&ft=1&f=90482523 'News & Notes' takes an in-depth look at the American criminal justice system, with a special focus on how it impacts African Americans. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Criminal Justice http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90482523&ft=1&f=90482523 Does Child Rape Warrant the Death Penalty? Patrick Kennedy is on death row at Louisiana's Angola Prison, awaiting capital punishment for brutally raping his 8-year-old step daughter. But does executing someone for child rape violate the 8th Amendment that bars cruel and unusual punishment? Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91009548&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91009548&ft=1&f=90482523 Patrick Kennedy is on death row at Louisiana's Angola Prison, awaiting capital punishment for brutally raping his 8-year-old step daughter. But does executing someone for child rape violate the 8th Amendment that bars cruel and unusual punishment?

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Death Penalty Under Review Since the death penalty was reinstated in the mid 1970s, all death row inmates have been put to death for killing another person. But now, a surprising array of crimes can land you on death row. Fri, 30 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91009544&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91009544&ft=1&f=90482523 Since the death penalty was reinstated in the mid 1970s, all death row inmates have been put to death for killing another person. But now, a surprising array of crimes can land you on death row.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> When a Parent Does Hard Time, so Does the Family More than half of the prisoners living behind bars are parents. But what happens to children of the incarcerated, and what are the challenges of keeping a family connected? Farai Chideya speaks with a mother and daughter who managed to make it work. Thu, 29 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90955842&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90955842&ft=1&f=90482523 More than half of the prisoners living behind bars are parents. But what happens to children of the incarcerated, and what are the challenges of keeping a family connected? Farai Chideya speaks with a mother and daughter who managed to make it work.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Families Coping with Incarcerated Parents How does having a parent in prison impact children? And how does being separated from those children affect incarcerated parents? Farai Chideya gets insight from two experts who have helped families stay together when prison keeps them apart. Thu, 29 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90955847&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90955847&ft=1&f=90482523 How does having a parent in prison impact children? And how does being separated from those children affect incarcerated parents? Farai Chideya gets insight from two experts who have helped families stay together when prison keeps them apart.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Companies Cashing in on People's Prison Stripes? Many small towns have come to depend on prisons for jobs, but are private prisons taking advantage of the incarcerated to turn a profit? Or are correctional systems offering much-needed services to those behind bars? Thu, 22 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90726858&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90726858&ft=1&f=90482523 Many small towns have come to depend on prisons for jobs, but are private prisons taking advantage of the incarcerated to turn a profit? Or are correctional systems offering much-needed services to those behind bars?

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Breaking Out of the Prison Industrial Complex Most people say American slavery ended in the 1800s. But Douglas Blackmon argues that the practice endured into the 20th century through the nation's prisons. Blackmon's new book, <em>Slavery by Another Name</em>, details how prisons cashed in on the incarcerated. Thu, 22 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90726863&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90726863&ft=1&f=90482523 Most people say American slavery ended in the 1800s. But Douglas Blackmon argues that the practice endured into the 20th century through the nation's prisons. Blackmon's new book, Slavery by Another Name, details how prisons cashed in on the incarcerated.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Stopping Race Wars Behind Bars Living in confined spaces can put a magnifying glass on racial tensions. NPR's Tony Cox talks to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who has had his share of dealing with racial incidents in the county's prison system. Fri, 16 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90523786&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90523786&ft=1&f=90482523 Living in confined spaces can put a magnifying glass on racial tensions. NPR's Tony Cox talks to Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who has had his share of dealing with racial incidents in the county's prison system.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> A Closer Look: Racial Tensions Behind Bars Do racial tensions in prison simply reflect what goes on in communities across the country? For more, NPR's Tony Cox speaks with community intervention specialist Skipp Townsend and community outreach director Robert Richardson. Fri, 16 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90523789&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90523789&ft=1&f=90482523 Do racial tensions in prison simply reflect what goes on in communities across the country? For more, NPR's Tony Cox speaks with community intervention specialist Skipp Townsend and community outreach director Robert Richardson.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Stemming the Spread of HIV Behind Bars For 27 years, the Rev. Dorris Green has worked in Chicago to slow the spread of the HIV. She's in favor of HIV screening and condom distribution in the state's prisons. But she says that too often her concerns fall on deaf ears. Thu, 15 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90477022&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90477022&ft=1&f=90482523 For 27 years, the Rev. Dorris Green has worked in Chicago to slow the spread of the HIV. She's in favor of HIV screening and condom distribution in the state's prisons. But she says that too often her concerns fall on deaf ears.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Addressing the Harsh Reality of Rape in Prison The group Human Rights Watch estimates that 22 percent of male inmates in the Unites States have been raped at least once during their incarceration. We continue our month-long look at the criminal justice system with a focus on the sexual health of prisoners. Thu, 15 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90477019&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90477019&ft=1&f=90482523 The group Human Rights Watch estimates that 22 percent of male inmates in the Unites States have been raped at least once during their incarceration. We continue our month-long look at the criminal justice system with a focus on the sexual health of prisoners.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> The 'CSI' Effect On Criminal Justice The basis for fictional, hit TV shows like <em>CSI: Crime Scene Investigation</em> is very real. These days, forensic scientists play a key role in the criminal justice system. How has technology changed the way crimes are solved? Fri, 09 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90323093&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90323093&ft=1&f=90482523 The basis for fictional, hit TV shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is very real. These days, forensic scientists play a key role in the criminal justice system. How has technology changed the way crimes are solved?

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> A Closer Look: Prisoners Exonerated By DNA Last month, Nathaniel Hatchett was set free after serving 12 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. DNA tests exonerated him of the 1996 assault. Farai Chideya takes a closer look at DNA testing. Fri, 09 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90323098&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90323098&ft=1&f=90482523 Last month, Nathaniel Hatchett was set free after serving 12 years in prison for a rape he didn't commit. DNA tests exonerated him of the 1996 assault. Farai Chideya takes a closer look at DNA testing.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Public Defenders Have Their Say Public defenders protect the constitutional rights of poor defendants charged with crimes. But they're overworked and under-respected. Farai Chideya speaks with Rick Jones — deputy director of the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) — and Brian Wait, Senior Public Defender in the Orange County Public Defender's Office. Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90280103&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90280103&ft=1&f=90482523 Public defenders protect the constitutional rights of poor defendants charged with crimes. But they're overworked and under-respected. Farai Chideya speaks with Rick Jones — deputy director of the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem (NDS) — and Brian Wait, Senior Public Defender in the Orange County Public Defender's Office.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> 'Stop Snitching' Movement Confounding Criminal Justice The "no snitch" ethic is prevalent in hip hop culture and in many urban communities. How does it impact the criminal justice system? David M. Kennedy is the director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control and professor of anthropology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Thu, 08 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90280108&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90280108&ft=1&f=90482523 The "no snitch" ethic is prevalent in hip hop culture and in many urban communities. How does it impact the criminal justice system? David M. Kennedy is the director of the Center for Crime Prevention and Control and professor of anthropology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]> Blacks and the Criminal Justice System Today, we begin a new month-long series, focused on the different aspects of the criminal justice system. More than 60 percent of those now in prison are racial and ethnic minorities. Farai Chideya explores these trends and more. Thu, 01 May 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90102921&ft=1&f=90482523 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90102921&ft=1&f=90482523 Today, we begin a new month-long series, focused on the different aspects of the criminal justice system. More than 60 percent of those now in prison are racial and ethnic minorities. Farai Chideya explores these trends and more.

» E-Mail This     » Add to Del.icio.us

]]>