Everyday Injustice

Vanguard social justice articles involving criminal justice reform

San Quentin Research Finds Community Connection Can Help Drive Rehabilitation

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 18, 2026

Research conducted by San Quentin Rehabilitation Center volunteer Amanda Weitman indicates that community volunteers and robust rehabilitative programming are pivotal in enabling incarcerated individuals to address trauma, commit to personal transformation, and reduce recidivism. The findings emphasize the significant role of external engagement in fostering positive self-perception and cultivating hope for successful reintegration into society.

Supreme Court to Rule on Constitutionality of Florida’s Six-Person Jury Law

By John SchultzAugust 16, 2026

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Legal Defense Fund (LDF) filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court case Kian v. Florida, challenging the constitutionality of Florida’s six-person jury law and asserting the practice is rooted in racial discrimination, enacted to undermine Black citizenship, and violates fundamental constitutional rights.

DOJ Report Confirms Systemic Staff Sexual Abuse in California Women’s Prisons

By David M. GreenwaldAugust 15, 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice determined that California’s two women’s prisons systematically failed to protect incarcerated individuals from sexual abuse and harassment by staff. The federal investigation into the California Institution for Women and Central California Women’s Facility identified a pattern and practice of constitutional rights violations, specifically citing failures to uphold Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment and Fourteenth Amendment rights to bodily privacy. Investigators further noted a longstanding pattern of staff sexual misconduct, inadequate safeguards, and insufficient accountability measures, alongside a failure to effectively implement the Prison Rape Elimination Act. These findings, released August 13, have prompted survivor advocates to demand comprehensive reforms and the release of individuals who have endured abuse within these facilities.

Fair and Just Prosecution Urges Supreme Court to Mandate 12-Person Juries

By Kayla BetuliusAugust 15, 2026

Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in Kian v. Florida, urging the recognition of a constitutional right to 12-person juries in serious criminal cases. The organization contended that such juries are fundamental to ensuring fairness, reliability, and public confidence in the criminal justice system, citing historical precedent and research findings.

Los Angeles Court Mandates Disclosure to Combat Judicial Disqualification Abuse

By Hannah KennedyAugust 14, 2026

The Los Angeles Superior Court has issued a general order mandating that attorneys and parties disclose prior challenges against a judge under Code of Civil Procedure §170.6. This directive, implemented by Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II, aims to mitigate potential systemic misuse of California’s judicial disqualification provisions, a development prompted by a recent California Supreme Court decision scrutinizing the practice of bad-faith blanket challenges.

Lindsay Clancy Trial Focuses on Medications Prescribed before Her Children’s Deaths

By Gabriela LeyvaAugust 13, 2026

The murder trial of Lindsay Clancy has centered on her extensive and evolving regimen of psychiatric medications and mental health treatments in the months preceding the deaths of her three children. The proceedings are examining whether her deteriorating mental health and prescribed treatments mitigate criminal responsibility, a claim disputed by prosecutors who assert her culpability.

Op-ed | Enlarge the Jail? Sacramento County’s Misstep

By Mark DempseyAugust 12, 2026

Sacramento County is scheduled to convene a public listening session on August 27 concerning its “Jail System Master Planning.” The initiative has drawn criticism from author Mark Dempsey, who argues the county’s framework disproportionately emphasizes carceral expansion while overlooking more cost-effective social services and crime prevention alternatives. Dempsey contends this approach neglects systemic issues, such as the detention of unconvicted individuals due to bail inability, advocating for solutions like supervised release and community-based programs.