Latest news with #criminaljusticereform
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Prisoners Set Back By Bureau Of Prisons Home Confinement 'Expansion'
Newly appointed Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director William Marshall III wrapped himself in the Trump flag by announcing an expansion of use of home confinement to allow prisoners more time in the community at the end of their prison sentence. Unfortunately, for many in prison the actions by the BOP will lead to longer stays in institutions, which is both more costly and a blow to those trying to get home sooner. The BOP issued a press release on May 28, 2025 touting, 'Federal Bureau of Prisons Issues Directive to Expand Home Confinement, Advance First Step Act.' However, a closer look reveals that this move neither expands home confinement nor advances First Step Act. When Trump signed the First Step Act into law in December 2018, advocates, prisoners and criminal justice reform groups all touted it as a major victory. The law was meant to both reduce the sentences for non-violent prisoners, many of whom are first time offenders, by up to a year and also give them the opportunity to serve more of their sentence under strict conditions in the community. However, the BOP has had a difficult time implementing this law under multiple directors since becoming law. It took over three years for the Department of Justice and BOP to finalize the Final Rule for First Step Act. During that time, thousands of inmates stayed in prison hoping they would receive credits to reduce their sentence. From January 2022 until now, the BOP has taken different positions on the law, leading some to get out of prison too late while others enjoyed the additional credits and were released earlier than anticipated. The BOP initially implemented the First Step Act by capping the credits through a rule that stated no credits could be earned within 6 months of release. BOP then issued a memorandum in March 2025 limiting the amount of halfway house placement for federal inmates from 12 months to 2 months, something central to the Second Chance Act, another hallmark piece of criminal justice reform. Both of these actions were rescinded after outcry from advocacy groups. In September 2024, the BOP implemented a new calculator to anticipate the effects of the First Step Act after other iterations of the calculator proved to be an inaccurate tool. The result was a predictive report that every inmate was given that provided them with a projected date for leaving the institution to live in the community and a release date from BOP custody. The reaction to those in custody and their families was immediate joy, however, that was short lived. The reports reflected 'stacking' the practice of showing the inmate both all of their First Step Act credits and the maximum amount of prerelease custody (12 months) under the Second Chance Act. To date, few inmates ever received the full compliments of these credits and the recent memorandum from Director Marshall upends 'Stacking.' Many people want to know what the new memorandum means and the BOP provided a statement clarifying their rule. When asked whether inmates are still eligible for Second Chance Act placement up to 12 months prior to their FSA conditional placement date, as has been the case, the BOP responded, 'Due to statutory restrictions found in 18 U.S.C. 3624(c)(1), an individual who has earned 365 days (12 months) of First Step Act credits to be applied to prerelease custody cannot receive additional prerelease time under the Second Chance Act.' The BOP's current stance contradicts its position from just a few months ago, when it stated that stacking First Step Act and Second Chance Act benefits was permissible. Now, without addressing its previous position, the BOP asserts that home confinement under the Second Chance Act is only allowed by law during the final 12 months of a prison sentence. Additionally, the BOP claims that home confinement under the First Step Act can only be applied when the First Step Act time credits earned are equal to the remaining length of the prison term. This means an inmate cannot apply First Step Act credits to home confinement while also receiving up to 12 months of prerelease custody (6 months in a halfway house and 6 months in home confinement) under the Second Chance Act. For many inmates, this change means they will have to remain in prison for up to a year longer than they had initially expected. The BOP's statement went on to say, 'For individuals eligible under the First Step Act (18 U.S.C. § 3624(g)), and who are projected to earn at least 365 days (12 months) of time credits for prerelease custody, referrals should be based on credits and the corresponding First Step Act Conditional Placement Date. There is no restriction concerning how many credits may be applied toward home confinement.' Those who earn a year off of their sentence and another year toward home confinement will not receive any Second Chance Act, meaning they will serve a year in a prison that could have been spent in the community. Former BOP Director Colette Peters (fired on January 20, 2025 by Trump), stated in a congressional hearing last year that capacity at BOP halfway houses was capped out. She stated at the time, "So this [halfway house capacity] is almost as significant of a problem as our recruitment and retention crisis and our infrastructure crisis, because as you're aware ... now under the First Step Act, they could spend months or years, and so that has created a substantial backlog in our residential reentry center.' In December 2018, when the First Step Act was signed into law, the residential reentry centers (or halfway houses) had a capacity of 10,500 beds. At that time, it was understood that the law would increase the number of people placed in prerelease custody. However, as of today, the capacity of halfway houses remains largely the same. As a result, those who are eligible for First Step Act credits, which would allow them to return home sooner, now find themselves competing for limited bed space with individuals who have been incarcerated for decades and rely on halfway house resources to reintegrate into society. The intent of the new memorandum was to redirect individuals who do not require halfway house services to home confinement. However, the outcome may be that fewer people are able to leave prison, and those who could have served part of their sentence in the community will end up remaining in prison for a longer period. In his press release about the expansion of halfway house use, Director Marshall said, 'President Trump said he would fight for the forgotten men and women of this country, and the First Step Act proved he meant it. Now, we are ensuring that this reform continues to work—not just as a policy, but as a promise to Americans seeking redemption and a path forward.' This new directive seems counter to Trump's promise.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kim Kardashian Law School Graduation & Degree Explained
Curious whether graduated from law school? Fans got their answer when the reality star celebrated completing her legal studies after six years of hard work. The surprise graduation ceremony, shared on social media by Khloe Kardashian, featured heartfelt speeches, family tributes, and a proud display of Kim's diploma. Here's what we know so far about Kardashian's law school journey, her nontraditional path, and what comes next. Kim Kardashian officially completed her law program in May 2025 after six years of study. She celebrated the milestone during a private graduation ceremony with her family, mentors, and close friends. Kardashian pursued a nontraditional legal path in California called 'reading the law.' This program allows individuals to study under a licensed attorney instead of attending a formal law school. She began the journey in 2019, inspired by her work on criminal justice reform and clemency cases like Alice Marie Johnson's. Attorney Jessica Jackson, one of Kardashian's mentors, said during the ceremony: 'Six years ago, Kim Kardashian walked into this program with nothing but a fierce desire to fight for justice. No law school lectures, no ivory tower shortcuts, just determination and a mountain of case log books to read.' Jackson noted that Kardashian committed 18 hours per week, 48 weeks per year, for six years—totaling over 5,000 hours of legal study. In March 2025, E! News reported that Kardashian had taken the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE), a requirement for bar admission in most U.S. jurisdictions. Kardashian previously passed the California First-Year Law Students' Exam, also known as the 'baby bar,' on her fourth attempt in 2021. Khloe Kardashian shared several videos and photos from the May 21, 2025, ceremony on her Instagram stories. Kim Kardashian wore a graduation cap, held her diploma, and received praise from her mentors. She turned her study flashcards into placemats for the celebratory luncheon. Van Jones, who also attended, acknowledged the skepticism Kardashian initially faced. He said, 'Six years, seven years ago, when you were working on criminal justice, you were not embraced by anybody,' but praised her commitment to marginalized groups (via Today.) The post Kim Kardashian Law School Graduation & Degree Explained appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Kim Kardashian graduates law school
The reality star has graduated from law school after six years of legal training. Kim announced the news on Wednesday, and threw a small commencement ceremony for family and friends, including sister Khloe Kardashian, kids Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, six, as well as her pal Van Jones. 'All of you guys have been on this journey with me," Kim said in her speech, which was shared on Khloe's Instagram Stories. The TV star explained she had been "dumbfounded" by the state of the legal system, so had started looking into criminal justice reform.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kim Kardashian graduates law school, following in footsteps of lawyer dad Robert Kardashian
Kim Kardashian graduated from law school, following in the footsteps of famous father Robert Kardashian Sr. The "Kardashians" on Hulu reality star revealed the news to fans by sharing videos of an intimate backyard ceremony surrounded by family and friends. Her late father was a defense attorney for the defensed in former NFL player O.J. Simpson's murder trial. The "All's Fair" actress took to her Instagram stories on May 21 to celebrate graduating from the four-year Law Office Study Program. "I finally graduated law school after six years!!!" Kardashian wrote over top of a video shared from sister Khloé Kardashian's footage of the event. In one video, the reality star's legal mentor Van Jones said, "I am trying not to get emotional, thank you Kim Kardashian." "Six years ago, seven years ago when you were working on criminal justice, you were not embraced by anybody," CNN commentator Jones said in the video. "You were working with people who were thrown away often by their own families. You were working with people who were literally one step from the grave." During President Donald Trump's first term in office, Kardashian emerged as one of Hollywood's fiercest advocates for criminal justice reform. In June 2018, following a meeting that May with Kardashian in the Oval Office, Trump granted clemency to Alice Marie Johnson who was serving a life sentence for cocaine trafficking. The 44-year-old announced on social media in December 2021 that she passed California's First-Year Law Students' Exam, better known as the "baby bar" exam. Celebrating the Skims co-founder's accomplishments was a family affair. Kardashian shared details from her graduation party, like her youngest son Psalm West dressed as a lawyer with a briefcase and lunch placemats depicting her flashcards from studying. In her own Instagram story video, Khloé Kardashian said, "I am so proud of Kim. I just left her celebration lunch for graduating law school, I mean, I cannot believe this is years and years in the making." Kourtney Kardashian Barker was also in attendance and reshared a video of her wearing a cap and gown captioned, "supportive sister." Kim Kardashian also shared an Instagram story with an image of her in her grad cap posted by Ivanka Trump, with a message that read, "Congratulations Kim! You did it! My favorite law school graduate!" Contributing: Hannah Yasharoff This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kim Kardashian graduates law school
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Kim Kardashian graduates law school
The reality star has graduated from law school after six years of legal training. Kim announced the news on Wednesday, and threw a small commencement ceremony for family and friends, including sister Khloe Kardashian, kids Saint, nine, Chicago, seven, and Psalm, six, as well as her pal Van Jones. 'All of you guys have been on this journey with me," Kim said in her speech, which was shared on Khloe's Instagram Stories. The TV star explained she had been "dumbfounded" by the state of the legal system, so had started looking into criminal justice reform.
