Category Archives: Innocence

2016: The year of voting rights, public defenders, sentencing reform, and Albert Woodfox

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Bruce Reilly

 The Epicenter of Race, Voting, and Mass Incarceration New Orleans has always been a national news story. Northern parts of America probably understood the Free People of Color, prior to the Civil War, as much as they could understand contemporary … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Innocence, Legislation, Political Prisoners, Politics, Race, Reentry, Uncategorized, VOTE, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Justice Breyer tells America: The Death Penalty is broken, and a “humane” method of killing will not fix it.

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Bruce Reilly

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES _________________ No. 14–7955 _________________ RICHARD E. GLOSSIP, et al., PETITIONERS v. KEVIN J. GROSS, et al. on writ of certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the tenth circuit [June 29, 2015] Justice Breyer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Courts, Death Penalty, Innocence, Race, SCOTUS | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Herman Wallace: “Get Me The F#@k Outta Here.”

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

Those are the timeless words reportedly uttered by Angola 3 member Herman Wallace, who was finally released from Angola State Penitentiary after over 40 years.  “Get me the f#@k outta here.”  Most of his time had been spent in solitary … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Arts, Commentary, Courts, Innocence, Political Prisoners | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

3 Reasons to Thank a Public Defender

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

This is the 50th Year of Gideon, which possibly means little to the majority of people in America- or so they believe.  Fifty years ago, the Supreme Court decided that American citizens have a right to a lawyer in court.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Courts, Innocence | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hunger Strikes, Force Feeds, and Solitary Dreams

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

While the California prisoners enter their fourth day of hunger strikes, the people of Guantanamo enter their 40th. Meanwhile, Herman Wallace has spent over forty years in solitary confinement in Louisiana. These three aspects, all coming to new awareness this … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Commentary, Innocence, Prison Conditions, Prisoner Health | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Does the Prosecution Rest? Changing the Narrative to Let Justice Be Done

Posted on July 7, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

The George Zimmerman trial is on my Facebook wall.  It is on TV at the gym.  Needless to say, from a guy who doesn’t have a TV: it is everywhere.  Because this case is one of the few high-profile cases … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Courts, Innocence, Race | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Unprison 2011-2013 Index

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Bruce Reilly

Below you will find an index of the articles written over the past several years for Unprison.  Readers are encouraged, as issues arise in your area, to utilize the research, analysis, and opinions presented below.  Some of these have appeared elsewhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Commentary, Courts, Death Penalty, Drug Policy, Education, Employment, Housing, Innocence, Legislation, Mental Health, Police, Political Prisoners, Politics, Prison Conditions, prison economics, Prisoner Health, Race, Rehabilitation, SCOTUS, Uncategorized, Voting Rights | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Brooklyn Man Wins a New Trial After 23 Years

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Bruce Reilly

When I woke up this morning, I knew that thousands of innocent prisoners had active cases in the court system.  When I go to sleep, I will know that one man, Derrick Deacon, waited enough time to be vindicated: 23 … Continue reading →

Posted in Courts, Innocence | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

So You Want To Be A Prosecutor? 6 Rules to get started.

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Bruce Reilly

I have recently had several conversations with aspiring prosecutors, all of whom have an idealist desire to punish wrong-doers and protect the public.  It became obvious that they had very limited experience with the criminal justice system at all.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Drug Policy, Innocence, Legislation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Troy, Hunger Strikes, and Law School: The Movement for Self Empowerment

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Bruce Reilly

These are busy times in the era of mass incarceration.  The execution of Troy Davis sparked the largest public opposition to the death penalty in American history.  Vigils and protests arose throughout the nation, horrified that someone can be put … Continue reading →

Posted in Innocence, Prison Conditions, Rehabilitation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment