Julia Keleher’s
Criminal Justice Reform Blog
The Importance of Impartial Juries
I hope most Americans don’t learn about the US Constitution, and its Amendments, the way I did. My crash course in understanding my rights as an American citizen began when I was indicted for the first time in July of 2019. For the next 30 months, I struggled to...
For Some, Where You Live Determines Voting Rights
In some states, those with a felony conviction are ineligible to vote. Voting rights are not protected explicitly in the US Constitution, although several Amendments safeguard certain aspects of voting rights. Whether or not you lose your right to vote is determined...
Prison Conditions Should Not Violate Human Dignity
I served five and a half months in Federal Prison Camp Alderson, as Inmate 35538-016. I was there from February through July – which means I experienced the end of winter, spring and most of summer. Alderson is set in the mountains of West Virginia. The complex ,...
Restoring Faith in Judicial Warrants
Restoring Faith in Judicial Warrants On August 23, the New York Times reported that former police detective Kelly Goodlett mislead a judge who, based on the information she provided, authorized the no-knock search warrant. Those actions led to the execution of the...
The Problem of Plea Bargains
The New York Times reported on August 15, 2022 that Allen H. Weisselberg had reached an agreement with federal prosecutors to resolve his July 2021 indictment. The Times reported that the agreement would allow Weisselberg to “avoid a high-profile trial and spare him a...
The Power Of Human Connection & How Volunteering Helps It
It seems as though developing genuine human connections in modern society has become a rare experience. While that may be true, when we do find that connection, our experience of it is that much more powerful. Making real connections involves opening yourself up to...
The Challenges Faced By Those Released From Prison And What You Can Do To Help
Many, if not all, of individuals who have served prison time for a misdemeanor or felony will tell you that their sentence doesn’t end upon release or at the end of supervision. The true sentence that accompanies a conviction extends throughout their entire lifetime....
Music Provides Hope And Inspiration For Those Inside And Outside Of Prison
Everyone expresses their remorse in different ways. It is a deeply personal and emotional experience. Expressing remorse benefits both the perpetrator and the victim of a crime. Prison systems should consider the programs and services that they could provide to...
Why Is It Important To Address Poverty?
Most people have had some exposure to poverty and For some, their only exposure has been seen it on TV, in magazines, or in movies.Unfortunately it is a condition that affects around 10% of people - both in the United States and around the world. Given the scale of...
Providing Post Secondary Education To Incarcerated Individuals
Among the foremost criticisms of the American prison system is that it acts like a “factory to produce more criminals.” When prison life is stark, brutal, and dangerous, it hardens inmates and does little to help them find a new path in life after release. The...