Act. Give. (And Vote, last call!)
Dear Friends, I’m writing to ask for your support in three different areas. 1. Act: Save Lisa MontgomeryLisa Montgomery, who suffers from severe mental illness after being sex trafficked, raped, and abused as a child, is scheduled to be executed on December 8th. If it happens, she would be the first woman in nearly 70 […]
Lisa Montgomery is Set to Die, While Her Lawyers Battle the Coronavirus They Caught While Visiting Her
*Originally published in (En)gendered 11/18/20. EDITED (11/20/20): A federal judge temporarily delayed the December 8th execution of Lisa Montgomery, so that her lawyers can recover and prepare a clemency petition. Read on, as the fight for her life continues. *** Lisa Montgomery is scheduled to die by lethal injection on December 8th. Montgomery would be […]
Vote….for me!
Dear Friends, I hope this email finds you well in these difficult times. I am looking ahead to a Biden-Harris administration, to the New Year, and to all the opportunities that 2021 may bring. With that hopeful vision in mind, I’ve submitted an application to appear at next year’s SXSW festival in March — an […]
Election Week Updates
Election Week Beyond the Presidency Dear Friends, Has anyone else been glued to the television? I’ve been sitting in the same spot for so long that there are imprints in the couch. Cross-eyed and exhausted, I’m stress-eating chips and cookies and, well, you get the idea. Although all eyes are on the election returns, I […]
Criminal Justice Reform Is a Winner
*Originally published on Medium 11/06/20. While we wait for final confirmation that Joe Biden won the presidency, one thing is clear: this election was a win for criminal justice reform. State and Local Criminal Justice Wins Around the country, drug reform initiatives passed. New Jersey, Arizona, Montana, and South Dakota now count themselves among the 15 states, plus Washington […]
What’s a Film Festival Have to Do With Criminal Justice?
Dear Friends, With all eyes turned to the Presidential election, I am also keeping an eye on local prosecutor races around the country. In one Ohio prosecutor election, nothing short of life or death hangs in the balance. Joe Deters, the incumbent District Attorney in Hamilton County, has been a staunch user — and defender […]
Criminal Justice and the Election
Dear Friends, I don’t know about you, but there’s only one thing on my mind these days: the upcoming election. Among the many issues on the line is criminal justice reform. To that end, I’ve written a five-step action guide on my blog with ideas for how you can help promote progressive justice reforms. Please […]
5 Steps You Can Take Before the Election to Promote Criminal Justice Reform
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THESE 5 STEPS The criminal justice system is overdue for a major overhaul. In the long-term, we need to address systemic issues of racism and classism, and tackle issues relating to police violence, cash bail, mass incarceration, crisis intervention, funding for the addicted and mentally ill, police and […]
Criminal Injustice with David A. Harris Podcast Interview
We’ve all heard about the cases of wrongfully convicted people going to prison for the crimes others committed. In some cases, DNA exonerates them and finds the person who really did it. But what about people wrongfully convicted – of crimes that never happened at all? Our guest is Jessica S. Henry, Professor at Montclair […]
Official Book Launch of Smoke but No Fire
Dear Friends, This Sunday, September 20, at 6 pm is what I have dubbed the “official” book launch of Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened at the amazing indie bookstore Watchung Booksellers. Even though the event is virtual, there’s something special about being here in my hometown of Montclair. […]