Dear Friends,
You Are Invited to a Very Special Conference
You are invited to join me at the first-ever Second Chance Conference NJ to be held at Montclair State University on Monday June 3rd. We’ll be discussing “Second Look” laws that allow senior citizens to apply for early release from prison, hearing from experts and policymakers, and learning how to advocate for smart and compassionate criminal justice policy in NJ.
The line-up of speakers for this full day event includes NJ Attorney General Matthew Platkin, NJ Public Defender Jennifer Sellitti, and other top-level state officials, national second look advocates, faith leaders, people who were formerly incarcerated, and more. I can’t wait to participate, listen and learn! I really hope you’ll join me. Breakfast and lunch will be provided at this entirely FREE event — but you have to register in advance by visiting www.secondlooknj.org/conference.
In the News
As you may have been following in the news, a Texas judge recently recommended that Maria Lucio’s death sentence be overturned. Ms. Lucio was convicted of murdering her child who in fact appears to have died from accidental causes — another woman wrongly convicted of a crime that never happened. My law review article, The Wrongful Convictions of Women for Crimes that Never Happened and What We Can Learn from Them, was just published by Rutgers University Law Review, and it takes a closer look at women and no-crime wrongful convictions. If you’d like a free copy, please let me know and I’d be delighted to send one along!
A Sneak Peak
I’m so excited to share that I’ll be launching a new podcast called Just Justice in the coming months. The first season will focus on second chances in the criminal legal system. If you know someone who you think would be a great guest for the show, please let me know. And stay tuned!
Spring is Here
Spring is in the air… and in the next couple of weeks, my oldest son will be graduating from college. It feels like he was just heading out the door to kindergarten. I’m not sure how that happened.
I hope you and your families are safe and well. Let’s try extra-hard to be kind to each other in these challenging times.
Take good care,
Jessica