- New York's discovery rules are in urgent need of reform according to this article on City Limits. The article reviews the issue at length, including the opinions of defenders, prosecutors and the New York State Justice Task Force.
- An attorney is vital to pretrial justice according to this report published by the Sixth Amendment Center in collaboration with the Pretrial Justice Initiative. The report states early appointment of counsel helps "in achieving the overarching goal of providing justice in our criminal courts," including efficiency and accuracy. The importance of early intervention by attorneys has also been discussed with approval in this PJI report which stresses the necessity of defense for intelligent bail decisions, and in this presentation by the National Association of Counties which stresses the savings to counties which may accrue. The Arnold Foundation has pioneered risk assessment techniques that can improve bail decisions as discussed in this Ted Talk by Anne Milgram, former Attorney General of New Jersey.
- More courts in Oneida County may see counsel at first appearance than was originally proposed, according to this article in the Utica Observer Dispatch. The lack of demand for the program on weekdays has led to consideration of whether other courts could be included. The idea is to be discussed at the April 17 meeting of the Oneida County Magistrates Association.
- The Department of Homeland Security is mandated to detain a minimum of 34,000 people in immigration detention every day pursuant to the 2006 Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act. This short film by the BBC explores the impact of the so-called 'bed mandate.'
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