Methodist Church Cuts Funding to Private Prisons

If you have ever contemplated the moral quagmire of "prisons for profit," you aren't alone.

Recently CCA (Corrections Corporation of America) courted controversy and the outrage of justice reform groups when it was revealed that they were offering to buy state owned prisons in exchange for a 20 year pledge by the states to keep the prisons at least 90% full of prisoners.

In this "speed trap" version of justice, we are already seeing historically high incarceration numbers and often for minor offenses. States can apply for more federal funding to meet the perceived increased need, so states lock up greater numbers of people to get the funding, which they then use on whatever they wish.

If the states are contracted to meet a minimum occupancy without incurring fines, it's hard to see how judges would have the ability or incentive to weigh the particulars of an actual case to determine in an incarceration was warranted.

The concerns aren't simply hypothetical. Just last year, Judge Mark Ciavarella was sentenced to 10 years in prison after children to a private Juvenal prison in exchange for kickbacks. It is estimated that he earned over $1 million in the so called "kids for cash" scheme. He isn't alone.

Thankfully, organizations that initially supported the private prison system are starting to take a second look. Last month, the United Methodist Church announced that it had withdrawn financial support of almost $1 million in stocks from the CCA and another private prison group, GEO Group.

Read the article here.

Private prisons are at their very core, contrary to both Christian values and those of a Judeo-Christian society. There is no element of rehabilitation. Only to need for larger and larger numbers of incarcerated Americans.

Planting Evidence Video Goes Viral

Cop caught planting evidence claim that he was just "storing" the drugs earlier found in the car, in his back pocket.



Utica, NY police, seem interested in "investigating" only after the video went viral and the FBI became interested.....a YEAR after the arrest.

The Worst Prosecutor of the Year Award

I would love to say that I wrote this article about some of the worst prosecutors of the year. Instead Radley Balko wrote this excellent and tragic article detailing some of the most egregious prosecutorial misconduct of the year.

Check out this list of bad prosecutors and vote here!

Of course those listed are not alone. Every day, prosecutors around the country destroy the lives of innocent people in order to assure themselves another election victory as the "100% conviction rate" candidate. That is not to suggest that there aren't fine people out there in the job doing good work. There are. But the bad so over shadows the good that the "incarcerate for cash" system that we have threatens to make us a nation of convicts.

Historically 2% of the population of any country is either currently or previously in some form of incarceration. The US figures are inching up on 20%. That is 20% of the population left unable to get most jobs, avoid welfare, vote, get educational benefits, etc etc. This dooms not only the person tossed in jail for increasingly minor offenses, it dooms their entire family to a life of poverty.

Justice reform is on it's way to being a major issue as people are increasingly touched by bad prosecution, jailing for cash scandals, and increasingly oppressive laws. The economy takes center stage today, but as conservatives, historically "law and order" voters are waking up to the realities of "justice" in their own back yard, the tide is turning with calls to prosecute those who use their power for evil.