http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/28/1397483/-Speaking-of-the-SCOTUS-3-Strikes-Law-Struck-Down-Private-Prisons-Haz-a-Sad?detail=email
This got overlooked amongst all the rainbows and flags, but on Friday, the Supremes ruled on the draconian Three Strikes Law.
From ABC...
The Supreme Court on Friday struck down part of a federal law intended keep people convicted of repeated violent crimes in prison longer.
The justices ruled that a catchall phrase in the Armed Career Criminal Act defining what crimes make a defendant eligible for a longer prison term is too vague.
And even Scalia was right on this one.
Six justices agreed that the phrase is unconstitutional. Writing for the court, Justice Antonin Scalia said using "so shapeless a provision to condemn someone to prison for 15 years to life" violates the Constitution's guarantee of due process.
The Prison Industrial Complex must be weeping.
From Occupy Democrats...
Now, prosecutors across the country will have to figure out who qualifies to have their sentences reduced, a move that is probably making private prison CEOs weep in despair.
The private prison industry has been a long-time supporter of harsh mandatory minimum sentences because that means higher profits for them. The two biggest private prison corporations–GEO and Corrections Corporation of America— make about $3 billion annually off of incarcerated Americans; in turn they spend millions of dollars on lobbying efforts.
The lawmakers in many states are contractually required to fill up the beds in private prisons; so it’s not too hard to figure out why the ACCA is such a popular sentence enhancer. Private prisons have even been known to sue state governments if they aren’t filed to capacity- making taxpayers foot the bill for low crime rates.
It’s an absolute travesty and a key piece in the conservative war against minorities and the poor, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and destroying communities around the country. Today’s ruling means Congress will have to clarify the law and you can bet that private prison lobbyists are about to throw even more money at lawmakers, but hopefully it sounds a death knell for mass incarceration in our nation.
i am happy to see the scotus making decisions that will benefit the people and the country, it does make you take a second look if the right wing has the majority of the scotus and the right wing let's say is responsible for 90% of the country's angst but blaming it on Pres. and even us Black people.
that said for the court to have just one on their side choose democracy and supports that written in stone mantra over their chambers "equal justice under the law" than there is still a light at the end of the tunnel it's called "DAYLIGHT" will our future be so bright we all have to wear shades?????
well we can answer that on Nov. 4th 2016. we can't get to giddy though right wing has a record of getting their way but IMO that's because we let them by not showing up and being counted. courts are starting to take a second look at gerrymandering practices it's a first step but all journeys start with one so we are in good company.
God Bless America to be!!!
