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HIGH COURT TO HEAR CONDEMNED KILLER’S LOW IQ CLAIM
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear argument in its review of a federal appeals court decision that overturned the death sentence of convicted Alabama murderer Joseph Clifton Smith. CJLF joined the case of Hamm v. Smith to encourage a decision overturning the lower court ruling and to clear up confusion regarding how courts determine if a murderer is exempt from the death penalty on the ground of intellectual disability.............read more >>
12/8/2025    |    PRESS RELEASE    |   Death penalty: Intellectual disability—multiple tests
CRIME & CONSEQUENCES BLOG
APPEALS COURT BLOCKS EARLY RELEASE OF MURDERERS
The California 3rd District Court of Appeal has held that state law does not authorize the early release of murderers serving indeterminate sentences in state prison. The July 28 decision in CJLF v. CDCR invalidates regulations adopted by corrections officials which had allowed the release of convicted murderers years before they had served the minimum term of 15 or 25 years to life in prison. The lawsuit brought by CJLF on behalf of victims and their families argued that the CDCR overstepped its authority by allowing the state’s most violent criminals to earn credits for good behavior to reduce their minimum terms.............read more >>
7/30/2025    |    PRESS RELEASE    |   Prisons: Credits
STUDY: $380 MILLION FEDERALLY FUNDED JUSTICE REINVESTMENT INITIATIVE FAILS TO DELIVER ON PUBLIC SAFETY PROMISES
Researchers at CJLF have released a report indicating that the federally-funded Justice Reinvestment Initiative has largely failed to deliver on its promise of enhancing public safety while reducing incarceration. The grant program has spent about $380 million since inception, and it was funded for $32 million in grants in fiscal year 2025. The Administration’s latest budget proposal, released May 30, would eliminate this funding............read more >>
6/30/2025    |    PRESS RELEASE