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Hey, media, mind your language
In a society where headlines often spawn snap judgments, the choice of words can skew the narrative toward compassion or contempt. The term "convicted felon" is laden with negative connotations and fails to consider the complex journey of individuals beyond their interactions with the justice system.
My right to vote: restoring the voice of the reformed
Governor Hobbs’ recent push to restore voting rights in Arizona struck me profoundly—not as a mere headline in the morning paper, but as an example of hope that the world I re-entered after 15 years of incarceration might finally recognize me as a person, not just a past mistake. Yet, as hopeful as I am, I am equally troubled by the reality that for too long, individuals with criminal historie[...]
A misused narrative: the real two-tiered justice system
There's been a disquieting narrative circulating in our political sphere. It's the claim that we live under a two-tiered justice system, but how it is framed isn’t accurate. This talking point, oft-repeated by Republican politicians and pundits, uses the perceived differences between the legal experiences of former President Donald Trump and the son of current President Joe Biden as evidence of [...]
Our ‘justice’ system: a paradox of errors and innocence
The release of Barry Jones after nearly 30 years on Arizona's death row, wrongfully convicted for a crime he did not commit, forces us to confront the unsettling of our justice system. Despite being a nation that upholds values of fairness and justice, we've seen these principles denied to too many individuals, especially those of color. As a Black woman, I am deeply disturbed by this pattern.
Voting is a right for all, including ex-cons
I firmly believe that restoration of a person’s voting rights should be automatic after they are released from prison. I feel even more solid in that stance having gone through the process to restore my own right to vote.
Women inmates rehabilitate working for local marketing firm
The only difference between her and the typical focused, stern female marketing executive adorned in a pantsuit most people imagine is that Ochoa wears orange scrubs and attends conference calls from inside Perryville prison complex in Goodyear.
