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Full-Text Articles in Law
Disrupting The School-To-Prison Pipeline: Reforming The Role Of The School Resource Officer, Olivia Seksinsky
Disrupting The School-To-Prison Pipeline: Reforming The Role Of The School Resource Officer, Olivia Seksinsky
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
A School Resource Officer (“SRO”) is a law enforcement officer employed
by local law enforcement agencies to provide security to public schools. As
a result of fatal and highly publicized school shootings such as Columbine
and Parkland, SROs have become a fixed aspect of many school communities.
There are tens of thousands of SROs patrolling the halls of Virginia’s
public elementary and secondary schools every year. Despite their intended
purpose to keep students safe and prevent crime, SROs too often contribute
to the school-to-prison pipeline. When SROs are brought into the classroom
to address “disruptive” behaviors, students are at an …
A Gardener's Tale: Confronting Racial Discrimination At The Intersection Of The School-To-Prison Pipeline And Adolescent Health, Sogand Falahatpour
A Gardener's Tale: Confronting Racial Discrimination At The Intersection Of The School-To-Prison Pipeline And Adolescent Health, Sogand Falahatpour
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
Racism is a public health crisis and it is killing Black youth. Systemic racism
in education is a root cause of a long list of inequities faced by Black
youth. These inequities compound over the years and create extreme hurdles
to academic success and, in many cases, are hazardous to overall health.
The school-to-prison pipeline is a severe health equity issue affecting
Black children and adolescents. Racism is a core social determinant of health
that has a profound impact on child and adolescent health. Moreover, health
is not just an individual matter; institutional and structural forces influence
who has access …
Choosing Children: Preventing Intra-Family Conflict From Feeding The Prison Pipeline, Samantha D. Mier
Choosing Children: Preventing Intra-Family Conflict From Feeding The Prison Pipeline, Samantha D. Mier
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
Parents struggling to raise challenging children often lack needed community
support. These parents turn to law enforcement when they feel their
child cannot be controlled. Problematically, law enforcement officers are
trained to respond to crime, not simple parent-child domestic disputes. Thus,
when parents call police during disagreements, the argument may end in arrest
and contact with the juvenile court system. Interaction with the juvenile
justice system carries a myriad of risks. This comment outlines the risks inherent
in calling the police and entering the juvenile court system. The author
evaluates existing alternatives to calling law enforcement and recommends
that communities …
Unshackled: Stories Of Redemption Among Serious Youth Offenders, Julie E. Mcconnell
Unshackled: Stories Of Redemption Among Serious Youth Offenders, Julie E. Mcconnell
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
In a series of decisions concerning child defendants, the United States Supreme
Court has embraced the understanding, based on adolescent brain
development, that the legal system must recognize children are different than
adults concerning criminal culpability and sentencing. That recognition, culminating
in Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v. Louisiana, led to the opportunity
for thousands of individuals across the country, initially sentenced
to death-in-prison sentences when they were minors, to gain a meaningful
opportunity for release. These cases permanently banned mandatory life sentences
for children. In Virginia, the legislature now allows reconsideration
of these cases through hearings before the parole …
Empowering The Defense To Confront The Government's Powers: Virginia Criminal Justice Legal Reform, Bryan Kennedy, Catherine F. Zagurskie
Empowering The Defense To Confront The Government's Powers: Virginia Criminal Justice Legal Reform, Bryan Kennedy, Catherine F. Zagurskie
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
During the 2021 Session and 2021 Special Session, Virginia took steps to
restore the balance between individuals ensnared in the criminal legal system
and the government. These new laws allow people who are involved in
the criminal legal system to emphasize their humanity and to hold the government
to its various burdens at all stages of the case, including pre-trial,
trials, sentencing, and appeal. This article discusses four of the most important
changes to Virginia law that ensure a more level playing field between
the government and the accused.
First, eliminating the presumption against bail challenges the government’s
power of …
First In The South: Cannabis Legalization In Virginia, Jm Pedini, Cassidy Crockett-Verba
First In The South: Cannabis Legalization In Virginia, Jm Pedini, Cassidy Crockett-Verba
Richmond Public Interest Law Review
In 2021, Virginia made history when it became the first state in the
South to legalize cannabis for responsible use by adults. Though legalization
is now the law of the land, which today includes personal possession
and cultivation, there remains much work to be done before Virginians are
able to legally purchase cannabis outside of the medical program. Concerns
over social equity provisions, retail sales dates, and the reenactment
clauses added during the 2021 legislative session have drastically slowed
the process of expanding the regulated marketplace to adult-use consumers.
With many key components requiring reenactment by the 2022 General Assembly …