Reposted by @dkeller.bsky.social
Over a 20-year period, people were sentenced to prison more often, and for longer terms, in years when prosecutors were up for election, a Northwestern Law study finds.
In other words, prosecutors were more eager to rob people’s freedom when they thought it would help them politically.
news.northwestern.edu
Prison admissions rose 3% in district attorney election years during 'tough on crime' era
New research from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law suggests that public sentiment associated with “tough on crime” politics may be tied to increases in the number of people admitted to state prison...
![That’s probably the most famous scene in the movie, the campfire scene.
I know. He said, “You can’t punch a horse.” I said, “You’ll never see it again.” I kept saying, “You’re absolutely right. It’s out!” Then, when he left, I crumpled up all his notes, and I tossed it in the wastepaper basket. And John Calley, who was running [production at] Warner Bros. at the time, said, “Good filing.” That was the end of it. You say yes, and you never do it.
That’s great advice for life.
It is. Don’t fight them. Don’t waste your time struggling with them and trying to make sense to them. They’ll never understand.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:yvbszlkc7d75ixkid5g2zmw7/bafkreiar4z6n6pfk7wob2gznv6l6euw7ltxbetgto5drfd4wqzjalldp5m)
![This case could re-establish an important legal avenue for people to bring claims against federal officers under a state civil rights act.
The Maine Civil Rights Act allows people to bring claims against federal officers for violations of federal law. Specifically, it affords a cause of action for violations of “the rights secured by the United States Constitution” by “any person.” In general, claims against federal officials are brought against the United States, but there is a crucial exception in federal statute. The Westfall Act of 1988 states this limitation on remedies against federal officials “does not extend or apply to a civil action against an employee of the Government [] which is brought for a violation of the Constitution of the United States.”
The Supreme Court allowed some types of actions against federal officers for federal constitutional violations in its 1971 Bivens decision, but the court has sharply narrowed that in recent years. Re-establishing the ability to bring claims under state law could reopen a crucial avenue for people to seek justice when the federal government violates their constitutional rights.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreigdljvrfsj3rqlahhk3yxn2pc3kerbxfpfq2gwabnq3j2i62ywfmm)
