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Keith Wattley

@keithwattley.bsky.social
93 followers 25 following 14 posts

Executive Director of UnCommon Law; Attorney and Advocate for people serving long and life sentences

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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 09/10/2026
"Because of Idaho’s overcrowded prison population, some women can’t access the programming that commissioners expect them to complete before they’re released... Those women remain incarcerated longer, delaying access for other women"
investigatewest.org
Idaho’s women’s prison overcrowding is fueling parole delays
State agencies don’t know how many inmates face more prison time because they couldn’t access programs prescribed by parole commissioners
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 30/09/2026
"In August 2021, prison officials banned most physical mail, arguing that drug-laced letters and packages were a major source of contraband. Since then, overdose deaths have risen"
thecityreporter.nyc
Who's smuggling fentanyl into New York's prisons?
The use of Narcan jumped 51% last year, while overdose deaths remain far above levels in 2021, when the state restricted physical mail to stop the smuggling of prison contraband.
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Keith Wattley @keithwattley.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Priorities.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 19/09/2026
❌ MYTH: Crime victims support long prison sentences. ✅ REALITY: Most victims of violence want violence prevention. Harm is real, but mass support for mass incarceration is not.
Graph results showing results from a 2022 national survey of 1,500 who reported crime victimization within the past 10 years. Most favor alternatives to incarceration: 75% prefer restorative justice, 80% prefer more mental-health treatment, 72% support incentives for pre-release rehabilitation, and 71% support reducing jail populations.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 10/09/2026
Arizona prisons conducted nearly 30,000 strip searches over 2 years, and just 1 was reported to result in the discovery of contraband items. Strip searches aren't about safety or combating contraband. They're a dehumanizing tool of abuse & control.
inthesetimes.com
In the Name of Security
An investigation into the everyday violence of prison strip searches, which incarcerated women say are a tool of abuse.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 09/09/2026
A new report out of South Carolina reveals that 3 out of 4 confined youth in the state are Black, despite Black children making up just 28% of its youth population. This jarring disparity exists across the country and is the result of racist policies that fail Black children.
Graph showing that in 2025, 76.1% of confined youth in South Carolina were Black vs. 17.7% White, <5% Hispanic, and <2% Other.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Power Station @powerstation.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
At @uncommonlaw.bsky.social @keithwattley.bsky.social is leading a culture shift in how parole boards, the criminal justice system and all of us look at prisoners serving life sentences. He asks if we believe in the right to heal and what that could mean for our society. Hear him! bit.ly/4ifbr5z
bit.ly
The distinction between perpetrator and survivor stops making sense because most perpetrators are survivors
Podcast Episode · Power Station · August 17 · 44m
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
The Davis Vanguard @vanguardnewsgroup.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Paul Redd spent 30 years in solitary confinement during his 44 years of incarceration. His legacy lives on through the Paul Redd Freedom Fellowship, a new paid initiative from the San Francisco Public Defender's Office.
davisvanguard.org
SF Public Defender Launches Fellowship to Challenge Injustice, Honor Paul Redd - Davis Vanguard
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has launched the Paul Redd Freedom Fellowship, a privately funded position within its Freedom Project, aimed at assisting individuals serving lengthy prison…
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
M Meerkat @kackbro.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
NO 👇 LIES DETECTED.......
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 20/07/2026
After 50, formerly incarcerated people have higher rates of stroke, cancer, heart disease, and chronic lung disease. Mass incarceration has created a public health crisis.
Graph showing that in one sample of almost entirely mothers (and some fathers) over 50, those who were ever incarcerated reported more health problems, like stroke, heart disease, and cancer.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 15/07/2026
❌ MYTH: Crime victims support long prison sentences. ✅ REALITY: Most victims of violence want violence prevention. Harm is real, but mass support for mass incarceration is not.
Graph results showing results from a 2022 national survey of 1,500 who reported crime victimization within the past 10 years. Most favor alternatives to incarceration: 75% prefer restorative justice, 80% prefer more mental-health treatment, 72% support incentives for pre-release rehabilitation, and 71% support reducing jail populations.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 06/07/2026
💰The cost to incarcerate just one woman is upwards of $120,000. Keep in mind that there are nearly 200,000 women behind bars in the U.S. That's a lot of money that could be invested in building communities instead of tearing them apart.
counciloncj.org
The Rising Cost of Women’s Justice System Involvement - Council on Criminal Justice
The number of women under correctional control is projected to rise to 1.1 million by 2035, with total annual costs increasing by about 34%, or roughly $8 billion.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
The Davis Vanguard @vanguardnewsgroup.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine calls for the abolition of capital punishment, a significant policy shift from his previous support in 1981. This move reflects changing public opinion and evidence suggesting the death penalty does not deter violent crime. davisvanguard.org/2026/06/ohio...
davisvanguard.org
DeWine’s Call to End Death Penalty Signals Growing Bipartisan Shift in Ohio and Beyond - Davis Vanguard
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced a reversal of his position on capital punishment, advocating for its abolition due to its demonstrated ineffectiveness as a deterrent and its adverse impact on corr...
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 14/06/2026
Trans people are disproportionately targeted by the carceral system: 1 in 6 trans people have been incarcerated at some point, including nearly half of Black trans people.
Graph showing that 47% of Black trans people have been sent to jail or prison
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 10/06/2026
🚨NEW: Incarceration is shaving years off people's lives. Research shows that older adults who have ever been behind bars have alarming health issues and are expected to live nearly 6 fewer years. The effects of incarceration follow people long after their sentences end. 🧵
Chart showing that formerly incarcerated men and women aged 51+ have a life expectancy of six fewer years than people without a history of incarceration.
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Keith Wattley @keithwattley.bsky.social · 04/06/2026
California shouldn’t legislate based on lies and continue weaponizing the pain of survivors for political gain. Offer them a meaningful opportunity for healing.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 03/06/2026
🚨NEW: 3.5 million people are on probation or parole in the U.S. That's more than 1.5x the number of people locked up, making community supervision the leading form of correctional control. How did we get here? New data reveal how probation & parole have changed over time 🧵
Pie chart showing that the majority of people under correctional control are on probation or parole.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 29/05/2026
Louisiana has the 2nd highest incarceration rate in the world (falling behind only El Salvador). And now, thanks to regressive "tough on crime" policies, even more people are being funneled into the system. A massive moral & financial failure.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Inquest @inquest.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
"While we work to dismantle the U.S. prison regime, we need to continue cultivating transformative healing practices and radical self-care for all those impacted by incarceration." Tony Wallin-Sato on the abolitionist potential of Zen meditation in prisons
inquest.org
Mindfulness Behind Bars - Tony Koji Wallin-Sato - Inquest
Learning Buddhist meditation and yoga while incarcerated can help people cope with the stresses of prison, prepare them for reentry, and strengthen their abolitionist resolve.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Raider @iwillnotbesilenced.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
We will not be silent. We will not be intimidated. And we will not go back!
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 13/05/2026
"Accepting these funds from prison telecom companies 'lacks integrity, but it also lacks analysis,' Tylek said. 'I think often people do not really appreciate how much harm these companies are causing and haven’t even bothered to look into it.'"
prismreports.org
Prison telecom companies donate fraction of profits to incarcerated people they exploit
ViaPath and Aventiv give small grants to organizations helping systems-impacted families, dividing advocates on the ethics of accepting donations
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 13/05/2026
Mass incarceration doesn't stop at the prison walls. On any given day, there are at least 5.6 million people under correctional control. And the vast majority of them are on probation or parole:
Pie chart showing there are 3 million people on probation, 649,000 on parole, and 2 million in correctional facilities in the U.S.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 12/05/2026
A reminder during National Police Week: 💰Since 2017, police funding has increased rapidly — now costing the U.S. more than $200 billion a year. Keep that in mind the next time somebody tries to use calls to "defund the police" as a scapegoat.
Graph showing that, when adjusted for inflation, policing cost $190 billion in 2017. In 2025, it cost $203 billion.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Michael Harriot @michaelharriot.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
Trump is expanding the Afrikaaner refugee program, which is based on the "white genocide" conspiracy that Black South Africans are trying to take land from Whites You can't understand this story if you don't know 1 of the greatest stories in all of history A thread www.reuters.com/world/africa...
reuters.com
Exclusive: Trump poised to expand refugee program for white South Africans
President Donald Trump's administration is considering more than doubling an annual refugee limit to bring more white South Africans into the ​U.S., according to three people familiar with the matter.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 17/04/2026
Instead of focusing on how people have changed, far too many parole boards heavily base their decisions on static factors. This is not a system that rewards "reform."
Chart showing that parole release decisions lean heavily on static factors (like criminal history) rather than growth and preparation
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 18/03/2026
63 years ago today, Gideon v. Wainwright established the right to counsel for those charged with a crime Public defenders are vital to ensuring that people have representation in the legal system. Unfortunately, all too often, public defense systems are underfunded & overworked.
It's no secret that the system targets the poor. That's what makes public defense systems so important.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 14/03/2026
It's #PiDay – which means it's time for our annual report, Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 🥧 Last year, the number of people incarcerated in the U.S. increased again. But why? We answer that & bust the biggest myths of the carceral system🧵
Pie chart showing that nearly 2 million people are incarcerated in the U.S.
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Keith Wattley @keithwattley.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
For each of these groups, because of their disability, the parole board is less willing to grant them parole.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 15/01/2026
In 2019, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office used money from incarcerated people to pay for a staff vacation. Now, 7 years later, the county board just gave that same office the green light to yet again exploit incarcerated folks to benefit staff. www.sacbee.com/news/local/a...
Screenshot of text: The county's general fund will cover 53% of the equipment lease cost, while 30% is from other sources, including 17% from the County's Inmate Welfare Fund, which is collected from the Sacramento Main Jail's commissary profits and phone call fees.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 08/01/2026
Don't let copaganda fool you – police violence is not tied to their safety. The vast majority of police killings actually start with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime has been reported.
Infographic that says in 2023, 70% of police killings began with officers responding to a suspected non-violent situation or a case where no crime had been reported.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Nicole D. Porter (she/her) @nicoledporter.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
I welcomed the opportunity to connect with Mansa Musa at the Real News Network to discuss efforts to challenge new prison construction in 2025. It's unfortunate that state policymakers from Arkansas to Vermont are looking to build new prisons in this moment. www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKm7...
youtube.com
US is “by far the world’s number one jailer”: Nicole Porter
YouTube video by The Real News Network
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 04/12/2025
No, this isn't rage bait. 2025 is wrapping up, and the U.S. is still a leader in mass incarceration. The data is clear: The U.S. criminal legal system is out of step with the rest of the world. It's time to end the failed experiment of mass incarceration, once and for all.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 16/11/2025
Calvin Duncan, a former prisoner who was wrongly incarcerated for nearly 30 years, wins Orleans clerk of court race He ran as someone who struggled for years to retrieve his own case records in his bid to prove his innocence
veritenews.org
Calvin Duncan wins Orleans clerk of court race - Verite News New Orleans
Duncan, a political newcomer and former prisoner, defeated incumbent Darren Lombard by a wide margin in Saturday's runoff.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 07/10/2025
A look back at the moments that brought our community together at last year’s UnCommon Heroes. Join us Nov 1, 1–4 pm, at The Bridge Yard in Oakland as we welcome people returning home from prison and honor Amika Mota & Tinisch Hollins. Learn more: www.uncommonlaw.org/2025-uncommon-heroes
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 06/10/2025
Parole can & should be a meaningful pathway for release. But for too many, it is out of reach. Join us on Oct 8th, to discuss how to make parole a system that safely reduces prison populations, strengthens families, & promotes public safety. Register: us06web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...
Flyer for the webinar. Click the link in this post for details.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Each homecoming is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we invest in both healing and in one another. These moments point us back to what holds us together: community. That’s why we hope you’ll join us on November 1 for UnCommon Heroes. Learn more: www.uncommonlaw.org/2025-uncommon-heroes
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
UnCommon Heroes returns Nov 1 at The Bridge Yard, Oakland! Your continued support helps make this work possible. Standing with us means standing with the people we serve and makes you a vital part of our mission and this homecoming. RSVP today: uncommonlaw.org/2025-uncommon-heroes.
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Keith Wattley @keithwattley.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
Darby spent countless hours crafting this guide for those who can’t afford an attorney to help protect their rights. We’re so proud of her and of this vital tool for incarcerated folks.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
📢 We’re so excited to announce UnCommon Law’s new FREE handbook: Challenging Your Parole Denial in California State Court! Download the handbook today at www.uncommonlaw.org/s/Challenging-a-Parole-Guide.pdf
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 29/05/2025
As we near the end of May, #MentalHealthAwarenessMonth, we’re spotlighting members of our clinical team whose lived experiences and deep commitment to healing guide our work.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
A very powerful day yesterday at Lancaster, where meaningful conversations highlighted the impact and critical need for our Home After Harm program in maximum security prisons. Thank you to everyone who showed up to witness what’s possible when healing replaces harm.
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Our 2024 Annual Report is here: a reflection of a year rooted in healing, advocacy, and collective impact. Thank you to all of our advocates and supporters who stood with us and helped strengthen our mission. Read the full report: www.uncommonlaw.org/s/UnCommon-Law-…
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 29/04/2025
Nearly 6,000 false positive opiate tests have impacted thousands of incarcerated people in California prisons. Read more via @latimes.com www.latimes.com/california/story/20…
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Prison Policy Initiative @prisonpolicy.org · 13/04/2025
If you want to understand who incarceration helps and who it hurts, look at how many people in state prisons today grew up with an incarcerated parent.
Graph titled: The harms of mass incarceration span generations
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
A powerful testimony in opposition of SB 356 during the hearing on April 8. Interested in joining our policy advocacy efforts and learning more about these bills? Sign up to receive updates and reportbacks from the Capitol—and learn ways to take action alongside us. bit.ly/UCLPolicyAdvoca
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
Sam Levin @samtlevin.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
Scandal exposed by UnCommon Law, org that reps ppl in parole cases + has affected clients. They obtained test data showing when Quest Diagnostics used a new chemical for tests, positives jumped 300% across prisons Quest admitted its chemical switch caused a spike but downplayed the scale of impact.
Bar graph titled: "Drug test positivity rate for opiates in California prisons" with subhead: "Quest Diagnostics used a different chemical in drug tests from mid-April through July"

The bar graph shows that the opiate testing rate was around 6.6% to 6.8% in Jan thru April of 2024, and then spiked to 17.1% in May, 20.5% in June and 17.1% in July when a new chemical was used.
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Keith Wattley @keithwattley.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Revealed: drug tests in California prisons yielded false positives, affecting thousands of people
Records suggest Quest Diagnostics erroneously detected opiates. Lawyers say parole requests were jeopardized in the process
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Urge the Senate Public Safety Committee to protect elder parole by OPPOSING SB 286 (Jones) ahead of their vote TOMORROW, APRIL 8. Link to action toolkit: bit.ly/opposesb286 Repost from @curbprisons.bsky.social #ElderlyParole #SocialJustice
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Reposted by Keith Wattley
uncommonlaw.bsky.social @uncommonlaw.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
As we close out Women’s History Month, we’re honoring Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition—a member-led movement of over 10,000 women and trans people who have been impacted by violence, poverty, and incarceration. #WomensHistoryMonth #PartnersInJustice
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