Prison Sentencing

Prison SentencingTop of Mind with Julie Rose • Season 1, Episode 103, Segment 1

Jul 15, 2015 • 27m

Guest: Michael Stoll, Ph.D., UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs In a speech at the annual NAACP convention yesterday, President Obama called for sweeping reforms including reducing – or eliminating - mandatory minimum sentences. The President is particularly concerned about minimum sentences in place for non-violent drug crimes that have resulted in a disproportionate number of black and Hispanic men behind bars. Earlier this week, Obama commuted the sentences of 46 such offenders.

Other Segments

Solitary ConfinementJul 15, 201523mGuest: Betty Gilmore, Psy.D., Southern Methodist University The other thing President Obama addressed in his speech was the use of solitary confinement in prison. President Obama singled out the use of solitary confinement in prison as has having “no place in any civilized country.” The US Attorney General is now reviewing the “overuse of solitary confinement across American prisons.” Tens of thousands of US inmates are currently being held in tiny cells for 23 hours a day. A stint in solitary can last months – even years. Sometimes it’s to punish the inmate. Sometimes it’s to keep them safe from the rest of the prison population. Regardless the reason, activists call it inhumane. And psychologists warn it causes tremendous harm.

Guest: Betty Gilmore, Psy.D., Southern Methodist University The other thing President Obama addressed in his speech was the use of solitary confinement in prison. President Obama singled out the use of solitary confinement in prison as has having “no place in any civilized country.” The US Attorney General is now reviewing the “overuse of solitary confinement across American prisons.” Tens of thousands of US inmates are currently being held in tiny cells for 23 hours a day. A stint in solitary can last months – even years. Sometimes it’s to punish the inmate. Sometimes it’s to keep them safe from the rest of the prison population. Regardless the reason, activists call it inhumane. And psychologists warn it causes tremendous harm.

American HeritageJul 15, 201523mGuest: Grant Madsen, BYU Grant Madsen sat down with guest host Marcus Smith and provided what might be to many people a totally new perspective on the American colonists’ bid for independence.

Guest: Grant Madsen, BYU Grant Madsen sat down with guest host Marcus Smith and provided what might be to many people a totally new perspective on the American colonists’ bid for independence.

Economics of the Affordable Care ActJul 15, 201529mGuest: Dr. Amanda Kowalski, Yale University Republicans in Congress continue to pledge they’ll repeal – or at least rollback – as much of Obamacare as they can manage. It’ll undoubtedly come up on the stump this Presidential election. But practically speaking, the Affordable Care Act grows more deeply entwined with the health care system in America with each passing year it stays on the books. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a key portion of the Act further cemented its status. So, it’s not too early to start asking how well Obamacare is working to make insurance more accessible and affordable. Yale University economist Amanda Kowalski has some preliminary answers. Her analysis of “The Early Impact of the Affordable Cart Act, State by State” was published by the Brookings Institution

Guest: Dr. Amanda Kowalski, Yale University Republicans in Congress continue to pledge they’ll repeal – or at least rollback – as much of Obamacare as they can manage. It’ll undoubtedly come up on the stump this Presidential election. But practically speaking, the Affordable Care Act grows more deeply entwined with the health care system in America with each passing year it stays on the books. The Supreme Court’s recent decision to uphold a key portion of the Act further cemented its status. So, it’s not too early to start asking how well Obamacare is working to make insurance more accessible and affordable. Yale University economist Amanda Kowalski has some preliminary answers. Her analysis of “The Early Impact of the Affordable Cart Act, State by State” was published by the Brookings Institution