The United States is currently the only country with individuals under the age of 18 serving a sentence of life without parole. This appears to be somewhat contradictory when one considers the abolishment of the death penalty for juveniles in 2005 following the case of Roper vs. Simmons.Read More

Talk about the legalization of illicit drugs always raises some eyebrows, but what do proposals for legalization actually entail? The term ‘decriminalization’ may be more appropriate when addressing this issue. When decriminalizing certain illicit drugs, all restrictions would not be lifted entirely. Current laws regarding public intoxication and operating vehicles under the influence would not...Read More

We are now in danger of repeating these mistakes with new anti-abortion laws that come with harsh penalties attached to their violation. While existing laws already allow for the prosecution of medical providers that violate abortion restrictions, their enforcement has been extremely rare. Many of the new laws include stronger language about charging medical providers...Read More

Over the last decade, most states have engaged in some form of bail reform designed to reduce the number of people detained while awaiting trial. This reform, however, is likely to become the latest example of rational correctional reform to be undone amid public outrage generated by a reported spike in violent crime and high-profile...Read More

For several decades, punitive war on drugs policies have driven rates of mass incarceration. This exponential increase in our prison population has strained the system’s resources and led to overcrowding.  Since 2011, many states have adopted policies to decrease incarceration including reduced sentences for low-level drug crimes and expansion of good time credit.  A lesser...Read More

For careers in corrections and criminal justice, online degree programs at EKU are particularly rewarding. Eastern Kentucky University has prepared students in these fields for more than 50 years, and the EKU College of Justice and Safety is considered a national leader.Read More

In my last couple of years as a probation officer, we instituted a supervision fee in our county.  So, on top of collecting restitution, fines, and court fees, I was now tasked with collecting supervision fees.  I remember being told to present the fees to clients as “payment for the privilege of being on community...Read More

I first attended Eastern Kentucky University after graduating high school in the Fall of 1970. I, like other freshmen in college focused more on the social life than on school work and ultimately dropped out before the end of the first semester. In the late 1980's, after being laid off from a job, I realized...Read More

"I graduated with my master’s degree in Adult, Juvenile and Community Corrections Leadership May 2012.  This was one of my proudest moments!  It was always a goal and dream of mine to further my education.  However, I worked full time and lived nearly 50 miles from the EKU campus.  The difficulty of attending classes on...Read More