Courtney Thompson
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Athens-Clarke County
Local Organization Aims to Help Those with Substance Abuse Issues
The National Association of Drug Use and Health estimates that more than 19 million Americans suffer from a substance use disorder or drug addiction. Many of these people have been to jail or are currently incarcerated. There are organizations in Athens that help treat people struggling with substance abuse. The…
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Athens-Clarke County
Challenging the School-to-Prison Pipeline for Athens-Clarke Youth
Mokah-Jasmine Johnson wears many hats. She teaches GED courses, hosts a podcast and speaks at public events. She is also an outspoken activist and co-founder/president of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement (AADM). Much of Johnson’s work centers on combating discrimination and dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline. The school-to-prison pipeline refers to the…
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Athens-Clarke County
Georgia Supreme Court Changes How Breath Tests Are Used As DUI Evidence
Prosecutors are changing how they approach DUI cases after the Georgia Supreme Court declared a key piece of evidence inadmissible. The court ruled that the refusal to submit to a breath test cannot be used against a defendant because it violates protections against self-incrimination. How the Case Affects…
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Athens-Clarke County
Use of Death Penalty in Georgia is Declining
Georgia jurors have not handed down a death sentence in the past five years as the prevalence of capital punishment in the state continues to decrease. Not only are juries supporting the death sentence less often, prosecutors aren’t seeking it nearly as much either. Over the past two decades, prosecutors…
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Athens-Clarke County
Number of Georgia Offenders Returning to Prison Decreasing
The Georgia Department of Corrections reports that 30 percent of Georgians with criminal backgrounds get reconvicted within three years of their release from prison. The GDC published a press release in June 2018 that notes that recidivism rates are decreasing among offenders who complete programs aimed at helping prevent offenders from…