Incarceration

Wrongful Incarceration Finally Ends: Brockton Settles for $3.75 Million in Arson Case

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Brockton, Massachusetts – The city of Brockton has agreed to pay $3.75 million to Frances Choy, a woman who spent 17 years in prison for a deadly arson she did not commit. Choy was wrongfully convicted as a teenager, while investigators overlooked her troubled cousin, Kenneth Choy, as the actual perpetrator of the April 2003 fire that claimed the lives of Frances Choy’s parents, Jimmy and Anne Choy. The settlement was confirmed by City Solicitor Megan Bridges during a city council committee meeting. Frances Choy’s attorney, John J. Barter, declined to comment on the case. … Read more

Louisville Judge Urges Expansion of Mental Health Courts to Break Cycle of Incarceration

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Louisville, Kentucky – In her speech at the annual “Spirit of Peace” dinner hosted by NAMI Louisville, Judge Stephanie Burke called for the establishment of more mental health courts throughout Kentucky. The group, which aids individuals with mental illness, received Burke’s support as she emphasized the need for these specialized courts in the state. Burke, who spearheaded the creation of Kentucky’s first program for court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment in 2019, highlighted the significance of programs like these in breaking the cycle of hospitalization and incarceration. Expressing concern over the over-incarceration of the mentally ill, Burke … Read more