Prison

Revolutionary DNA Evidence Frees Three Men After Decades in Prison for 1997 Pennsylvania Murder

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MEDIA, Pa. — A significant legal victory has unfolded at the Delaware County Courthouse, where a judge has overturned the life sentences of three men convicted in a 1997 murder case, citing new DNA evidence that points to their innocence. The case, deeply rooted in the community of Media, Pennsylvania, revisits the tragic death of 70-year-old Henrietta Nickens, who was brutally killed in her home. The convictions of Derrick Chappell, 41, Morton Johnson, 44, and Samuel Grasty, 47, were vacated following a lengthy legal battle spearheaded by local attorneys John Lyons and David Haase in … Read more

Jury Convicts Inmate in Deadly 2018 Gang-Related Prison Riot, Hands Down Additional Life Sentences

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BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — After just one hour of deliberation, a Lee County jury convicted inmate Stephen Green of murder and other charges stemming from a brutal 2018 prison riot that left seven dead and more than 20 injured. The jury found Green guilty on Thursday, making him the only person thus far convicted of murder for the violent episode, despite the large number of inmates involved. The trial, which began Monday, highlights the severe consequences of one of the nation’s most devastating prison riots and marks Green as the second to face trial out of … Read more

$50 Million Justice: Chicago Man Compensated After Wrongful Conviction and Decade in Prison

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Chicago, Illinois — A suburban Chicago man, who was wrongfully imprisoned for a decade, has been granted a substantial $50 million in damages by a federal jury. Marcel Brown, now 34, was liberated from incarceration in 2018 after a protracted legal battle that culminated in his exoneration for a 2008 murder he did not commit. The verdict, which followed a two-week trial, offered a significant rebuke to the wrongful procedures and mishandling by Chicago police and other authorities involved in Brown’s arrest and conviction. At age 18, Brown was sentenced to 35 years in prison … Read more

California Signs Tough New Law to Extend Prison Terms for Major Smash-and-Grab Thefts

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Sacramento, Calif. — California businesses plagued by rampant smash-and-grab crimes will look to a new law for relief as Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday signed legislation intended to impose stiffer penalties for severe retail thefts. The move is part of a broader push against property crime in the state. The legislation, authored by Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas), specifically targets major retail theft operations, with enhanced sentencing protocols set for individuals who commit felonies involving the theft, damage, or destruction of property valued at over $50,000. Such incidents often involve organized groups and result in … Read more