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Sentence Reductions for “Snitching” Undermine U.S. Justice System
Sentence Reductions for “Snitching” Undermine U.S. Justice System
by Derek Gilna
Imagine this scenario: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents bust a small-time drug dealer for, let’s say, nickel-and-diming in heroin. They take him to booking, run his fingerprints and discover this is his third arrest. As a …
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More from this issue:
- Some States Refuse to Implement SORNA, Lose Federal Grants
- Volunteers Help Prisoners Vote at D.C. Jail
- Some GPS Monitoring Devices Capable of Audio Recording, by Christopher Zoukis
- Indiana Supreme Court Holds Agreed Court Order with Prosecutor is Binding on DOC, by Matthew Clarke
- Incarceration is Excusable Default in New York Housing Court Proceeding, by Mark Wilson
- Recidivism Performance Measures for Private Halfway Houses in Pennsylvania, by Alex Friedmann
- Modern-Day Slavery in America’s Prison Workforce, by Beth Schwartzapfel
- South Florida Landlord Bucks Trend, Offers Housing to Sex Offenders
- $2.85 Million Jury Verdict for Suicide at Missouri Jail, by Derek Gilna
- New York Judge Unseals Attica Prison Riot Records – Sort of, by Joe Watson
- Prison Labor Boosts Wal-Mart’s Profits Despite Pledge, by Derek Gilna
- Courts Struggle with Child Pornography Restitution Following Supreme Court Ruling
- Fifth Circuit: “Mailbox Rule” Applies to Texas State Habeas Petitions
- Texas: Clerk May Not Bill Defendant for Attorney Fees Not Ordered by Court, by Matthew Clarke
- Fifth Circuit Holds Prison Guard’s Injury-Causing Reckless Driving States Nonfrivolous Claim, by Matthew Clarke
- Fourth Circuit Finds PLRA Attorney Fee Cap Constitutional, by David Reutter
- Eighth Circuit Holds No SORNA Registration Requirement after Leaving U.S., by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama DOC Short Hair Policy Does Not Violate RLUIPA, by David Reutter
- First Circuit Dismisses Appeal of Court’s Failure to Sanction Federal Prosecutor, by Matthew Clarke
- Eighth Circuit Upholds Injunction Over Cameras in Restrooms at Civil Commitment Center, by Matthew Clarke
- Former New Mexico State Senator Released from Prison
- Transferred Prisoner May Sue Oklahoma Officials in Oregon Court, by Mark Wilson
- Eleventh Circuit Tailors Turner for Censorship Claims at Civil Commitment Center, by David Reutter
- Seventh Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Suit Over Placement on Suicide Watch, by Matthew Clarke
- Alabama Work Release Transportation, Medical and Drug Screen Costs Not “Incidental to Confinement”, by David Reutter
- Fifth Circuit: Prisoner Who was Raped May Proceed with Lawsuit against Lock Company, by Matthew Clarke
- Massachusetts: Acquittal on Additional Sex Offense Doesn’t Trigger Reevaluation of Sex Offender Classification, by Matthew Clarke
- BOP Criticized for Failing to Oversee Healthcare Administrator at FCC Butner, by Derek Gilna
- New Report Cites Fewer HIV-Positive State and Federal Prisoners, by Matthew Clarke
- Selection and Retention Process for Tennessee Appellate Court Judges Challenged, by Christopher McWhorter
- Sentence Reductions for “Snitching” Undermine U.S. Justice System, by Derek Gilna
- Settlement Opens Georgia Courtrooms to the Public, by David Reutter
- Do Residency Bans Drive Sex Offenders Underground?, by Steven Yoder
- CCA Has Long History of Wage Violations, Poor Treatment of Employees
- Private Debt Collection Companies Contract with District Attorney’s Offices, by David Reutter
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Texas: Unconstitutional to Revoke Probation Due to Refusal to Self-Incriminate During Polygraph or Therapy, by Matthew Clarke
- News in Brief
More from Derek Gilna:
- Federal Judge in Louisiana Issues Sweeping Opinion Finding Numerous Eighth Amendment, ADA and RA Violations at Angola, April 1, 2022
- Human Rights Defense Center Prevails in Censorship Lawsuit Against Napa County Jail, California, Sept. 1, 2021
- California State Auditor’s Report Faults Counties for Waste and Poor Oversight of State Funds Used in “Public Safety Realignment”, Sept. 1, 2021
- The Fight Over Cellphones in Prisons Rages On, Sept. 1, 2021
- District Court Extends Armstrong Order to Five Additional California Prisons, Sept. 1, 2021
- HRDC Settles Censorship Lawsuit with Johnson County, Kansas Jail for $50,000 and Policy Changes, Aug. 1, 2021
- Virginia Prosecutors to Dismiss 400 Drug Convictions Tied to Disgraced Cop, July 15, 2021
- Discredited New York Police Detective’s False Testimony Causes the Dismissal of Close to 100 Drug Convictions, June 15, 2021
- D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences Firearms Examination Unit Under Fire, April 15, 2021
- Mississippi Joins Illinois and Few Other States Prioritizing Vaccination of State Prisoners to Slow Spread of COVID-19, April 1, 2021
More from these topics:
- SCOTUS Announces Sentencing Reform Act Does Not Authorize Automatic Extension of Supervised Release When Defendant Absconds, Resolving Circuit Split, April 1, 2026. Sentencing, Revocation/Modification of Probation, etc., Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Probation, Parole & Supervised Release.
- DOJ Settles With Orange County Over Use of “Jailhouse Snitches”, Dec. 1, 2025. Informants, Sixth Amendment, Confessions - Admissibility, Evidence - Failure to Disclose, Pleas Linked to Cooperation.
- Ex-Wife of Minnesota DOC Commissioner Sentenced for Poisoning Attempt on Son, Dec. 1, 2025. Out of State Transfers, Sentencing, Conspiracies, Attempts, Solicitations, Confessions and Statements of Defendant, Plea Agreements/Guilty Pleas.
- DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions in Texas Juvenile Detention, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Sentencing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Juvenile Prisons.
- Former Prisoner Informant Appointed Deputy Director of BOP, July 15, 2025. Prison Reform, Criminal justice system reform, Informants, War on Drugs, Pardons/Clemency, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Trading Guns for Drugs.
- Georgia Moves to Shield Intellectually Disabled Prisoners from Execution, June 1, 2025. Sentencing, Death Penalty.
- Fourth Circuit: District Court Failed to Provide Sufficient Explanation for Sentence Imposed and Did Not Address Defendant’s Arguments for Downward Variant Sentence, May 15, 2025. Sentencing, Drug Laws/Offenses.
- Fourth Circuit: Procedurally Unreasonable Sentence Where District Court Failed to Address Defendant’s Non-Frivolous Downward Variance Argument Based on Sentencing Disparity Due to Which State’s Statute Prior Conviction Based Upon, May 15, 2025. Sentencing, Failure To Consider Disparity, Federal-State Differences/Disparity/Conflicts, Disparity in Charging/Sentencing Practices.
- SCOTUS Announces Only ‘False’ Statements Made to FDIC Are Criminalized Under 18 U.S.C. § 1014, Not Statements That Are ‘Misleading’ but True, May 15, 2025. Sentencing, False Statements/Perjury.
- Los Angeles County Pays $24 Million to Two Former Prisoners Wrongly Convicted as Teens of 1997 Murder, May 1, 2025. Informants, Settlements, Wrongful Conviction, False Exculpatory Statements.