The past several years, Louisiana State Representative John LaBruzzo (Republican), has introduced legislation that would require random drug-testing for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) recipients. This legislation, if passed, would require from 50%-20% of all TANF program participants to submit to, and pay for, these random tests with their own funds. This proposed policy […]
60+ LGBTQ Organizations Challenge ICE's "Secure Communities" Program
On August 5, 2011, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director John Morton informed governors that ICE would terminate all agreements with states to implement its controversial fingerprint-sharing “Secure Communities” (S-Comm) program, despite previously saying that states and counties could opt-out or modify that agreement. This announcement came as a result of powerful community mobilization […]
WWAV’s Danita Muse on Harm Reduction in the South
The “Reducing Harm & Building Communities: Addressing Drug Use in the South” conference took place September 8 & 9, 2011 in Durham, NC. Several advocates were interviewed and offered insights into syringe decriminalization, harm reduction and their work, including WWAV’s own Danita Muse: What About Syringe Decriminalization? from North Carolina Harm Reduction on Vimeo.
August 11th – Making our SCAN Legislative Victory Retroactive
Yesterday lawyers for plaintiffs in Doe v. Jindal, the case challenging the requirement that individuals convicted under Louisiana’s Crime Against Nature by Solicitation (CANS) statute register as sex offenders, had their first opportunity to present legal arguments to U.S. District Court Judge Martin L.C. Feldman, who is presiding over the lawsuit. Before a packed courtroom, Judge Feldman […]
New Orleans Groups Applaud Change in “Scarlet Letter” Law
CONTACT: Deon Haywood (504) 931-7944; Jen Nessel (212) 614-6449, jnessel@ccrjustice.org; David Lerner (212) 260-5000, dlerner@riptideonline.com New Orleans Groups Applaud Change in “Scarlet Letter” Law, Urge Removal of All Individuals Convicted of Solicitation of Crime Against Nature Law from Sex Offender Registry June 29, 2011, New Orleans – Late last night, legislation eliminating the mandatory sex […]