Category: Blog

A Look at the Wilson Center’s Work for the Innocent on Wrongful Convictions Day

By: Brandon L. Garrett Today we celebrate international Wrongful Convictions Day, for the sixth time. In those years, we have seen exonerations mount in the U.S. and around the world. New laws directed at recognizing claims of innocence, preserving and testing new evidence, improving forensic science, and combating false confessions, eyewitness misidentifications, and jailhouse informant […]

Dr. Allison Robertson Discusses Medication-Assisted Treatment Research Successes, Challenges

There is strong evidence to show the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with justice-involved individuals but still a number of barriers in place to implementing it, according to Dr. Allison Robertson, a member of the Behavioral Health Core at the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law. Robertson – who is an associate […]

Celebrating National Recovery Month through Awareness of Psychiatric Advance Directives

By Dr. Marvin Swartz National Recovery Month is a national observance every September to educate Americans that persons with behavioral health disorders can live healthy and rewarding lives. Recovery month is also an opportunity to reflect on the struggle to achieve recovery and the critical value of treatment and other support services. Unfortunately, some individuals […]

Upcoming Event: Impact of COVID on Black Americans, Other People of Color

The Duke Center for Science and Justice is cohosting another upcoming  Duke Science & Society event as part of its Coronavirus Conversations series. The virtual event is titled “Impact of COVID on Black Americans and Other People of Color” and will start at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 11. Online registration ahead of time is required. Find more information […]

Houston Bail Monitor 6-Month Report Shows Increased Releases, Reduced Use of Cash Bail

HOUSTON, T.X. – The independent monitors overseeing Harris County’s historic bail reform agreement filed its report this morning describing their first six-months of work and findings with the federal court, noting an increase in releases and a reduced use of cash bail. The implementation of the ODonnell Consent Decree in Harris County, Texas – which encompasses Houston […]

Ronnie Long is Finally Free

From Duke Law news: On Wednesday, the State of North Carolina filed a motion with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit to initiate a process leading to Long’s freedom. The state asked the court to immediately issue a mandate in Long’s case and said it planned to move immediately in the district court […]