14-yr Old Girl in prison for shoving hall monitor to be RELEASED TOMORROW

[Horse with no Name]

And who said activism does not work.
Kudos to the protesters and online activists who made this happen.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/033107dntextyccotton.174bfb7f.html
>>>snip
Shaquanda Cotton has been in the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex in Brownwood for nearly a year for pushing a hall monitor at her school in 2005. Her case drew nationwide attention and prompted courthouse protests in her hometown of Paris, as some civil-rights activists accused local officials of racism for dealing out a potentially long sentence to a black girl with no arrest record.

Also, her sentence was extended after corrections officers found she had an extra pair of socks and a cup — items that are considered contraband. Lawmakers and other critics of TYC, the agency embroiled in a sexual and physical abuse scandal, said that showed the capriciousness of sentencing within the juvenile justice system.

Several lawmakers were told Friday of the impending release, and an aide to Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, confirmed the decision.

Shaquanda’s release could be the first of hundreds under agency conservator Jay Kimbrough’s plan to evaluate the vast majority of TYC inmates’ cases. He has vowed to have an independent panel review each sentence that was extended by the agency and free any youth who doesn’t belong in a juvenile prison.

[Richard Steele]

1. Good news! This shows the power of INFORMED public opinion.

Sunlight is the best political disinfectant.

[Horse with no Name]

7. You betcha.

And of course local politico's aren't happy with the decision:

http://theparisnews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=29efd2f1cb1e548b
>>snip
“We are glad she is getting out and are happy for her family but we have concerns about the way it is happening,” Lamar County District Attorney spokesman Allan Hubbard said.
>>>snip
“This is one of those cases that is the poster child of everything wrong with the criminal justice system,” Dutton told the AP.
>>snip

“Apparently, cases that get the most public attention can grab the ear of state legislators who can simply order people to be freed from incarceration,” Hubbard said. “That sets an alarming precedent.”

[youngdem]

2. Good. I hope she kicks that hall monitor's ass when she gets out

:hide:

[donco6]

3. You better hide. n/t

[qanda]

4. That is GREAT news!

[StrictlyRockers]

5. Excellent! They can't hide their racism so much anymore.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Great news!

Thanks.

[malaise]

8. Great news

Take back the streets.

[Horse with no Name]

9. That is what it is going to take

I fear.

[Catherine Vincent]

10. Very good news!

Small steps. :)