Brief #147 – Social Justice Policy
by Steve Piazza
This is the second part of a report on how child labor laws are failing to protect minors from work related abuses and the implications that has for their education.
Social Justice
Child Labor Laws are Not Meant to Be Broken
Brief #146 – Social Justice Policy
by Steve Piazza
Child labor laws have been in place in the U.S. since the signing of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA). Protections against abuses such as excessive hours worked and hazardous jobs are governed both by federal and state regulations.
The Current Status of Congressional Efforts to Pass Gun Control Legislation
Brief #145 – Social Justice Policy
by Inijah Quadri
Gun control legislation has been a contentious issue in the United States for decades. As the debate surrounding the Second Amendment and its implications for American society continues, we will provide a thorough, fact-based analysis of the current status of congressional efforts to pass gun control legislation.
A New Standard For Homelessness Prevention Programs
Brief #144 – Social Justice Policy
by Caroline Howard
Like many places in the United States, King County, Washington has had a persistent and increasing Homelessness problem for years. As of 2020, 11,751 people were experiencing homelessness in the county, and the number has only continued to grow due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Primer on US Immigration Policy
Brief #143 – Social Justice
By Inijah Quadri
Immigration policy and border control in the United States have long been contentious and divisive issues in American politics and society. The United States has a long history of immigration, with millions of people from around the world coming to the country seeking a better life, freedom, and opportunity.
The Reckless Growth of BlackRock and Other Asset Management Companies
Brief #142 – Social Justice
By Abigail Hunt
As of December 2021, BlackRock, an asset management company – and one of the “Big Three” global money managers along with Vanguard and State Street – had more than $10 trillion in assets under management. The company controls so much capital if it were a country its GDP would rival that of the wealthiest nations in the world. BlackRock describes itself as “a global investment manager and fiduciary” and a leading provider of financial technology.
The Nationwide Right to Organize Act: Explained
Brief #141 – Social Justice Policy
By Emily Scanlon
What is the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act?
On September 8th, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Representative Brad Sherman (D-CA-30) reintroduced the Nationwide Right to Unionize Act. Labor unions are organizations formed by workers who join together and use their strength to have a voice in their workplace.
Politics and Vengeance—How the Death Penalty Costs Us
Brief #140 – Social Justice
By Abigail Hunt
Twenty-seven states have the death penalty, and twenty-four of those states still execute prisoners. The U.S. military and government both enforce capital punishment. According to the Nevada State Legislature website, a 2008 study by the Urban Institute showed Maryland’s average cost for a death penalty case was $3 million. In Texas, a capital trial costs $2.3 million, more than three times what it would cost to keep the convicted imprisoned in a maximum-security unit for 40 years.
Profiles of U.S. Anti-Abortion Groups
Brief #139 – Health and Gender Policy
By Geoffrey Small
With Roe v. Wade overturned, a deluge of anti-abortion trigger laws have gone into effect across the country. States like Louisiana, Texas and Missouri have created some of the strictest laws and legislative proposals in the United States. Recent proposals include criminal and civil prosecutions for providers, people who aid in out-of-state abortions, and potentially the patients who receive them.
How Donald Trump Changed the Government
Brief #38 – Social Justice
By Maureen Darby-Serson
A President can change the course of the United States in many ways. Donald Trump was no different. But the ways that Trump changed the government are haunting us and will follow us for decades to come.
The New Gun Law Also Helps Address the U.S. Mental Health Crisis
Brief #37 – Social Justice
By Geoffrey Small
On June 25th, 2022, President Joe Biden signed The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. The Congressional Bill is a measure touted to address gun safety. However,
this bipartisan legislation is the culmination of almost a decade of mental health advocacy spearheaded by Republican Senator Roy Blunt and Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow. The most effective measure of this bill may be the record $8 billion in funding allocated to school programs and mental health programs.
Shinn v. Martinez Ramirez (2022): Being Innocent of a Crime is Not Enough
Brief #36 – Social Justice
By Alexandra Ellis
n May 25, 2022, the United States Supreme Court released the published opinion of Shinn v. Martinez. The 6-3 opinion has ramifications not only for the defendants in the case, David Martinez Ramirez and Barry Jones, but for post-conviction relief for wrongfully convicted individuals everywhere. The essence of the opinion is that being innocent of a crime is not enough.