/news/justicematters Justice Matters is WKSU’s reporting initiative examining Ohio's criminal enforcement system, its challenges and opportunities for reform en-US Copyright Thu, 01 Sep 2022 10:00:00 GMT /news/government-politics/2022-09-01/ohios-expedited-pardons-provide-a-quicker-path-to-a-fresh-start The program, introduced just before the coronavirus pandemic, provides ex-offenders who qualify a speedier path to clearing their records. The standard process is overwhelmed by the number of applicants. Thu, 01 Sep 2022 10:00:00 GMT /news/government-politics/2022-09-01/ohios-expedited-pardons-provide-a-quicker-path-to-a-fresh-start Kabir Bhatia /news/2022-08-31/ohios-expedited-pardon-project-by-the-numbers Who qualifies, who doesn't and how many have been able to take advantage of the expedited pardon program. Wed, 31 Aug 2022 10:00:00 GMT /news/2022-08-31/ohios-expedited-pardon-project-by-the-numbers M.L. Schultze /news/government-politics/2022-08-31/for-one-canton-native-a-governors-pardon-helps-write-a-new-narrative Gov. Mike DeWine launched the Expedited Pardon Process three years ago. With the help of law schools and streamlined screening, it’s designed to shave years off the normal pardon process. The bar to qualify is high, but for those who do, it offers a speedier path to a new start. Wed, 31 Aug 2022 10:00:00 GMT /news/government-politics/2022-08-31/for-one-canton-native-a-governors-pardon-helps-write-a-new-narrative M.L. Schultze /news/government-politics/2021-09-23/for-ohioans-who-committed-crimes-before-july-1996-chance-of-parole-is-slim-1 In 2020, the parole board made decisions on 953 people up for parole, 151 were granted release. There’s no information on how many of those were “old law inmates” or any details on who received parole. Thu, 23 Sep 2021 17:25:47 GMT /news/government-politics/2021-09-23/for-ohioans-who-committed-crimes-before-july-1996-chance-of-parole-is-slim-1 Matthew Richmond /community/2021-08-24/poetic-reentry-for-cleveland-man-a-chance-to-speak-up-be-heard Sam Stokes shares poetry he wrote in prison and talks about he hopes to inspire others through his performances. Wed, 25 Aug 2021 01:00:00 GMT /community/2021-08-24/poetic-reentry-for-cleveland-man-a-chance-to-speak-up-be-heard Justin Glanville /news/government-politics/2021-08-27/poetic-reentry-a-thousand-books-in-five-years Growing up, Wesley Dirmeyer read more than a lot of his friends, but he started living and breathing books once he went to prison. Tue, 17 Aug 2021 10:00:00 GMT /news/government-politics/2021-08-27/poetic-reentry-a-thousand-books-in-five-years Justin Glanville /news/2021-08-20/poetic-reentry-cleveland-heights-man-uses-verse-to-free-his-mind For Da'Jon Carouthers, the biggest contrast between free life and incarcerated life is the noise. Tue, 10 Aug 2021 10:00:00 GMT /news/2021-08-20/poetic-reentry-cleveland-heights-man-uses-verse-to-free-his-mind Justin Glanville /news/arts-culture/2021-08-13/poetic-reentry-becoming-himself-not-a-character Before Jonathan Young began writing poetry through the ID13 Prison Literacy Project, he spent a long time trying to "fit in" with others around him. Tue, 03 Aug 2021 10:00:00 GMT /news/arts-culture/2021-08-13/poetic-reentry-becoming-himself-not-a-character Justin Glanville /news/government-politics/2021-07-27/in-ohio-videos-are-public-records-but-police-refuse-to-release-anyway Over the past few years, police departments across the country have grappled with what to do when a video in their possession captures the use of deadly force by a police officer. After 12-year-old Tamir Rice was killed by a Cleveland police officer in 2014, the city of Cleveland initially withheld footage from a public surveillance camera on the city-owned Cudell Recreation Center. Tue, 27 Jul 2021 12:32:23 GMT /news/government-politics/2021-07-27/in-ohio-videos-are-public-records-but-police-refuse-to-release-anyway Matthew Richmond /news/2021-08-06/poetic-reentry-from-a-rooftop-a-beacon-of-light Cardell Belfoure had been writing poetry for several years before joining the ID13 Prison Literacy Project while incarcerated at Grafton Correctional Institution in Grafton, Ohio. Tue, 27 Jul 2021 10:00:31 GMT /news/2021-08-06/poetic-reentry-from-a-rooftop-a-beacon-of-light Justin Glanville