Private Prison Operator CoreCivic Saw 55% Increase in Immigration Detainee Contracts
CoreCivic has seen a substantial increase in revenue over the past six months, driven by a steady rise in new federal government contracts signed as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies. The Brentwood, Tennessee-based private prison operator announced its quarterly earnings Wednesday, telling investors that its revenue was up 18% compared to the same period in 2024, when Trump wasn’t in power and the federal government appeared to be cutting ties with the privately-owned prison industry.
How El Paso’s Mental Health Court Integrates Recovery in Criminal Justice System
El Paso County established its mental health court – whose acronym stands for Independence, Namaste, Safety, Purposeful, Insightful, Resilience and Empowerment – in fall 2023 after receiving a $200,000 state grant from the Office of the Governor. The annual grant was renewed Sept. 1, 2024, for $220,000. The funds go toward personnel and resources that support each participant, including a program coordinator, counseling and transportation services such as bus passes. The 12-month rehabilitation and prison diversion program takes in people with felony offenses and serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and major depression.
US Boat Strikes Are Crimes Against Humanity, Says Former ICC Prosecutor
A former chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has told the BBC that US air strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats would be treated under international law as crimes against humanity. The comments by Luis Moreno Ocampo come as the Trump administration faces mounting questions over the legality of the attacks in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific – which have killed at least 66 people in the last two months. The administration says it is in a formal armed conflict with South American traffickers who are bringing drugs into the US. But Mr Moreno Ocampo said the military campaign fell into the category of a planned, systematic attack against civilians during peacetime.
Tanzanian Police Disposed of Bodies After Election Violence, Opposition Alleges
Tanzania’s main opposition party on Wednesday accused police of disposing of the bodies of hundreds of demonstrators killed in a crackdown following a disputed election that incumbent President Samia Suluhu Hassan won by a landslide. Protests broke out in the East African nation during and after the vote last Wednesday as demonstrators voiced outrage over the exclusion of Hassan’s main rivals. Authorities imposed a curfew and an internet blackout while security forces clashed with protesters. On Wednesday, the opposition Chadema party told CNN it had documented 2,000 deaths and accused police of disposing of hundreds of unknown bodies at an undisclosed location.