Debates over how societies respond to crimes against children often reveal profound differences in legal systems, cultural values, and interpretations of justice. Around the world, there is universal agreement that crimes involving the exploitation and abuse of minors are among the most serious offenses. However, the methods used to punish and prevent such acts vary widely, reflecting each country’s legal framework and societal priorities.

In the United States, discussions about imposing the death penalty for child sexual abuse remain deeply contested. While some advocate for harsher punishments as a form of deterrence and justice for victims, others point to constitutional limits, human rights concerns, and the irreversible nature of capital punishment. Legal precedents and ongoing debates continue to shape how such cases are prosecuted and penalized.

In contrast, China has demonstrated a far stricter and more immediate approach. In a recent announcement, the country confirmed the execution of three men convicted of severe crimes against children. These executions followed the approval of the nation’s highest court, signaling the seriousness with which such offenses are treated under Chinese law.

According to official reports, the cases involved deeply troubling patterns of abuse. The convicted individuals were accused of exploiting minors through coercion, deception, and repeated offenses, with some victims being particularly vulnerable. Authorities emphasized that these actions represented extreme violations that warranted the most severe punishment available under the law.

China’s Supreme People’s Court made the details of the cases public, describing the move as part of a broader zero-tolerance policy against crimes involving children. By openly announcing the executions, the government aimed to send a strong message about deterrence and accountability, reinforcing its stance that such crimes will be met with the harshest consequences.

This approach has sparked ongoing international discussion. Supporters argue that decisive punishment may deter future offenses and demonstrate a firm commitment to protecting children. Critics, however, raise concerns about due process, transparency, and the ethical implications of capital punishment. As nations continue to confront these difficult issues, the balance between justice, deterrence, and human rights remains a complex and evolving global conversation.

The JustLeadershipUSA CEO is reshaping perspectives on incarceration, expanding opportunities, and redefining who deserves access to a future.

As communities nationwide observe Second Chance Month, DeAnna Hoskins, president and CEO of JustLeadershipUSA (JLUSA), is pushing the conversation further by challenging its premise.

“I often ask, ‘Does the phrase “second chance” unintentionally set limits?’” Hoskins says. “Because what we’re really advocating for is fairness—fair access to jobs, fair access to housing.”

Hoskins has dedicated years to advocating for individuals reentering society after incarceration. Her outlook is rooted in lived experience, which continues to shape how she navigates policy, power, and public safety.

Before advising at the highest levels of government, Hoskins was navigating the very system she now works to reform.

“Part of my story is that I struggled with drug addiction,” she shares. “I’ve been clean and sober for 27 years. What I needed was treatment, not incarceration—but the system didn’t see that. It focused on the charge and sentenced me accordingly, separating me from my children. My daughter was just 8 months old at the time. People should be held accountable, but shouldn’t we also consider the person behind the crime?”

Hoskins says her turning point came after listening to a podcast featuring a courtroom recording, where a judge paused before sentencing to ask, “I want to understand what happened to you that led to this.”

“She saw a person, not just a charge,” Hoskins recalls. “That’s when it really clicked for me.”

That realization became a turning point. Hoskins began requesting to review official policies after being denied jobs due to her probation status.

“They would say, ‘DeAnna, we want to hire you, but our policies won’t allow it because of your felony,’” she explains. “So I asked to see the policy—and in one case, it didn’t even exist. That’s when I started digging into policy.”

What she uncovered went beyond confusion—it revealed systemic inconsistency.

“I saw not just the myths, but clear policy violations,” she says. “Employers were broadly refusing to hire people with criminal records, even though the court had ordered community supervision—and one of its conditions is to be employed.”

That contradiction became a defining moment.

“I adopted a fearless mindset—I was determined to challenge the system,” she says. “Incarceration had broken me to a point where I felt like I had nothing left to lose.”

Second Chance Month stems from the Second Chance Act, signed into law in 2008 under President George W. Bush to support reentry programs and resources.

But Hoskins says the reality of reentry still falls short.

“If a sentence is meant to be the punishment, when does that punishment actually end?” she asks. “Why do these systemic barriers continue if we trust the system to deliver justice?”

For many returning citizens, those barriers appear immediately—limiting access to housing, employment, healthcare, and basic stability.

“We’ve been conditioned to focus on what we can’t do,” she says. “No one ever told me what I could do.”

Through JLUSA’s advocacy, Hoskins and her team have uncovered widespread misinformation about what people with criminal records are legally entitled to access.

From voting rights to housing eligibility, she notes that many of these restrictions aren’t rooted in federal law, but instead stem from local policies or common misconceptions.

“These barriers aren’t always rooted in law,” she says, pointing to the organization’s “MythBusters” initiative, which works to dispel harmful misconceptions.

That misinformation does more than create confusion—it restricts opportunity.

“We’ve been conditioned to believe in our limitations,” she adds.

For business leaders and entrepreneurs, Hoskins says advancing fair access begins with reexamining hiring practices.

Rather than removing background checks entirely, she advocates for greater transparency. Employers should clearly define which convictions are disqualifying and postpone background checks until later in the hiring process.

“At the start, candidates should be evaluated based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities,” she explains.

This shift not only reduces bias—it also broadens the talent pool.

“I may have a record, but I’ve been home for 10 years without any further involvement,” she says.

Hoskins also challenges conventional ideas of public safety, emphasizing that it goes far beyond policing.

“Public safety includes affordable housing. It includes access to healthcare. It includes mental health support,” she says.

Hoskins says that when people with lived experience are included in shaping systems, the result is policy that is both more effective and more humane. “You create systems that don’t retraumatize—systems that engage people and give them a sense of agency.”

At the same time, she is candid about the economic forces driving mass incarceration.

“Incarceration is a billion-dollar industry,” she says, pointing to sectors tied to everything from prison communications to commissary services.

Because of that, she believes real change requires more than reform—it demands reducing reliance on a system built on profit.

“We have to build fair opportunities so people aren’t funneled back into incarceration,” she says.

For Hoskins, one of the most persistent misconceptions about people with lived experience is that their stories exist to inspire rather than to inform.

“I don’t want my story to inspire you,” she says. “I want it to shape how you approach policy.”

It’s a distinction that reframes not only Second Chance Month, but the broader national conversation. As she sees it, the question isn’t whether individuals deserve another opportunity.

“This isn’t about second chances,” she says. “It’s about whether the system provides a fair chance in the first place.”

JACKSON, Miss. — A jury on Tuesday returned a not-guilty verdict in the case of Jada Kelly, who had been charged in connection with a 2023 crash that left two women dead.

After deliberating for more than two hours, jurors acquitted Kelly of two counts of aggravated DUI stemming from the January 2023 collision that killed Azure Higgins, 47, and Valerie Lynch, 43.

The charges arose from a crash at the intersection of Canton Mart Road and I-55 Frontage Road in Jackson. Prosecutors alleged that Kelly was driving under the influence when the collision occurred, resulting in the deaths of Higgins and Lynch.

Kelly was arrested following the incident and later indicted on aggravated DUI charges, which carry enhanced penalties when impaired driving results in fatalities.

Over the course of more than three years, the case moved through pretrial proceedings before ultimately going to trial. During the proceedings, Kelly exercised her right not to testify, and the jury was tasked with determining whether prosecutors had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.

Key Testimony Presented at Trial

Jurors heard from multiple witnesses, including law enforcement and forensic experts, as both sides presented competing accounts regarding Kelly’s condition that night.

• Curtis Young, with the Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, testified that he was patrolling near a local bar, Last Call, on the night of the crash. After hearing a disturbance, he checked on Kelly and stated that she did not appear to be intoxicated at that time.

• Wendy Hadcock, a representative from the Mississippi Crime Lab, testified about the Intoxilyzer device used to measure blood alcohol levels. She explained that the device requires retesting if there is any interference, such as from radios or cellphones. Hadcock also noted that the specific model had been in use for 23 years with only five recorded errors—and none occurred in January 2023.

• A Hinds County deputy who administered Kelly’s sobriety test described how the device functions, telling jurors that improper breathing during the test can cause an error. He testified that this occurred during Kelly’s test, requiring her to blow into the device again.

Verdict and Courtroom Reaction

When the verdict was read, Kelly embraced her attorney. She had faced a potential sentence of up to 75 years in prison if convicted.

Tensions were evident in the courtroom following the decision. Despite warnings from the judge to maintain decorum, an outburst occurred as attendees exited the courtroom.

For the families of the victims, the verdict marked a difficult moment in a years-long process.

Datje Lynch, daughter of Valerie Lynch, had previously described the emotional toll of the case, saying the family was still seeking answers and a path toward healing.

What Comes Next

With the acquittal, Kelly is cleared of criminal charges in the case. Legal experts note that criminal cases require proof beyond a reasonable doubt, a standard that can be difficult to meet even in fatal crash cases.

While the court proceedings have concluded, the impact of the crash continues to be felt by the victims’ families and the broader community.

A 71-year-old cancer survivor in the Bronx says she’s trapped in a rat-infested apartment, despite repeated pleas to her landlord.

Tearful Cora Robinson says she fights back with a piece of plywood—but the rats keep coming. “I thought it would block them along the baseboards, but they’re so big, they just jump over it,” she told ABC 7.

In a desperate attempt to protect her home, she placed a piece of wood to block the rats from the kitchen—but it didn’t work.

The breast cancer survivor says she would move if she could, but can’t afford it, and has been battling the infestation for nearly a year.

After spotting two rats rummaging through her kitchen on Friday night, her plans to host Easter were dashed.

She fears for her health—and for her dog’s—amid the ongoing exposure. “I can’t sleep, I’m not eating, and if this keeps up, I’ll end up in the hospital. I nearly did yesterday,” she said.

“I’m tired of cleaning rat droppings off the stove—it’s awful. Turn the oven on, and the smell hits you,” Robinson said.

To protect her dog, she keeps its water, bed, and food in her bedroom. “I can’t leave it out here—they’d get into it,” she added.

Robinson has filed multiple complaints with the city’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which has previously cited her landlord. “I wish all these people would just come see—and smell—what it’s like,” she said.

The ordeal is taking a serious toll. “I’m just done. I’m so disgusted—it’s not right that I should have to live like this,” Robinson said.

According to reports, Asden Management and the landlords faced a 2023 lawsuit over allegedly unlivable conditions. A lawyer for the tenants told ABC 7 that the case is still pending.

Over 30 tenants sued, citing years of disrepair, including missing stoves, broken fridges, rat infestations, mold, and leaks. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development documented 561 open violations at the property, 206 classified as “Class C,” News 12 reported.

Douglas Henderson Jr., representing the tenants, said, “We’re not asking for the yellow brick road. We just want our tenants a decent place to live.”

Sherene Morris, a tenant and mother without a working stove, told reporters in 2024 that she also contends with rats and a broken fridge. “I reached out to the landlord three times, and they refused to do anything,” she said.

We reached out to Robinson and Asden Management for comment.

The opposing coaches had a tense exchange as the Gamecocks secured the pivotal victory.

Dawn Staley showed poise and sportsmanship while addressing a heated exchange with UConn coach Geno Auriemma following her team’s March Madness victory.

The South Carolina Gamecocks head coach was involved in a shouting match with Auriemma as the April 3 Final Four game wrapped up, with Staley’s squad pulling away for a 62–48 win.

As the final seconds ticked down, Auriemma moved to confront Staley, with emotions flaring between the two veteran coaches. Despite the tense moment, Staley remained composed as her team secured a spot in the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship.

After the incident—which quickly circulated on social media—Staley kept her response measured when reflecting on what happened.

“I’m not sure what it was, but I’ll say this: I’m a person of integrity,” she told ESPN. “If I did something to Geno, it wasn’t intentional. Maybe he thought I didn’t shake his hand before the game, but I did go over and greet his staff. I’m not sure what led to things after the game, but emotions can run high. We move forward.”

She also emphasized that the spotlight should remain on her players and the effort it took to defeat the previously unbeaten team.

Staley added, “I don’t want that moment to overshadow what we accomplished today.”

Auriemma, however, offered a different perspective on the exchange. While he declined to share exactly what he said, he suggested that his remarks—what he described as “the truth”—sparked Staley’s reaction and the ensuing tension.

“I said what I needed to say, and that was it,” he told reporters, per Fox News. “There’s no reason to repeat it. I said it, she didn’t like it, but I was just being honest.”

Auriemma also expressed frustration with what he felt were referee calls favoring the Gamecocks, saying his players had to deal with a more physical style of play. He reportedly did not shake Staley’s hand after South Carolina snapped UConn’s 53-game winning streak.

He further claimed that Staley skipped the customary pregame handshake, though ESPN footage appeared to show the two coaches exchanging greetings beforehand.

“The protocol is to meet at half court before the game and shake hands—everyone’s seen that,” Auriemma said. “They even announce it. I stood there for about three minutes waiting.”

As he continued to air his grievances, critics pushed back, calling out the UConn coach for poor sportsmanship and an inability to accept defeat gracefully. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith also weighed in on social media, saying Auriemma was simply “outcoached.”

“That was pure nonsense from the great Geno Auriemma,” Smith wrote. “I never thought I’d see a coach of his stature handle a loss so poorly. It’s a bad look—he should be called out. He was simply outcoached.”

Smith also pointed out what he sees as a double standard in how reactions are judged, noting that Auriemma, as a white male coach, is afforded more leeway than Staley, a Black woman. He argued that Staley would have faced far harsher criticism if she had responded the same way.

“It’s that simple,” he added. “He gets in her face as if she did something wrong, instead of showing grace. If Dawn Staley had acted like that, everyone would be criticizing her.”

Despite the exchange, Staley has stayed focused on celebrating her team’s achievement and keeping the spotlight on their milestone victory. Already regarded as one of the game’s greats, she now sets her sights on capturing a fourth championship with the Gamecocks.

#11, or “His Love is Like a Whisper

You ask me not to silence my passion, all the while dousing your flames in tepid waters

I wonder if you know that I have been burned

That the material of our scars is tougher than unmarred flesh

That even suffering can be graceful if you don’t do it alone

But you’ve been on your own for so long

The real kind, where your solace,

Messiah and helping hand are all one with the man in the mirror I surmise this is why your love is like a whisper; soft, and leaves me tingling down to my toes, but quiet

Very quiet Almost as if you’re afraid to make a home in me

Like you would struggle for warmth in a cold storm just to keep my embers warm

Not knowing that I am solar flare given form

That I was a storm chaser before I knew the difference between snow and hail and lightning and thunder

That freezing hearts shrink away from me with snarl and hiss because they know I will melt them down to their barest puddles of unresolved traumas and lies we tell ourselves to keep going

Beautiful boy, I ask if you know that I truly see you

And that these eyes are not cages or pointed fingers looking to make you hero nor villain of this story

Only to let you know that I have also been that small child with a voice drowned out by voices that like to make their nothing sound like everything

To let you know that you were never supposed to be told to bottle it up, keep it in, stop crying, lock it away

To tell you that our pasts may be written in stone, but we can lay down our uncertainties like cement on a new sidewalk

And tread on them until we are a beaten path that you know like the back of your hand

Know that I would want to hear your voice and words every day if I didn’t think it would scare you

And that I sit with baited breath and coiled stomach pondering how much is “too much” all the time

That I am still afraid you will think my askance of you, sacrificial 

That no matter how brightly our love shines, you will never let it lead you home.

#6, or “I May Think of You Softly, From Time to Time, But I Will Cut Off My Hand Before I Ever Reach for You Again”

She littered on my spirit like my being was her least favorite neighbor’s garden

Her lipstick, wine red and matte, an imprint on my reflection

Cracked glass and teeth scraping, how her kiss bit back

Baby was all sharp edges and I was but a child who never learned not to run with scissors

Grim smiles, cold hands intertwined

Didn’t care where she ended and I began

Unzipped my skin to get her warm

I used to love it when she was here, she kept me vigilant

My own personal heroin(e)

All up in my veins, varicose love song

She sang me home on starless nights in foggy waters

Home Where my heart resided between clenched fist and crossed fingers

Behind my back, hoped to die, I swear I fought tooth and nail

Little did I know, she swung her tenderness like a hammer

There I was, hung up all good and straight

And wasn’t I just the prettiest thing in her display

She taught me that lips can dissect with the precision of a knife 

Ever since that first time, I’ve thought I glowed better under tight lids

You see, she always made sure she’d poke me some holes so I could breath

So you can imagine that the day she disappeared was the day my Earth stood still

Was all lackluster moon, no sun in my wings to make me shine

All black space, no orbit Could not get that damned lid off the jar Light flickering, tinkering out,

I did not believe in fairies anymore

But I missed her Like an animal free of a trap after gnawing off their own leg,

I missed her Left my blood trailing so she could follow it, she always said I smelled good I waited, and waited and waited

Made a sentry out of me with all that time But she never returned, got not so much as a postcard or a voicemail

Nothing in this world is louder than a silence you did not ask for

Suddenly rainfall on my window sounded like the devil mocking my pain

I was left alone in the exhibit she had made of me with only myself to blame Maddeningly, still I longed for her all the same

Remembered my teachers telling us how sometimes house slaves grew comfortable in confinement

She’d given me a silver choker that I wore nearly every day in her absence

Have you ever been trained so well, you put the chains on yourself?

She was always there, always there, always there In the back of my mind, on the tip of my tongue, the corner of my eye

I picked up the phone and put down myself

She answered with feint traces of laughter on the second ring

Unbothered, patient, silver is good enough for you, isn’t it

Silver, as if we all don’t see it and think that gold shines better I ripped that choker from my throat so quickly it gave me whiplash

Better my hand than hers, but still it stung, and burned, and scorched, and bled I murdered that ravenous thing she left inside me in cold, scarlet blood

Smothered it bare, staunched the wound Buried it in my backyard with bitter tears and hollow laughter

Thinking of the first time we met I was reading ‘The Time Traveler’s Wife’

She told me then that I seemed more like ‘A Mortician’s Daughter’

Now, every once in a while On blustery nights and blue moons

There’s a ghost in my window.

JACKSON, Miss. —
The trial of Jada Kelly, who faces charges of aggravated DUI in connection with a crash that killed two women, has begun in Hinds County Circuit Court.

On Wednesday, jurors heard testimony from law enforcement officers who responded to the scene of the fatal crash that took the lives of 47-year-old Azure Higgins and 43-year-old Valerie Lynch.

The crash on Jan. 15, 2023, at the intersection of Canton Mart Road and I-55 Frontage Road claimed the lives of Higgins and Lynch. Kelly and a passenger were traveling in a Toyota Camry when it collided with a black Nissan Altima, resulting in the deaths of both women. Kelly was later arrested and charged with aggravated DUI.

Lynch’s daughter, Datje Lynch, said the road to this moment has been a long three years.

“We want justice—it’s overwhelming. When it comes to healing, I don’t think we’ve reached that point yet because we’re still searching for answers. I believe once there’s a verdict, we can begin that process. Right now, we’re still grieving and trying to take that first step toward acceptance,” said Datje Lynch.

The identity of the passenger who was with Kelly at the time of the crash has not been disclosed.

Lynch described her mother as someone who always wore a smile and was deeply loved by many.

There’s a shift happening—we’re just mislabeling it.

Headlines claim Black women are exiting the workforce, but analysts at the Economic Policy Institute highlight layoffs, burnout, and a steady rise in entrepreneurship. Data from Wells Fargo shows Black women are among the fastest-growing groups of business owners in the United States, even as they continue to face disproportionate job loss and workplace instability.

All of that is true—but it doesn’t tell the whole story. What we’re seeing isn’t just a workforce trend; it’s a deeper shift, one rooted not only in work, but in identity.

For decades, Black women have navigated professional spaces that demand far more than competence. Success has meant code-switching, overperforming, and continually proving our worth—exceeding expectations while managing perception and suppressing emotion. It has meant linking personal value to professional output, and treating excellence as a means of survival.

And even then, the outcome is often the same: overextended, overqualified, yet underrecognized and undervalued. We’re constantly adapting—stretching to meet expectations while quietly shrinking to fit within them.

Until 2024, I spent more than two decades working in the people and culture space, serving as a chief diversity officer, vice president, and director of human resources. In those roles, I’ve truly seen it all.

Over time, the impossible standards placed on Black women have become normalized—expected, even. Highly educated. Highly capable. Highly accomplished. And still navigating environments where recognition doesn’t match contribution, and advancement doesn’t always translate into real impact.

For years, the question has been: How do I succeed here? What more do I need to do?

But more recently, a different question has surfaced: What is this success costing me?

Because for many Black women, the cost extends beyond long hours or workplace pressure. It’s the constant need to adapt, manage perception, anticipate bias, and sustain near-flawless performance.

And eventually, something shifts. I’ve seen this firsthand in my work as an organizational culture strategist, helping individuals and institutions move through transformation. It’s also what led me to create the SHIFT framework.

What once felt like ambition begins to feel like misalignment. What once felt like achievement starts to feel like upkeep. What once felt like success begins to feel incomplete.

This is the part of the story we often miss. What looks like a departure is often discernment. What looks like disengagement is clarity. What looks like an exit is a deliberate choice. It’s Black women saying, I no longer want to succeed at something that requires me to be someone I’m not.

This isn’t just burnout—it’s an awakening.

A realization that traditional definitions of success don’t always lead to fulfillment. That stability without alignment can still be restrictive. That achievement without authenticity eventually becomes unsustainable.

And so, many Black women are choosing differently.

Not simply leaving jobs, but redefining what work, leadership, and success mean—on their own terms.

Entrepreneurship is one expression of this shift—but it’s not the whole story. This moment isn’t just about where Black women are going; it’s about what they’re no longer willing to carry.

When the most educated, capable, and consistently overperforming demographic begins to opt out of traditional structures, the question isn’t simply why they’re leaving. It’s what those structures have required of them—and why those demands are no longer acceptable.

And the impact reaches far beyond any one group. Black women have often been early signals of broader cultural change, navigating pressures, contradictions, and expectations that eventually become more visible across society.

What we’re seeing now may be an early indicator of a larger shift—one that challenges how we define work, measure success, and negotiate identity within professional spaces.

A shift away from endurance as the benchmark of success. A shift toward alignment as the foundation of sustainability. A shift from proving to choosing.

This isn’t just an economic narrative—it’s a human one.

And perhaps the most important shift is this:

Black women aren’t simply leaving the workforce—they’re rejecting the identities it has required them to perform. They’re choosing something more aligned, more self-defined, more whole.

This isn’t just an exit. It’s a recalibration.

And within that recalibration, we may be witnessing not a loss, but a redefinition of what it truly means to thrive.

Research shows that including doulas can improve birth outcomes for women covered by Medicaid.

The rising popularity of doulas has made holistic pregnancy care more accessible to women across all income levels. As insurance coverage for doula services expands, more expectant mothers are embracing what was once considered a luxury. Doulas—trained professionals who provide emotional, physical, and wellness support—have now become part of mainstream maternity care.

In addition to doctors and nurses, doulas often act as advocates for mothers during childbirth. While they do not provide clinical care, they offer continuous support and guidance throughout every stage of pregnancy. Insurance coverage for doula services—ranging from Medicaid to premium providers like UnitedHealthcare—is expanding, enabling more women to access this form of support during pregnancy. This shift is backed by growing evidence that doulas can significantly improve maternal outcomes through consistent, dedicated care.

Doula visits go beyond monitoring the baby’s health; they also help ensure a smoother, more supported experience for mothers throughout pregnancy. Their role is especially critical for Black mothers, who continue to face disproportionately high maternal mortality rates.

According to the Black Maternal Health Caucus, Black women are more than three times as likely to die from childbirth-related complications as their white counterparts. The presence of a doula can provide essential support and advocacy, helping improve care and outcomes during and after pregnancy.

Doulas can benefit everyone, especially communities facing inequities,” said Sierra Hill in an interview with KSL.An issue brief from MACPAC further supports this, noting that mothers assisted by doulas were four times less likely to have low-birthweight babies, twice as likely to avoid birth complications, and significantly more likely to begin breastfeeding.

Many hospitals and insurance providers now support the integration of doulas into maternal care, with more working collaboratively alongside medical teams. In addition, doulas often offer a deeply personalized level of care that fosters strong, trusting relationships, helping mothers feel safe and supported throughout childbirth.As they continue to enhance maternal health—particularly for underserved populations—doulas are becoming an increasingly valuable source of advocacy and support for expectant mothers.