Formerly incarcerated advocate for NYC criminal justice reform arrested for murder | CNN

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Criminal Justice Reform

Introduction

A man who spent decades in prison before starting a new chapter as a high-profile advocate for criminal justice reform has been arrested and charged in the brutal murder and dismemberment of a Bronx man.

Sheldon Johnson, 48, was arrested and charged with murder, manslaughter, criminal possession of a weapon and concealment of a human corpse on Thursday, according to the New York Police Department.

Johnson was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty to all charges. He was remanded back into custody and is due in court on Monday. He stands accused of fatally shooting Collin Small, 44, inside Small’s Bronx apartment, according to court records.

Police were called to Small’s apartment after neighbors overheard gunshots coming from inside on Tuesday, according to a law enforcement source. Neighbors heard two gunshots and then two more shots, the source said.

Police told CNN that when officers arrived, they found an unidentified human torso at the apartment. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death, according to the NYPD.

Johnson was at Small’s apartment when officers arrived, a law enforcement official told CNN. When law enforcement officials visited the suspect’s Harlem home, they discovered a human arm, legs and head with a gunshot wound stored in the freezer, a law enforcement official told CNN. Surveillance video also showed the suspect entering and exiting the victim’s building wearing different disguises and at one point carrying a large blue bin, the official said. The bin was found at Small’s home with the torso inside, another law enforcement official told CNN.

After decades in prison, Johnson was released last May and described himself as a client advocate for at-risk youth at Queen Defenders, which provides legal representation for people who have been charged with a crime in Queens and cannot afford to hire a lawyer.

Since his release, Johnson has been a public voice for rehabilitation after incarceration. Last month, he appeared on Joe Rogan’s popular podcast, where he detailed his journey through the criminal justice system. He described himself as formerly “the top of the food chain” in the Bloods.

In 1999, Johnson was convicted for homicide, robbery and several other charges, according to court records. He was incarcerated on June 8, 1999.

The Queens Defenders declined to comment when asked about Johnson Friday.

Brian Stanley, a justice court advocate at Avenues for Justice, an NYC-based group that advocates for alternatives to incarceration for youth offenders, told CNN he hopes people can distinguish between Johnson’s alleged crimes and the work he was doing in criminal justice reform.

“We can acknowledge the depravity and insanity of this and at

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
   • Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels
   • Target 16.9: By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration
   • Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

   The issues highlighted in the article, such as criminal justice reform, criminal possession of a weapon, and concealment of a human corpse, are connected to SDG 16, which focuses on promoting peace, justice, and strong institutions. The targets mentioned above are relevant to the issues discussed in the article.

2. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres

   The article does not explicitly mention gender-based violence or discrimination against women and girls. Therefore, SDG 5 is not directly addressed in this context.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: cnn.com

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