News and publications from past 90 days

Why Teen Drug Use Surveys Are Meaningless: Mike Males, Feb 24, 2015; After California decriminalized marijuana, teenage behaviors improved dramatically. Pay no attention to dubious drug-use surveys, which bear no relationship to any measure of youthful well-being.
Increasing Public Engagement with California's BSCC: Brian Goldstein, Feb 17, 2015; The February 12 BSCC Board meeting in Ventura saw promising developments, but the agency must be transparent and inclusive of those communities most impacted by their decisions.
From Selma to Ferguson: Randall G. Shelden, Feb 10, 2015; Although dealing with events of more almost 50 years ago, the film Selma is current. As the old saying goes, “the past is prologue.”
California’s opportunity to move beyond prison-like facilities for youth: Courtney Lam, Feb 3, 2015; The punitive prison-like facilities that dominate juvenile corrections are clearly not working. California should use new funding stream to create nurturing, rehabilitative environments.
Brown’s budget misses opportunity to shrink prison system: Lizzie Buchen, Jan 29, 2015; Despite the lowest crime rate in decades, and recent and potential reductions in the prison population, Brown continues to up prison spending and expand capacity.
Legal marijuana did not lead to increase in deadly “driving while stoned”: Mike Males, Jan 27, 2015; Colorado and Washington saw a drop in fatal car accidents involving marijuana, but still fail to produce sufficient data to track reforms.
California Must Prioritize Pretrial Services Before Expansion of Adult Facilities: Erica Webster, Jan 20, 2015; After California’s legislature approved $500 million dollars in construction funding to local adult criminal justice facilities, the state is now in a position to determine what type of facilities it should invest in.
Killing by California Law Enforcement: It Is What You Think (Part II): Mike Males, Jan 15, 2015; Those most at risk of being killed by officers (rates 2.5 to 20 times the state average): Native Americans ages 20-44; African Americans ages 15-49 and 65-69; Latinos ages 20-34.
Killing by Law Enforcement in California: It’s Not What You Think (Part I): Mike Males, Jan 13, 2015; The deadliest cities: (1) Eureka, (2) Desert Hot Springs, (3) Vista, (4) Perris, (5) San Bernardino, (6) Moreno Valley, (7) Hemet, (8) Compton, (9) Inglewood, (10) Indio
CJCJ in the News: The War on Drugs Is Burning Out: Jan 9, 2015; Rolling Stone discusses a recent CJCJ report on marijuana reform.
As more lifers are released from prison...not much happens: Lizzie Buchen, Jan 6, 2015; Brown has allowed more people convicted of homicide to parole than have the past four governors combined. That's a good thing — but not good enough.
"Young black men" is not a metaphor for violence: Mike Males, Dec 30, 2014; The failures of local authorities to hold police accountable for killing unarmed black men deserve angry condemnation -- not more stereotyping.
December News from CJCJ: Dec 30, 2014; CJCJ helps spread holiday cheer; Executive Director Dan Macallair offers expertise on new justice show; CJCJ fights for rights of children visiting incarcerated parents
"When did it become legal to strip-search a child?": Dec 23, 2014; CJCJ Deputy Director Dinky Manek Enty writes in the Chronicle of Social Change about a new proposal to strip-search visitors, including children visiting their incarcerated parents.
CJCJ's Daniel Macallair Speaks on Bail Industry: Dec 22, 2014; CJCJ Executive Director Daniel Macallair speaks with San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi on the challenges with our bail system and need for pretrial reform.
Worldwide Experts Converge to Discuss the Future of Criminal Justice: Antonia Cartwright, Dec 16, 2014; "Criminology at the Intersection of Oppression": Worldwide perspectives on criminal justice are discussed at an international criminology meeting in San Francisco.
Fact-Checking Bill O’Reilly on Police, Killing and Race: Mike Males, Dec 11, 2014; Fox's Bill O'Reilly's commentary citing CJCJ statistics failed to note our data showing African Americans are much more likely than whites to be killed by police. Unjustifiable police killings of unarmed suspects likely involve even wider racial disparities.
A Shifting America: Latinos and a Health Equity-Centered Approach to Juvenile Justice: Tenoch Ortiz, Dec 9, 2014; Residents of East Salinas are looking to indigenous practices to change their county’s approach to juvenile justice.