The case is Schwarzenegger v. Plata and it epitomizes the dire circumstances of the nation’s penal system. With more than 2 million locked up on any given day, including about 1.5 million in prison (not to mention the fact that more than 7 million adults are somewhere in the criminal justice system on any given day — jail, prison, probation, parole), the country has come face to face with the inevitable result of its incessant need to punish. Not only does the US have the highest rate of…
Blog Nov 24, 2010
Lobbying in the Criminal Justice System
CJCJ’s brand new upcoming webpage “Interest Groups and Criminal Justice Policy” to be released in December 2010 represents the first attempt at exploring the influence of lobbying on crime-related policies in California. Among other topics we will provide detailed information on all the major lobbying organizations in California that have been involved in influencing criminal justice policies. Additionally we will examine the most important organizations in California that get involved in…
Thought provoking and powerful, Jerome G. Miller explores today’s American criminal justice system and its impact on young African American males in this book.
I agree with Randy Shelden 99% of the time and respect his views, but I argue his blog on Proposition 19, as well as other commentaries such as the Media Awareness Project ‘s, are dead wrong in both facts and emphasis. Those who want to reform destructive drug policies should not join drug warriors in obsessing over the unimportant issue of how many teenagers smoke pot. Shelden argues that under the current marijuana criminalization, “according to several studies, currently it is…
Blog Oct 23, 2010
Proposition 19: Will the Drug Warriors Win Again?
Proposition 19, California’s initiative that would legalize marijuana, is opposed by the majority of the citizens, according to the latest polls, as reported in the Los Angeles Times . Proposition 19 “Allows people 21 years old or older to possess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use. Permits local governments to regulate and tax commercial production and sale of marijuana to people 21 years old or older. Prohibits people from possessing marijuana on school grounds,…