Blog Sep 30, 2011
CA Policy: Playing the game
The Justice Policy Institute published its report, Gaming the System , in June 2011, documenting the political strategies employed by the private prison industry to promote national incarceration-driven criminal justice policies. The publication highlighted three approaches to influencing policy, including: ~ Campaign Contributions ~ Lobbying ~ Relationships and Associations How does it work in California? I have been writing a series of blogs documenting various lobbying efforts in…
The 19th report of the Special Master , in the ongoing Farrell v. Cate lawsuit to reform California’s Division of Juvenile Facilities (DJF) was released early September. A major theme I discovered was the lack of DJF’s ability to provide for those individuals with special needs, particularly in the areas of special education, mental health, and wards with physical and mental disabilities. While these populations may be more challenging to serve than the general population, the presence of…
Blog Sep 27, 2011
Give me that old time religion III
In my previous two blogs I wrote about the investigations surrounding several so-called “Christian” homes for “troubled teens” as reported by Kathryn Joyce . As shocking as these cases are, they are really nothing new, for such abuse extends far back in the history of juvenile justice. The victims — conveniently called “troubled teens” (thereby justifying their incarceration, all “for their own good”) — are like other teenage victims: they are at the mercy of adults who ostensibly love and…
Blog Sep 23, 2011
CA Policy: Beware of vigilante policymaking
There is no disputing that victims of crime deserve to have a voice in the criminal justice system. Organizations like Crime Victims United of California (CVUC) offer an opportunity for victims to convene and access a legal system that can otherwise be difficult to penetrate. In addition, CVUC has taken its victim advocacy to the legislature. CVUC states it is the only organization of its kind, “and its team of expert lobbyists actively engage in the legislative process — to ensure that…
Blog Sep 20, 2011
Give me that old time religion II
My last blog covered a portion of an article about a so-called “Christian” home for “troubled teens. As promised, this is a continuation of that blog. As previously noted there were several rather sad stories about the abuse suffered by teenagers in a program called New Beginnings Ministries . The writer of this story, Kathryn Joyce, noted that there are several of these kinds of “homes” that are part of an “Independent Fundamental Baptist” community that is “a web of thousands of…
Increased teen driver restrictions may not be working Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, September 19, 2011
Never have California youth been more numerous (4.2 million age 10 – 17 in the 2010 census), more racially diverse (71% now are Hispanic, black, Asian, or otherwise of color), or of recent immigrant origin. Never have youth been more uncurfewed (lowest level of policing ever recorded), uncaged (the percentage of youth incarcerated in state and local facilities has plunged to an all-time low), and underserved (budget cuts have forced spending on a wide array of youth services). Never in post-Gold…
September 15, 2011 — Today, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Rules Committee reappointed CJCJ’s Gerald Miller to serve an additional two-year term on San Francisco’s Reentry Council. Gerald has served on the Reentry Council since 2009 and continues to be a leader in progressive criminal justice and community-based reform. Congratulations Gerald!
Blog Sep 15, 2011
CA Policy: CNOA’s war on rehabilitation
My last blog featured a prominent and successful lobbyist, John Lovell, and described the influential power a lobbyist can wield by representing a collective of agencies with similar agendas. The California Narcotics Officers Association (CNOA) is yet another of the clients John Lovell has in his collection. CNOA was founded in 1964 and has approximately 7,000 members, including local, state, and federal peace officers, prosecutors, and law enforcement personnel. It has historically…
Sep 14, 2011
Teen driver restrictions a mixed bag
Teen driver restrictions a mixed bag Los Angeles Times, September 13, 2011
Blog Sep 13, 2011
Give me that old time religion: cruel and usual punishment inside Christian homes for troubled teens
From the very beginning of juvenile “correctional” institutions religion has been one of the driving forces. Religion played a key role in the development of the New York House of Refuge in the early 1800s, as it did throughout the history of American prisons for both youths and adults. The reformers of the late 18th and early 19th century spent a good deal of time and energy complaining about the “moral decline” of the country. Little wonder that “immorality” would be a common charge…
Blog Sep 8, 2011
CA Policy: The Law Offices of John Lovell
Welcome to the Law Offices of John Lovell. During the twenty years our firm has been in existence over 99% of the bills we have lobbied for have been signed into law in the California State Legislature. The short and simple truth is, our effectiveness is unparalleled. This is the opening statement on The Law Offices of John Lovell’s homepage . John Lovell is one of the most prominent lobbyists in Sacramento, California; representing many corrections and law enforcement unions on issues…