Public policy groups are seizing on new statistics from the FBI to claim California’s prison realignment plan is causing “significant increases” in crime, even as others say the numbers show no connection at all.
Blog Jan 24, 2013
Community-based practices that repair harm
In the field of juvenile and criminal justice you often hear a buzzing in your ears and it’s the sound of buzz words like “restorative justice.” Words highlighting model practices are often utilized widely in this field, but what do these practices really mean. What do these practices really look like when implemented in the community?
Jan 23, 2013
Police Commission Hearing, Jan. 23, 2013
CJCJ’s testimony to the San Francisco Police Commission regarding the city’s 40-year history of increasingly racially disparate arrest practices.
Blog Jan 22, 2013
Even for violent crimes, longer is not always better
If California hopes to fix its correctional crisis, it needs to broaden its outlook on sentencing reform to address not only low-level offenders, but also those who have committed serious and violent crimes. In my last post , I wrote that such offenders are spending more and more time behind bars, and that much of this increased time is due to harsh sentence enhancements like “Three Strikes and You’re Out” and 10 – 20-Life — “Use a Gun and You’re Done.” These enhancements come at a huge cost to…
Jan 19, 2013
In Our View: Vigilance on CampusClark County Safe Schools Task Force has districts working together
In Our View: Vigilance on CampusClark County Safe Schools Task Force has districts working together Columbian, January, 18, 2013
Unofficial notes from the Jan. 17, 2013 meeting, taken by CJCJ’s Brian Goldstein.
Blog Jan 17, 2013
For real prison reform, look beyond the Non-Non-Nons
Last week, while defiantly declaring the end of California’s prison crisis, Gov. Jerry Brown insisted further reductions in prison overcrowding “cannot be achieved without the early release of inmates serving time for serious or violent felonies,” a move that would “jeopardize public safety.” In other words, now that Realignment is sending low-level offenders to local custody instead of state prison, those who remain in prison need to stay there to protect the public. This unfounded…
On Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 12:30 pm , the San Francisco synagogue, Congregation Sherith Israel, is hosting a panel discussion on juvenile justice entitled, Rethinking Juvenile Justice: Get Tough or Get Smart? The panel will explore factors that increase the possibilities for rehabilitation and deter future criminal conduct by young offenders. Presenters include: ~ Daniel Macallair, CJCJ Executive Director ~ Bruce Fisher, Huckleberry Youth Programs Executive Director ~ Denise Coleman,…
Blog Jan 15, 2013
Prosecutorial consistency in process
One of the biggest challenges researchers face when analyzing the effectiveness of the justice system is visibility into the world of the District Attorney. While prosecutors are given broad discretionary power, there are very few requirements regarding tracking how they use it and to what end. However, in December 2012 the Vera Institute published the results of its two-year research project, Anatomy of Discretion , shedding light on this topic. Supported by the National Institute of Justice…
CJCJ in the News Jan 14, 2013
Zero-Tolerance Policies in U.S. Schools are Ineffective and Unaffordable
Zero-Tolerance Policies in U.S. Schools are Ineffective and Unaffordable Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, January 14, 2013
Jan 14, 2013
Some on Death Row ‘low risk’ for parole
Some on Death Row ‘low risk’ for parole San Francisco Chronicle, January 13, 2013
California judge finds boy guilty of murdering neo-Nazi father KPCC Radio, January 14, 2013