Blog Apr 2, 2012
Who has the right to “stand your ground”?
Florida teenager Trayvon Martin had been dead for a month and the national furor over his shooting by vigilante George Zimmerman was into its third week before anyone, to my knowledge, asked that fundamental question. Law enforcement officials, experts, and commentators across the spectrum had assumed that the only issue was whether Zimmerman was entitled to use Florida’s “stand your ground” law to justify shooting Martin. MSNBC commentator Melissa Harris Perry finally declared what the…
Apr 2, 2012
When Juvenile Crime Happens in San Diego
When Juvenile Crime Happens in San Diego Voice of San Diego, April 2, 2012
While commentators led by no less than President Obama have blamed violent crime on “the entire generation of young men in our society” and have warned us to fear young black men in particular, those Americans more thoughtful than politicians running for office, exploitative interest groups, sensationalist reporters, and racist fear-mongers know that “entire generations” don’t commit violence; individuals do. If the individual approaching you is a black teenaged male, how much more likely are…
Publications Apr 1, 2012
San Francisco’s Arrest Rates of African Americans for Drug Felonies Worsens
San Francisco’s Arrest Rates of African Americans for Drug Felonies Worsens
Mar 30, 2012
The violent black youth myth
The violent black youth myth Politico, March 27, 2012
The Myth of the Young, Black Male: A More Subtle Racism Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, March 30, 2012
Commentary: Americans Are Tired of Innocent Black Men Being Targeted by Bigots BET National News, March 30, 2012
Did you attend the hearings?
On Wednesday March 28th, the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety heard testimony on Governor Brown’s proposal to close California’s remaining youth correctional facilities. The Legislative Analyst’s Office, Department of Finance, and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation presented preliminary testimony, while CJCJ, the Ella Baker Center, Chief Probation Officers of California, and Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office provided additional testimony in a second…
SJSU justice studies department celebrates new human rights minor at inaugural event Spartan Daily, March 21, 2012
Mar 26, 2012
Correcting youth corrections in California
Correcting youth corrections in California KALW News, March 21, 2012
On Thursday, the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety heard testimony on Governor Brown’s proposal to close California’s remaining youth correctional facilities and shift supervision of the remaining 985 youth to the county-level. Strong public testimony was offered by the Department of Finance, the Legislative Analysts Office, the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice (CJCJ), and the Commonweal Foundation arguing for complete juvenile realignment from a variety of angles. Dan…