I listen to a lot of podcasts- I’ve heard countless episodes. But some episodes really stand out and I feel obligated to spread the word- hoping others will benefit from listening. The insight and wisdom that comes from real life survival stories is difficult to match. Jason Baldwin stands out among them all. Some day he’ll be universally recognized for… Read more »
Tezi and I watched yet another powerful and unforgettable documentary over the past couple days. I want to share it here with you. Peace Officer is a film about the militarization of police departments/tactics and/or the need for heightened police action/equipment to keep officers (and the community) safe. It depends on how you look at it. This documentary, though perhaps not… Read more »
Here’s a super helpful look at our incarceration nation. This pie chart is an excellent resource compiled by the Prison Policy Initiative. Take a few minutes and look it over yourself. I’d be curious to hear what your impressions are. Let me know your thoughts. Here are a few of mine: If you look at the federal immigration detention number and… Read more »
Rabia Chaudry’s words here on our judicial system are just too important not to be read and shared by everyone. Please take a moment to read and digest these words; they speak a profound (and disturbing) truth about how our court systems really work. We like to think that “just the facts, ma’am” and “the letter of the law”… Read more »
There was another terrorist attack last night- just hours before midnight- this time in Istanbul, Turkey. Some 39 people have been killed. The Rose Parade is coming up here in Southern California this morning and barricades have been put up along the parade path to protect people from truck stampede attacks, such as we’ve seen now in Germany and France. These… Read more »
We tell our kids about the bogeyman, the bad people –who to watch out for- but we don’t teach them how to watch out for the judicial system. – Troilyn Robinson – Mother of two incarcerated sons – Unprisoned Podcast – (stories from the system) – March 2, 2016 One of the common threads in practically all exonerees personal stories is that prior to their arrests and… Read more »
Too many people in prison For too many laws For too long a time We need to rethink some of that. True words indeed, Grover Norquist. Even on Christmas- especially on Christmas!- we need to remember that our criminal justice system is broken and innocent people are suffering even at this very moment. With over 2.2 MILLION people currently incarcerated… Read more »
Let’s face it: most of us don’t want to believe that wrongful convictions really happen. And, if they do happen we tell ourselves that they must only happen very very rarely. This is why it is so important that we pay attention to the stories of exonerees – those who are living proof of the woeful challenges facing our criminal… Read more »
When it comes to criminal justice reform- #CJReform – if we only talk about “expenses” and “costs” in terms of tax dollars, spending and saving, then we have really already missed the point and set ourselves up for failure. Like so many other issues, the starting point must be people. We have to start by talking about individuals, the real… Read more »
Our country and our judicial system were founded upon the crucial notion that the rights of the individual must always be protected against the monstrous powers of the State. This cannot be forgotten as we move towards substantive criminal justice reform. Our starting point must always be the individual, not the State. When someone is wrongfully convicted it’s (by… Read more »
