Report: Close LA Central Men's Jail.

Expert James Austin has delivered a report that explores how to handle the growth of L.A. inmate populations in the wake of state prison realignment.

In his report, Austin made four key recommendations: release non-violent inmates awaiting trial and place them on electronic monitoring, transfer some inmates to lower-cost fire camps, renovate and expand existing facilities at the Sheriff's North County Correctional Facility and expand rehabilitation programs. 

"I’ll guarantee you this, there will not be an increase in recidivism rates," Austin said. "In fact, this is a better way of managing these people. We will not see the crime rate go up because of these programs." 

Sheriff Lee Baca, whose jails are under FBI scrutiny, initially resisted providing Austin with the data he needed to produce his report. Baca eventually handed it over. 

"We welcome suggestions such as those offered in this report," Baca said. 

The sheriff also said he agreed with one key recommendation: "Yes, I think I could close a significant portion of the Central Jail."

For more information: KCRW.

Death Penalty repeal approved in Connecticut

The Connecticut state legislature approved a repeal of the death penalty there, and sent it to Governor Dannel Malloy who is expected to sign it.

Supporters of repeal, who fended off more than a dozen efforts to amend the bill, noted that Connecticut has carried out only one execution since 1960 -- that of serial killer Michael Bruce  Ross, who was put to death in 2005 by lethal injection. He confessed to eight murders of young women and spent 18 years on death row before his execution.

Some of those who backed the repeal also said that sometimes, people serving time in prison or on death row are exonerated years later because of new evidence. "The government does make mistakes, please remember that," said Rep. Mary Mushinsky, who cited the case of Kenneth Ireland. Ireland was freed from a Connecticut prison in August 2009 after more than 20 years on death row for a rape and murder he did not commit.

From the Los Angeles Times

Fr. G and the Homies of L.A.

How do you keep gangs off the streets of L.A.? You could build more prisons. Or you
could take Father Greg Boyle's advice:

"Jobs, not jails."

Visit The Jesuit Post for this phone interview.

Helping victims talk to perpetrators - and find closure

"As the mother of a victim, Connors welcomed a chance to take part in VOD. 'Don't take my choice away,' she says. 'We [victims] are used to getting upset – our whole lives have been upset. But don't take away my choice to meet with the person who caused me harm.' "

Janet Connors is the mother of Joel Turner who was murdered in 2001.  An article profiles the work of Jon Wilson with Victim Offender Dialogue, preparing both offenders and victims, sometimes taking months.  Wilson has found that the current system does not serve well the interests of either the victims or the offender:

"This is the problem with our system: These guys can do their whole sentence without ever having to think or talk about their crime. We do not insist [that] that person think about what they have done."

Entire article at Christian Science Monitor.

Children Can Never Be Safe in Adult Prisons

"An estimated 10,000 youths under 18 can be found in adult jails or prisons on any given day, according to federal statistics. As the members pointed out, data from a 2005 study showed that youths made up only 1 percent of the inmates in jails and prisons, but 21 percent of the victims of sexual violence.

Numerous studies show that placing children in adult prisons leads to more suicide, victimization and recidivism, which is costly in both human and economic terms."

Excerpt from  4/8 NY Times Editorial

One-time death penalty champions now fight to repeal California law

Adam Nagourney of the New York Times has a story about about Ron Briggs and Don Heller, who ran the campaign for 1978's Proposition 7, that brought back California's death penalty:

"Thirty-four years later, another initiative is going on the California ballot, this time to repeal the death penalty and replace it with mandatory life without parole. And two of its biggest advocates are Ron Briggs and Heller, who are trying to reverse what they have come to view as one of the biggest mistakes of their lives."

The rest of the story at this link.

5/15/2012 - Restorative Justice Facilitator Training - Phase 1

Restorative Justice Facilitator Training for Incarcerated Populations
Receive a $100 early bird discount  if you register and pay in full by April 15th!

Where:
San Rafael First United Methodist Church
9 Ross Valley Drive
San Rafael, CA 94901

and
San Quentin State Prison

When:
Tuesday May 15, 2012
-to-
Saturday May 19, 2012

Go to event homepage

The Insight Prison Project (IPP) is offering their multi-phase Facilitator Training, based on the Restorative Justice Victim Offender Education Group (VOEG) model of group facilitation successfully started at San Quentin State Prison. The multi-phase training model will provide greater support, evaluation and experiential exercises in an effort to better prepare facilitators to implement and run their own groups with incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals.