CJLF petitions to remove death-penalty-repeal from ballot

A new legal challenge has been presented to the California ballot initiative concerning the death penalty. The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation has asked a state appeals court to take the "SAFE California" initiative off the November ballot:

The lawsuit argues that the measure contains conflicting proposals that combine unrelated reforms into a single ballot argument. "This kind of manipulation ... is exactly what the single-subject rule was put in the constitution to prevent," said Kent Scheidegger, the foundation's legal director.
Supporters of the ballot measure predicted the appeals court would reject the legal arguments.

More at San Jose Mercury News

Are any punishments effective in deterring homicide?

A new report, Deterrence and the Death Penalty, from the Committee on Deterrence and the Death Penalty of the National Research Council, concludes that research to date on the effect of capital punishment on homicide rates is not useful in determining whether the death penalty increases, decreases, or has no effect on these rates.

More at: The Crime Report

Long-term juvenile incarceration does not decrease reoffending

A March 2011 study, through the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, (OJJDP) concludes that long-term juvenile incarceration does not decrease reoffending, and may actually increase recidivism rates for lower-level youth offenders.

Long-term incarceration does not reduce the likelihood that serious youth offenders will reoffend. The evidence points to the contrary; that for lower-level offenders, longer stays in institutions will increase reoffending rates.

Community-based interventions and services like substance-abuse programs are much more effective at improving long-term outcomes for youthful offenders. Sustained aftercare and supervision is also a critical ingredient in determining positive long-term outcomes.  more at: California Progress Report:

05/13-19 Orange County POMC Fundraiser

Greater Orange County Parents of Murdered Children
May 13th- May 19th, 7AM-9PM
 Fundraiser at:
RUBY'S DINER
1128 W. Lincoln Ave.
Anaheim, Ca. 92805
(714) 635-RUBY (7829) (Corner of Lincoln & West)

Come dine at Ruby's and 20% of all food and non-alcoholic beverage sales (when accompanied with this flyer) will be donated to the Greater Orange County POMC

COME LEND YOUR SUPPORT

Realignment costs a concern in Kern County

An opinion piece points out the many ways that realignment may push Kern County costs way up:

Our jail will need to prove compliance with, or begin the compliance procedure with, jail standards under the National Commission of Correctional Health Care or similar accrediting body like the American Correctional Association. The sheriff will need to bear the outside costs of these accrediting agency services and activities. Once accredited, he will need to prove sustained compliance with accrediting standards, which again will require -- and underscore the importance and necessity of -- an ongoing medical quality management and improvement program.

More, with a great deal more detail, at Bakersfield.com.

CDCR ask judge to end medical oversight in a month

California prison officials have asked a federal judge to end court oversight of medical services in one month.

In a 43-page plan to end federal oversight, Corrections attorneys argued that healthcare is “wholly transformed,” that inmates get good care, from good doctors, in good clinics and that California’s got the “will, capacity, and leadership” to keep it up. They’ve asked U.S. District Judge Thelton Henderson to relinquish control in 30 days.

The opponents of this move say that there has been improvement, but recievership should still continue for the next year. More at KPCC.

Minnesota inmates learn to write apology letters

Victim's advocate Lydia Newlin leads a class in how to write an apology letter at Minnesota Correctional Center in Lino Lakes. The inmates, mostly sex offenders, are learning how to write to their victims.

Newlin said that as each inmates' release date approaches, it's on two peoples' minds: the inmate's and the victim's. For most offenders, that person is a family member. 

Newlin turns to the white board behind her and starts making a list. "What do you think they're thinking about?" she asks the class. 

"Fear," an inmate answers. (The Minnesota Department of Corrections asked that MPR News not identify the inmates in this story because of the impact it might have on victims.) 

"Fear of what?" Newlin replies. 

"Will they hurt me again?" she's answered. 

Taking notes "Will they hurt me again how? Are they going to hurt somebody else? OK. What else? Will I run into them?" Newlin continues. 

Newlin leads them through an exercise meant to get them thinking about what they could write in a letter to reassure victims. She questions them, one by one. What do you think the one thing the victim of your offense might need to hear that might be helpful for them? 

"That I'm sorry," an inmate answers. 

More at Minnesota Public Radio.