Exciting criminal justice reforms?

Increasingly, in the face of tight state and federal budgets, governments are considering major criminal justice reforms.

Two examples discussed in an op-ed in the New York Times:

The Smarter Sentencing Act — introduced in the Senate last year by Richard Durbin, the Illinois Democrat, and Mike Lee, the Utah Republican — would halve mandatory minimum sentences for certain nonviolent drug crimes, which currently stand at five, 10 and 20 years. It would also give judges more discretion to sentence below the mandatory minimum in some cases, and it would provide a chance at early release for thousands of inmates sentenced under an older law that disproportionately punished crack cocaine offenders.

 

The Recidivism Reduction and Public Safety Act, introduced by Sheldon Whitehouse, Democrat of Rhode Island, and John Cornyn, the Texas Republican, would allow low-risk prisoners to earn credit for early release by participating in education, job training and drug treatment programs.

 

The op-ed has also generated some interesting letters to the editor in response.

 

We discussed this issue yesterday on the campus of Appalachian State University as part of its amazing series of social justice week events. My take? It's great we're discussing reforms, no matter the motivation. But, given that much of the motivation is financial in nature, I fear we'll lose focus once the budget situation turns around, if it ever does.

 

In fact, it is the conservative political ideology promoted by state and federal legislators since the 1960s that has gotten us into this mess, an ideology that says individual criminals are solely responsible for their crimes and only a get tough on crime response will stop them. This has not only led to massive disparities in criminal justice practice but also broken the bank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What reporters are supposed to do

In the book I make the point that the number of reporters nationwide has declined along with the number of newspapers, newspaper readers, and diversity of news ownership.

So, serious journalism has taken a hit and "fluff" or lifestyle news has taken off. It is the dumbing down of America.

... which has serious consequences for democracy.

In some places, our leaders--both elected but especially appointed--now think they can do whatever they want.

This is where the news business comes in. Part of their job is to fact check statements of our leaders and to call them out when they lie, cheat, steal, mislead, or even try to whitewash their own actions.

Luckily, in some places, brave reporters still exist. And they are doing their jobs.

Like with the Winston Salem Journal, where reporter Bertrand M. Gutierrez showed that the Watauga County Board of Elections (appointed and thus not accountable to the people) drafted three different versions of the minutes of a meeting where two members rammed through bizarre and undemocratic changes to our voting procedures, over the strenuous objections of the other board member as well as citizens in attendance. To add insult to injury, then they tried to cover it all up by changing the minutes of what transpired at the meeting, even though it's all on tape (because it was filmed and even aired on a national cable news-talk program). Their apparent motive is to hide what happened by literally taking out of the minutes any reference to what actually happened at that meeting.

Gutierrez's story can be found here:http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/article_05632b10-0a04-11e3-949f-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=story

Rachel Maddow shows the absurdity of it all on her show, which can be viewed here: http://wataugadems.com/1508

This is a great local example of how important the media are as watchdogs of the powerful.

Unfortunately, this is all happening in my own town!

Wanna see BIAS in the news?

Today I went over to Fox News to see what they were saying about the debates and whether it influenced the polls. Most news organizations I've heard have reported that Romney's debate win did not move the polls in a meaningful way.

Yet, today Fox News disagrees. And it is the lead story! Here is what the front page looks now now, October 5, 2012 at 4:30 pm:

Click on the word surge and the story takes you here: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/05/battleground-polls-tighten-in-aftermath-debate/

There Fox News suggests Romney has closed the gap between he and Obama, including in some key swing states.

But what I noticed on the front page was stunning.

It seems Fox News has started pointing out what they persceive to be bias in the media in its "BIAS ALERT" feature (they use capital letters, all red, to show examples). See the image below for what it looks like. I've circled two examples on today's Fox News website, which appear just below the lead story shown above:

The two stories I've circled suggest that, according to Fox News, bias in the news occurs when a reporter makes a point that suggests he or she is one-sided (and that a politician is biased because he offers a reason or excuse for Obama's poor performance in the debate).

In the first case, a Romney surrogate called the President lazy and the reporter "suggested" that he take it back (or at least that is what Fox news actually says on the front page of its website). To Fox News this is bias. But in fact if you read the story (here: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/10/05/andrea-mitchell-suggests-romney-surrogate-take-it-back-after-calling-obama-lazy/) she did not "suggest" anything. According to the story on Fox News itself, the reporter "asked" him if he wanted to take the comment back, probably in order to clarify his comment. Asking and suggesting are not the same thing, right? Heck Fox News doesn't really know what to call it, for they also say she "nudged" him to take it back.

Perhaps it is Fox News that is biased?

Don't think so? Well, notice the "story" below that. It is titled, "Liberals 'Freak Out' Over Obama's Debate." No bias there, right? That's a fair story to Fox News, I guess.

Finally, check out the top stories under the lead story on Fox News -- the one titled, "Surge" from the same Fox News web site today:

 

I've circled it to make it easier for you to see. Here, Fox News is taking stands on three separate political issues, offering their own interpretation of the facts. When they offer opinion labeled as opinion, that is appropriate. But when they offer it as news, this is not reporting. It is bias.

Right on the front page of Fox News.

Only notice they don't put, in large red letters beside it, "BIAS ALERT."

"We report. You decide." Right.

"Fair and balanced." Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure.

Yahoo News goes politics crazy ...

Their top stories today include:

• Ann Coulter: 'Democrats are dropping the blacks'
• Voting laws may disenfranchise 10 million Hispanic U.S. citizens

The first story has literally no meaning and thus I don't know why it is even news. The second story shows part of the massive effort by one political party to stop people from voting, at any cost.

And more ...

• Romney, in interview, says his tax rate is "fair"
• Romney: Obama is 'trying to fool' voters with inaccurate attacks

 Make up your own mind on those stories.

And of course crime and violence and random, scary things are all over the news too:

Texas inmate's 'spooky' death row story

Cleve Foster came within minutes of being executed only to be told he was given a reprieve. Third trip coming  

NFL coach's huge no-no following loss

Bill Belichick is in hot water for what he did to a referee after a controversial last-second call. Big fine likely 

New SARS-like virus sparks concern

A man infected with a strain of virus never seen before has health officials scrambling for answers. 'A lot of holes'  

Diver attacked in dramatic underwater clash

A spear fisherman has dinner in the bag until he comes face-to-face with a huge grouper. Watch the struggle

 

Difference between "that" and "those" in a speech

Recently, President Obama created a good bit of controversy for a statement he made in a speech. It's a statement that, taken in isolation, sounds very bad.

But, taken in context of the whole speech (including the very next line of the speech when President Obama says "The point is ..."), the single line of the speech is precisely the same thing that his opponent (Governor Mitt Romney) has made repeatedly on the campaign trail.

President Obama and Governor Romney both agree, and have said so in speeches this week--that our successes are not only due to our hard work and initiative, but also happen because of help we receive along the way from many others, including governments (who help educate us, provide for our safe transportation, clean air and water, public safety, etc.).

Yet, even as Governor Romney has said this very thing (this week he even said good people in government have helped us, too) somehow this did not outrage Fox News as it did when President Obama used the word "that" instead of "those.")

Watch Jon Stewart's explanation now: 

Part 1: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-25-2012/democalypse-2012---do-we-look-stupid--don-t-answer-that-edition

Part 2: http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-25-2012/democalypse-2012---do-we-look-stupid--don-t-answer-that-edition---grammatical-gaffes

Then come back and tell me how Governor Romney and Fox News can justify their invented and unnecessary outrage. And explain to me how Fox News could actually have two little girls who started a business on one of their programs and ask them "... how do you feel about the President saying that you needed help to start this business?"

And when they said that they DID have help from others, Fox News still did not get off the issue (nor did they acknowledge who paid for these kids' education .... um, taxpayers perhaps?).

The "Occupy" movement is a JUSTICE issue

The "Occupy" movement is a justice issue.

It is fundamentally about distribution of wealth, a topic addressed at length in my social justice class and briefly in the media book.

More on that later.

But it is also clearly impacting criminal justice. Just ask Marine and Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen, who was seriously injured by a police officer in Oakland while peacefully protesting IN A WHEELCHAIR! Watch how here.

Talk about an inappropriate use of force. (I am not passing judgment here, I understand why it happened; but understanding why does not justify or excuse it. It is clearly an excessive use of force based on guidelines adopted by law enforcement agencies around the country).

Back to the distribution issue. We live in society where the wealthiest Americans control a large share of the wealth. This is not necessarily unjust, for if it stems from differential claims on merit based on unique skills, harder work, etc., then social inequalities are justifiable.

Only, the extreme level of wealth distribution in society is NOT often based on such claims of merit. If you are born on third base, that does not mean you hit a triple.

And besides, Americans generally reject the level of income inequality in society. Stated simply, polls show Americans think the wealthy earn too much and the poor earn too little (people simultaneously say they support and strive for the American Dream, meaning they are not opposed to pursuing wealth itself, or the presence of a gap between the rich and poor ... just NOT a gap this big).

However you feel about it, you know that most people in the country are suffering financially right now. At least the 99% of us are.

* Not corporations which are making record profits.
* Not the top 1% which have actually seen dramatic improvements in wealth during a time when the rest of us are falling farther and farther behind.
* And, get this, not Congress.

A story in Roll Call says the collective net worth of Congress in 2010 exceeded $2 billion, a 25% increase from a similar analysis done in 2008.

Get that? Members of Congress are also getting richer. So they are clearly not part of the 99%.


Thus you should not expect Congress to do anything to address the "Occupy" movement.

Even though a majority of people support raising taxes on the 1% and eliminating corporate tax deductions to help create jobs.

Even Republicans! See?




I see "Even Republicans" because you wouldn't know it based on statements of Republicans members from Congress or the Republican candidates for President. Which of them says we should do these things to spur economic improvement for Americans, the 99%.

As far as I can tell. None of them. Because they are playing a political game to defeat the guy in the White House. Their theory is that, if the economy improves, he gets re-elected; if not, he does not.

Remember that as you continue to struggle with your bills and fall farther and farther behind. Maybe you'll remember that when you vote, too. Or maybe you'll even join the "Occupy" movement.


http://content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2011/11/richest-congress-members-michael-mccaul-/1

"The rich get richer and the poorer get poorer"

So says the lyrics of a recent Stephen Marley song (son of the late, great Bob Marley).
Only now you could add ... "and the middle class get poorer."

Here is what we now have in the US:

* The economy is growing
* Corporations are making record profits

Yet, most of us are falling further and further behind. Why?

* During the past several decades, the gap between the rich and the poor has widened as most of the tax breaks go to those that are the very best off financially
* Corporations making record profits are not hiring because of "uncertainty" in the economy (their words)

Thus, unemployment remains high because tax cuts do not spur hiring. In other words, the "trickle down" does not trickle down.

So one of the dominant stories in the news media over the past day has been the new report from the US Census Bureau. For example, USA Today reports:

* Poverty at 15.1%; its highest level since 1993.
* A typical U.S. family got poorer during the past 10 years in the first decade-long income decline in at least a half-century, new federal data show.
* Median household income fell 2.3% to $49,445 last year and has dropped 7% since 2000 after adjusting for inflation.
* Income was the lowest since 1996.
* Poverty rose, too. The share of people living in poverty hit 15.1%, the highest level since 1993, and 2.6 million more people moved into poverty, the most since Census began keeping track in 1959.
* This was most felt by the poor and minorities.
* The poor, the young and minorities had the biggest income drops last year. Median income for black households fell 3.2% to $32,068, while non-Hispanic white income fell 1.3% to $54,620, a decline that wasn't statistically significant.
* The share of Americans without coverage rose to 16.3% in 2010 from 13.1% in 2000. Government is insuring more people; employers are insuring fewer.

The only group NOT to do worse?

*  People 65 and older were the only group to prosper during the decade. Household income rose 7.5% adjusted for inflation over the decade, helped by Social Security.

Get that last part? Social security helped save old people from slipping into poverty.

And according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the federal stimulus prevented another 2 million people from falling into poverty, largely through the millions of jobs it created.

This seems like solid gold evidence against the pinheads who stood on the stage the other night and claimed things like the stimulus did not create a single job and that social security is a ponzi scheme.

Hope you're paying attention.

Either way, you're getting poorer, and so am I.

Median household income by demographic group. Note that since 2000, the average income in the US has NOT increased.

Who is getting media coverage in the race for President

It's Donald Trump, a man who thinks that President Obama was born in Kenya (false), who thinks he could meet with leaders of other nations and tell them in the eye, "This is how it is going to be," and who cannot answer a question about whether the right to privacy is in the US Constitution and how that relates to abortion.

Wow.


http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/21/medias-spotlight-shines-less-brightly-on-palin/

What Wisconsin is really all about

So if you are following the news, and I know you are, you know that many states are in serious financial trouble. One of them is Wisconsin, where state employees are being asked to sacrifice not only raises and pay, but also health and retirement benefits, plus give up their right to collective bargaining.

The Governor says it is necessary to solve the budget crisis.

Critics say it is just politics (because the unions are heavily Democratic and the Governor is Republican).

Now we know who is right.

A billionaire funder of politics around the country--one of the Koch brothers--called and got through to the Governor. This is the same guy who funds one of the national Tea Party groups and who hosts secret meetings of powerful people around the country to suggest strategies to impact policy. He talked to the Governor for 20 minutes.

And we only know about it because it was not really Mr. Koch but instead was a man described as a "liberal blogger." So the truth has come out what this is really all about.

It's just politics.

(now imagine if you lived in Wisconsin and wanted to talk to the Governor. Could you get through and talk to him for 20 minutes? Shows you the power of money in this country when a person living outside the state can get through and capture 20 minutes of the Governor's time.) As noted in the article: "So! A Koch brother can call up a nationally prominent Republican elected official and get an audience whenever he likes, basically. That is not particularly surprising, I guess."

http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2011/02/23/koch_walker_call

Legislators in Alabama upset about prison inmates meditating

Seriously.

NPR did a great story about it today.

See, this ancient meditation technique has its roots in Buddhism.

And Alabama is a Christian state, where only Christians are your brothers.

Never mind that it is a secular practice, not currently affiliated with any religion.

Or that it works.

According to the article, "inmates who go through the course have a 20 percent reduction in disciplinary action. But it hasn't been an easy sell in Alabama, a state known for harsh punishment policies like chain gangs and hitching posts."

But that is far less important to legislators.

Click on the link to read the story and to listen to the radio report.

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133505880/at-end-of-the-line-prison-an-unlikely-escape

Violent rhetoric leads to shooting of member of Congress

Sarah Palin ran an ad through her PAC targeting 20 people. Three of them retired. 16 were defeated. And the one who won?

She was just shot in the head by a lunatic with an automatic weapon.

This is not a coincidence. When people in positions of power use dangerous rhetoric to incite violence, there are people out there willing to carry it out for them.

As for Tea Party favorite Sharon Angle, who herself was narrowly defeated by Senator Harry Reid, her call was this:

"You know, our Founding Fathers, they put that Second Amendment in there for a good reason and that was for the people to protect themselves against a tyrannical government. And in fact Thomas Jefferson said it's good for a country to have a revolution every 20 years. I hope that's not where we're going, but, you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around? I'll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out."

Hey, idiots: PEOPLE ARE LISTENING to this stupidity!

Interesting political news from the first day of the new Congress

They pledged to repeal the new health care law (which by the way is impossible).

Yet, they also pledged to reduce the deficit.

Only, repealing the health care law will add to the deficit.

So, what to do?

Why is this on a blog about crime?

Because it ought to be illegal for more than 30 million Americans to be uninsured in the richest nation on Earth.

And with comments like this one, we'll have to start calling him BONER from now on:

"... the best health-care system in the world is going to go down the drain if we don't act" (House Majority Leader John Boehner).

For the record, our rankings from the World Health Organization and CIA World Fact Book put us nowhere near the top in any health rankings.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/06/AR2011010606159.html