Blog Talk:: Justice in conversation and collaboration

Hello Bloggy Buddies,

I was reading through a couple of the blogs I subscribe to and decided to engage them in conversation. Check out my commentary below and feel free to click the links to direct you to other blogs that have some really good content.

I am a devout follower/believer in Ella Baker Center. This entry focused on the new leaders in Alameda county and their devotion to reforming juvenile detention in Oakland/the Bay Area as a whole.


New and passionate leaders are always exciting-As are models such as the Missouri model (when I first began researching juvenile justice I saw Missouri as the “mecca” in the dark cloud of depressing irreversible facts and figures). I am curious as to HOW they would plan on imitating the Missouri model in Oakland. I have come to understand that generic activism on a large scale tends to lose its effectiveness. Big NGOs such as Red Cross have inspiring mission statements, however they also come with a lot of bureaucratic tape. Furthermore, the Missouri model works…in Missouri. In terms of culture, political climate, and financial status California (Oakland specifically) is very different. Can we include experts who have been in the state into this conversation as well? Instead of trying to improve our own systems by imitating others, we should look to these models as inspiration to create our own. 

I just started following a blog called Reclaiming futures. The entry I responded to was about the costs and benefits of youth in adult prisons vs youth prisons.

              

  Excellent point about long term investment- it is undeniable that the youth are the future. However, how do you suggest we eliminate pretrial detention? As much danger as it puts young people in, as detrimental as it is to the rehabilitation process, what are ways to guarantee that it does not happen? I have read thousands of facts and figures pointing out similar trends and how the current justice system is a large part of why juvenile delinquents grow up to be adult criminals as well and I cannot stop wondering about why it is so. If these facts are supported, widely understood within the general population then WHY have these systems been structured that way? I just finished a short essay examining how the juvenile justice system works within the social, political, and economic realms of American life but I would be interested to hear your hypothesis as to why things have stayed so fucked up for so long.

Third, I responded to a post on prison culture's blog. The entry was about police feeding the Prison Industrial Complex along with different tips/what rights you have in different encounters with the police. I want to print this entry out and post it in every urban community- spread the knowledge ya'll! The only way to beat the pigs is to stay together!!!

THIS IS SO HELPFUL! I want to post this is EVERY hood in America. How useful is it to film interactions with the police? Is that allowed? I feel like visual evidence is stronger than written evidence (though in some cases it is still not enough…#shoutout to Oscar Grant, RIP, we will never forget)
One of my peers and I were discussing the possibility of a bill being passed insisting upon police officers policing areas where they have been a resident for 5 years or more only. The ideology behind it is that those who protect and serve their community best are those that are from that community- they have a greater sense of investment in that community. I would be interested in hearing your thoughts around this proposal or any other suggestions to deal with the corrupt police force other than knowing your rights and recording badge numbers (as we know, this does not always work)