“How about we … make guns less sexy so they won’t be considered so cool by young people?” declared Jon Stewart, whose “Daily Show” semi-satiric news commentaries typically bring accolades from progressives. Those familiar with The Daily Show know Stewart often provides profound and original insights from which conventional commentators shrink. In a largely serious January 9 commentary, Stewart zeroed in on the extreme paranoia of a fraction of gun enthusiasts that some…
Blog Jan 10, 2013
The BSCC: A continued promise of oversight
The tapestry of California’s criminal justice system is populated with state agencies, each working to improve corrections and rehabilitation. While frequently unrecognized by an understandably busy public, these agencies nevertheless serve a necessary function. One such body is California’s Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) , which grew out of the abolished Board of Corrections and subsequent Corrections Standards Authority. The stated purpose of the board includes: …
Blog Jan 8, 2013
Reengaging disconnected youth in a tough economy
While effects of the recent recession and slow economic rebound on the U.S. labor market have been well documented, less attention has been paid specifically to youth unemployment and its potential long-term impacts . The rate of employment for 16 – 19 year-olds in the U.S. has dropped 42% since 2000, leaving 3 of 4 such youth jobless. Even brief spells of youthful unemployment can cause what the Economist calls “wage scars “ – decreased earning power lasting well into workers’ adult years. …
Over one year into Realignment, local justice stakeholders across the state remain challenged by the responsibility of serving an increased number of offenders. Some jurisdictions approach this new era as an opportunity for innovation and creativity, whereas others view it as the state skirting its responsibility. San Francisco, in keeping with its history of self-reliance, approached Realignment as a chance to implement community-based practices that support rehabilitation while achieving…
By Mike Males & Anthony Bernier Oakland, California’s, troubled police department is the first ever to be taken over completely by a federal judge and his appointed director. Oakland’s newest police chief, Howard Jordan, the fifth in a recent succession, has proven unable to reform a department plagued by systematic police brutality and racial profiling and, despite exorbitant budgets, chronic understaffing, abysmal crime-solving rates, and a severely backlogged laboratory. U.S. District…