June 2007 in the News
Helping offenders’ transition; 6/22/2007
DAILY TIMES: When people in society are convicted of crimes, typically they are sentenced to serve years of their life in prison. When they get out, they often have difficulty finding jobs, buying cars, getting loans or even renting apartments. Within three years, about two-thirds of those offenders are re-arrested and about half of those who are rearrested return to prison. That’s the way the system works. Scores of national and international faith leaders, educators, politicians, attorneys, judges, correctional system officials and concerned citizens who want to see change will discuss ways communities can improve the system of re-integrating offenders back into society and establishing mediation systems designed to heal crimes at the “National Conference on Restorative Justice,” which will be Sunday through Wednesday at Schreiner University, 2100 Memorial Blvd.
Heresy, healing, courts and crime; 6/20/2007
FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM: Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins admits that some people may label him a heretic for his radical moves in criminal justice. At a local Juneteenth celebration last week, he talked about the radical thinking of another heretic he admires: Martin Luther King Jr. Watkins said that in his study of the civil rights movement, it is surprising that it was born in the heart of Dixie, the land of Jim Crow laws and lynchings, rather than in the North, where African-Americans had more freedom. But the movement began where the yearning for freedom compelled people to boldly defy oppressive customs and attitudes.
Carlos Guerra: How Texas' state jails are keeping the wrong prisoners in longer; 06/19/2007
San Antonio Express-News: In conversation, "prison" and "jail" are often used interchangeably, though most of us know the difference. Until the mid-1990s, Texas convicts served sentences for misdemeanors and very low-level felonies — one year or less — in county jails. Those given longer stretches were either sent to state prisons or paroled. Public outcries changed that, however. On the one hand, some were screaming that too many felons were being put back on the streets without serving time. On the other hand, others were howling that first-time offenders who committed minor, nonviolent crimes were being housed with hardened criminals, in essence putting petty criminals into "universities" where they were learning to commit more heinous offenses.
Editorial: Texas lawmakers send mixed messages on penal reform; 6/13/2007
WACO TRIBUNE: For once, this time around the Texas Legislature was talking smart about the tremendous black hole that is prisons. Even more impressively, it acted on the intelligent talk. The saying, “Texas is a whole other country” certainly applies to its prison system. It holds 153,000 inmates. That’s more than some states have people — more than the entire populations of Vermont, Wyoming and Alaska. Leading into this decade, Texas’ rate of incarceration more than doubled the national average. This time around, Texas stepped back from its “lock ’em up” fixation. It looked afresh at its prison system. Lawmakers realize some people don’t need to be in maximum security. Some people need to be in drug treatment or community-based corrections.
Craig Watkins: We must be smart on crime; 6/11/2007
DALLAS MORNING NEWS: During my first 100 days as Dallas County district attorney, I have challenged outdated notions of what constitutes justice and laid the groundwork for real, systemic change. Violence is prevalent in our county, and we must face that violence head on. There is no place in our community for murderers, rapists, child molesters and other violent predators. Justice demands that these predators face swift prosecution and harsh punishment. I am committed to removing these outlaws from our streets and ensuring the safety of our families and neighbors. Where these criminals are concerned, being "tough on crime" is the only appropriate response.