To Do Justice

Waking The Monster

2011-04-05T10:35:00.001-05:00

The vacililation of opinions regarding the U.S. military involvement in Libya inspired this poem. President Obama was prudent and cautious. The requests came in from the rebels first, then the EU, then the UN authorized a mission to "protect civilians" among other things, and even the Arab League was calling out for assistance . . . they woke the unpredictable nature of an international miltary engagement . . .

Waking the Monster

"Help," they cried

You watch us die

Like reality TV

But less personal

Even the babies

"Help!" they screamed

You witness slaughter

Claim you care

But you are nowhere

We need food . . . and force!

"Help," they pled

Before all are dead

Freedom just a word

Effective popaganda

Like 'Strategic Interest'

"Help," they begged

Our cause near lost

Towns shattered

Lives battered

Thought we mattered

HELP!" they cried

"Yes," I sighed

And help I tried

But, many died

On both sides

"ENOUGH!" they cried

Too much destruction

Too many deaths

I know, but I can't

Not now, not yet

68% - A Solid "D"!

2010-05-26T21:03:00.003-05:00

If someone told you that the graduation rate for the Chicago Public Schools, within 5 Years, was 68% would be shocked? Or perhaps you'd think it not so bad.

Well, what if that was the highest rated demographic, which it is according to an analysis of Illinois State Board of Education data? That demographic would be White female. The lowest graduation rate of any demographic was Black males at . . . 41%.

According to Andrew Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, "Lack of a diploma and solid work is the best predictor of ending up in jail." Not an earth shattering conclusion, but it should still be a call to action.

The complete data for the study shows just how ill prepared our youth are for the rigors of a competitive job market, and how our young men or all races are falling behind their female counterparts.

While the education debate often centers on the "gaps", our schools are becoming holding patterns for kids that will eventually feed the Prison Industrial Complex. Given this latest data, the raw materials for that industry are plentiful!

I read an article some time back titled "The Adoration of the Question." Essentially the author was lamenting about how we get stuck in our research, reporting, convening, discussion of issues (specifically the issue of our failure to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system), instead of taking action. Our failure as a community, as citizens and as individuals, to upgrade education as a priority is inexcusable.

As I've said before (but it's been a while since I blogged), our failure to educated our children is a moral, ethical, and even national security issue. Genius is unpredictable. Our next Einstein, Percy Julian, or Imhotep could be suffering from poorly motivated teachers and instead of providing the next miracle drug, delivering drugs in his neighborhood.

If not you, who . . . is going to make a difference?

I 'Had" A Dream . . .

2010-01-08T10:34:00.001-06:00

Last night I had a dream that I was engaged in a serious debate about what type of support society should provide to those incarcerated for various crimes. And frankly I was losing badly.

My opponents (now in my awakened state faceless folks of mostly emotion and solid arguements), made a number of rational points, all difficult to refute or deny: "Nobody made them engage in criminal activity", "Others grow up in the same conditions and don't resort to criminal behavior", "Our resources should be used to support the law abiding . . . why should their health care be any better than ours?", and so on.

In this dream, as a result of this barrage, my head was swimming trying to figure out a way to make a sensible and convincing argument in favor of support. I considered the cost of incarceration to society, families, communities and individuals, especially over non-violent crimes like drug possession. I thought about the incredible challenges ex-offenders already face with finding a job with a living wage. I thought about the education/skill gap that could be addressed while incarcerated . . . if only the programs were there. And that last point was where I placed the stake . . .

One of the principle causes of the growing burden of prisoners and prisons on our society is really a fundamental outcome of the failure of our educational system.

In other words, we are spending an enormous amount of money incarcerating our population - the largest prison population of any country in the world - because we lack the foresite and commitment to adequately educate our people. Put another way, we are wasting our human capital at both ends of the spectrum. Instead of investing in the very resource that would help our country remain a leader in all areas of human endeavor, we are throwing our treasure away on prisons. And these prisons, year after year, turn out thousands of governmental/societal "dependents", the majoirty of whom will require the support of one program after another, few of which will provide the level of independence human beings need to thrive and contribute.

Instead of using third grade failure rates as a guage to determine how many prisons to be built, perhaps we should be using that same data as an indicator requiring an infusion of educational resources!

Thougts?

A Culture of Not Snitching

2009-12-16T12:53:00.002-06:00

So Police Chief Weis is lamenting the "code of silence" in the community, and that there is not a "sense of community and civic urgency" to share information with police, as an important reason behind the lack of quick resolution to crimes, particularly Fenger High beatings. Of course people in the community ask the critical question, "what have the police done to earn our trust?".

Shuffling officers into and out of impoverished neighborhoods, where their only focus is on maintaining the peace, often by any means necessary, does practically nothing to develop the kind of relationship that engenders trust and confidence from the people in those communities. And then you add to that the infamous "Blue line" of silence . . . you could almost say the police invented the code of silence. Certainly they enforce that code more tightly than any other structured organization.

As Chief Weis has settled into his position I've noticed him becoming the "Apologist in Chief" as much as anything. Only the most egregious police offense has caused him to sway from that position . . . oh, egregious and caught on tape. I've known enough police in my life to know that many are dedicated to their jobs, and the idea of service to the community. I also know that the vast majority of good police get tainted by the odor of corruption and brutality of the few, when they excuse it and fail to report it. The fact that the Chicago Police Department refuses to release reports of officers abuse accusations, is a testament to the effectiveness of the blue wall of silence.

Until a noticeable and obvious shift in community policing standards and tactics is implemented, one where community relationships are viewed as important and measurable components on an officer's career track record, I'm afraid people will continue to view them with understandable suspicion and often outright disdain. I wish this were not the case, but wishing won't make it go away . . . and neither will words without action.

What do you think?

Back to Basics

2009-12-04T09:39:00.004-06:00

Have you ever thought of taking yourself, and even your family "off the grid"? Essentially planting yourself in a rural location far removed from cell towers, electrical towers . . . even water towers. And teaching yourself to live from the land to the extent possible. Well Brother Fred Carter and his family are doing just that in a rural township just outside of Chicago - Hopkins Park, and I had the pleasure of visiting them last week in my work with the Positive Anti-Crime Thrust (PACT).

The Black Oak Center for Renewable Sustainable Living is a living example of of how to make efficient use of our limited resources, and more importantly a place of community values and educational opportunity. The vision that guides their work:

Our vision is to create safe, healing spaces founded on the principles of environmental stewardship and social equality. A place where community can learn skills required to master sustainability to lead a successful transition to a post carbon world. From this, our communities, families, and children will be resilient. Hence, they will be fully capable of being lifeboats thriving during an energy descent.

They have been conducting retreats and hands-on educational experiences for children from Chicago, and have a curriculum that includes Sustainable Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Building. In addition they have been instrumental in developing the African American Farmers Co-op, which supports farmers markets throughout Chicago.

One of the projects PACT is working on involves developing a fulfillment capacity for farmers markets that would provide sales and distribution jobs for ex-offenders. The fact is that the African American community suffers from a syndrome commonly referred to as "Food Deserts". This results when there are no opportunities to purchase fresh produce within a given geography (all Micky D's and Liquor stores). One partial solution to that problem is the development and support of farmers markets (my church, Trinity UCC began this year putting on a market every Saturday).

Please consider helping out Black Oaks with a donation this holiday season. It's a great opportunity to support an effort that is unique and forward thinking.

I'd love to hear what you think.

Daryle

Off With their Heads

2009-11-13T11:09:00.004-06:00

A couple of death sentence cases have been in the news lately, one regarding the execution of John Allen Muhammad — the D.C. Sniper, and the other talking about the death sentence given Brian Dugan by a DuPage County jury for the 1983 rape and murder of 10-year-old Jeanine Nicarico. A Facebook friend, and a preacher and teacher I both appreciate and respect, expressed her gladness that Mr. Muhammed was dead. That was quite surprising and made me think, but I didn't respond . . . until now.

I attended the annual awards dinner of the Illinois Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty last night and was struck by the contrast between this groups actions and my FB friends statement. Their position is No Death Penalty . . . period. No matter what you did, how you did it or even how much you enjoyed it, or if you feel sorry about it or not. Now I'm sure my Rev. friend was speaking from a purely emotional sense, but it still made me consider my true feelings on the subject, and challenge myself to understand why I agree with the CEDP.

My opposition is based on the following:

The state simply should not be in the death business. Executioner is not a job description we should be posting as an open position.
While we have the ability to take a life, we do not have the ability to give it back.
The death penalty is given more often to people of color and the poor, not based on the severity of the crime . . ..
Our criminal justice system has so many flaws, from forced confessions, to police torture, from sloppy forensics to DA's that are only out to make a name for themselves, and
Perhaps the only idea that matters to most folks, it is too expensive. In Texas they estimate it costs $2.2M to execute a prisoner after all is said and done (trials, appeals, etc.) enough to keep the inmate in jail for over 100 years!!!!

In the end, the death penalty serves no one except those seeking revenge. It isn't cheap for the government, it isn't a deterent and isn't reversible.

Thoughts?

" . . . together, the ants ate the elephant."

2009-11-10T09:41:00.005-06:00

I came across this quote as I visited the web site of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, to make plans to attend their 2010 Clergy and Lay Leadership conference a couple of weeks ago, ". . . together, the ants ate the elephant." It struck me, and has stuck with me since.

Immediately I performed a Google search trying to locate the source, which the best I could find was simply an African proverb. In some places the quote was led with "working", as in "working together, . . .". I've since featured it on my Facebook status, and now include it in my email signature. Why? Well, I'm glad I asked. :)

For those of us that have decided to focus time and energy on bringing the basic concepts of fairness, justice, equality, and other high-minded moral constructs such as these to the underprivileged and oppressed, the work often seems completely overwhelming. The battlefield is immense, and it is easy to think, as many do, that one person cannot make a difference, or even more damaging, "I can't make a difference". Everyone can identify examples of one person making a difference, Ghandi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, etc., but of course few of us have egos large enough to see ourselves in that esteemed company.

While, yes, there is a place for the force of powerful personalities in moving societies to great change this quote reminds us that the key to making change happen is in our working together toward a common goal. Having a great leader of a movement is important, but only if there is a critical mass of people working together to get the work done. Do we need leaders and spokespersons? Yes. But just as importantly we need people like you and me!

One story I read associated with this quote talked about the ants being particularly peeved that the elephant kept walking all over them, taking lives and destroying homes. One ant eventually began discussing retaliation. Not an easy argument, but eventually the ants agreed to a plan. They would dig a series of tunnels in one spot along the path that the elephant took to the watering hole each day, so that his weight would cause the tunnels to collapse, and trap the elephant. Each ant had a part to play in the plan, and once completed the entire village stood wait for the elephant to arrive. Well, the end is no mystery, the elephant collapsed the tunnels and was trapped, and "together, the ants ate the elephant".

There are many elephants out there. And they are stomping all over the rights of people, humanitarian and otherwise. Luckily there are also many, many ants that if only they/we work together, can bring them down.

Juvenile Life Without Parole - Part Deux

2009-10-22T18:16:00.004-05:00

I expect that until this issue is resolved I will return to it on this blog. The video below is from a young lady that was sentenced as a 16 year old for a murder (she's now 29). There is no excuse for murder, no one is arguing that. What the discussion centers around is if a child should be considered an adult by the court system, even though medical evidence tells us that the brain is not fully developed in a child or teenager. Sarah Kruzan, one of the many prisoners in the U.S. (one of the only countries in the world that continues this sentencing practice) sentenced to Life Without Parole as a child tells her story in the video below.

Should Sarah be released? I have no idea. But, what I do know is that at some point, if we are as civilized as we claim to be, one day she will be able to make her case before a parole board that is charged with determining whether or not she has reformed herself.

That's what I think.

The Plight of Ex-Offenders

2009-09-26T20:13:00.002-05:00

A significant result of the War on Drugs, and the reality of that community crushing propaganda filled effort, has been the declaration of war on Americans that use drugs. The statistics are staggering with America's incarcerated population growing over 300% since the "declaration", and of course most of this growth has been disproportionaly black and brown citizens. Not because they use far more drugs, but primarily because they are easier targets, and the system is harsher in their sentencing.

So now we have huge populations of ex-offenders returning to those communities and our choice as a society is whether they return to resources that are available to help them become productive citizens, or do we abandon them to become community predators.

Yesterday my Prison Ministry at Trinity United Church of Christ held our first Life Expo for "Returning Citizens". This event was a one-stop-shop opportunity for men and women to connect with resources that might ease their reintegration efforts, from veteran's affairs and expungement support from the Wayne County Bar, to housing, education and entrepreneurial training opportunities.

Between the State of Illinois and the Federal Government there are grants made available to agencies working on this issue, but there are still tremendous roadblocks in the way. In Illinois for instance there are restrictions on felons being eligible for licences for a variety of occupations . . . some make sense, others may make you wonder what the hell were our policy makers thinking. For example, felons can not hold the following jobs:

Architect
Athletic Trainer
Auctioneer
Barber (as the kids say WTF)
Boxer
CPA (well, ok I might buy that)
Cosmetologist
Nail Technician (really . . . nail technician???)
Embalmer
Funeral Director
Farm Labor Contractor

And almost 30 more!

In the end, if we are serious about reentry and providing a second chance for folks that have served their time, we need to be serious about bring some common sense to the issue of licensing restrictions on felons.

What do you think?

Drug Test Welfare Recpients?

2009-09-18T09:36:00.002-05:00

The question was posed to me on one of the Facebook polls this morning: "Should you have to take a drug test for welfare?"

An initial emotional response can easily be "yes". If the government is going to assist individuals surely we have the right to know that they are drug free, that our tax dollars are not being used to support bad behavior. This type of policy would work to reduce the welfare rolls and our subsequent wasted tax dollars. Ideally it would force welfare moms to clean up their act.

Or, just maybe, this type of policy would increase the misery of a population that is obviously struggling to meet the day to day sustenance requirements of life. Perhaps this would result in the perpetuation through the generations of this poverty and helplessness as the children in these households also suffer the consequences of their parents' bad decisions.

Of course, if drug testing was used as an intervention tool, one that led to treatment for the drug problem, that would be entirely different, and from my view positive. As a society we need to move away from the punitive nature of drug policy, toward one based on the recognition that it is a medical issue. There is a plethora of medical research that lends support to this argument and we need to work to have the scientific evidence hold sway over the propaganda from the absolutely failed policies of the "war on drugs".

In the end a recognition of the drug problem as a medical issue will save thousands, perhaps millions, of Americans from a life of misery on the fringes of society, from leaving families and children in their destructive wakes, and reduce our prison populations and the increasing percentage of tax dollars going to run those prisons. This seems like a left/right win-win if I ever saw one.

What do you think?

What's compassion got to do with it?

2009-09-11T00:56:00.003-05:00

If I were not such an optimist, I would just give up discussing Health Care Reform (no, really, I was a member of Optimist International for many years when I lived in Detroit).

One of my Facebook friends mentioned that he saw a lack of compassion among his "right-leaning" friends, specifically involving the health care reform debate, speculating that only 10% of this set of friends had "compassion". What was interesting was that they quickly rose up . . . and proved his point. The discussion quickly ventured off into the various propaganda espoused by opponents, "what has the government done for me?", or "has the government every created a program that worked?", and forgetting the question of compassion as it relates to this issue.

One definition I found for compassion: Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it. For me, that does it. It's like empathy with an action orientation. Romans 6:1-2, the Message Bible translation, reads as follows:

Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?"

If compassion is a characteristic you feel is part of your personality . . . an aspect of who you are, how could you not be willing to support health care for everyone?

I'm not trying to preach, but I am confused by the vehemence of the opposition.

What do you think?

Positive Anti-Crime Thrust, Inc - New Web Site

2009-09-08T00:57:00.002-05:00

I've just finished launching a new web site for the Positive Anti-Crime Thrust (PACT) a project that is long over due (I'm not going to say how long, but my good friend and mentor in criminal justice issues HS knows). This is just the incentive I need to stay current with my blog (at least weekly is my goal).

I know that for now I am just talking to myself, but hopefully with the launch of the new PACT site a few folks will be tempted to see what I've got to say here.

Two additional things for today:

My Prison Ministry at Trinity UCC held our 15th annual clothing giveaway on Saturday September 5th. It was a lot of work but we must have received 150 bags of useful clothes, and many more that were on hangers. It was a wonderful example of community effort and the donors provided an abundance that was a blessing to those in need. Pictured below is the morning organizing (pre shoppers).
On September 15th the Trinity UCC Prison Ministry will be hosting an Expo for Returning Citizens. This event will provide a "one stop shop" of sorts where resources from housing and employment, to health and counseling will be available for those who need to make contact with sevices vital to keeping them on a path to good citizenship. It is our first time trying something like this, so if you pray, please includes this program in your prayers.

Until next time . . .

Daryle

Juvenile Life Without Parole - JLWOP

2009-08-22T20:03:00.003-05:00

OK, one more time I'm going to try to be more diligent with the blog.

One of the issues we are beginning to address in my prison ministry is the sentencing of children from 13-17 to life in prison with no possibility of parole. As you might imagine, I think this is a ludicrous situation, but I'm not alone in my line of thinking - the United States is currently the only country in the world that allows this sentence to be rendered.

There are approximately 2,500 of these individuals. While no one is asking for a blanket pardon for these individuals, many of us do believe that these individuals deserve to have a chance to have their cases reviewed by a parole board and considered for parole. Imagine a 14 year old serving as a lookout when a murder was committed. Of course there is no excuse for the conduct, and certainly even children should be held responsible for their actions, but are we to assume that that child, now a 45 year man is the same person. After 30 years in prison, literally growing up there, should he still carry the full burden of guilt from the awful decision he made as a child.

Well, I server a God that allows 2nd, 3rd . . . Nth chances and I believe we can be rational enough to allow a review of a childhood sentence to asertain if a person is fit to be given a chance to re-enter society.

What do you think?

Eviction Moratorium in Cook County Illinois

2008-10-12T07:44:00.006-05:00

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart took an interesting position this week, announcing that his department would no longer enforce evictions for properties in foreclosure. This includes single homes, apartments and condominiums in Chicago and the near suburbs. While it appears that the decision was influenced by some issues with evictions in the Albany Park neighborhood that were brought to his attention, none the less, Dart appears to have focused on community distress rather than business interests.

I have to admit I'm a bit torn. Is this what it seems to be on the surface, or is it another calculated political move? I hate to be so cynical, but Chicago politics being what the are, cynicism is as much a self-defense mechanism as anti-bodies in the blood stream.

For now, I'm going to give Sheriff Dart the benefit of the doubt, primarily because he was reacting to a real problem brought to him by the Albany Park Community Council. My real test for his department is how they will react when the bankers challenge his decision in courts. Will he put up a spirited defense of his actions, or will he "let it go", and simply use this in a future political race as evidence of his support of the people.

What do you think?

Daryle

Thoughts from the Faith Summit for Criminal Justice Reform

2008-10-06T14:27:00.004-05:00

The Community Renewal Society, a Chicago based social justice organization hosted a Faith Summit October 5th, 2008. This short, but sweet meeting provided an opportunity for those interested in social justice issues to discuss and collaborate, and importantly provided encouragement . . . encouragement in our mission, in our causes and in the rightness of our efforts. This was an ecumenical perspective with many faiths represented on the formal agenda and prayers offered from Christian, Muslim and Jewish leaders. This was an informative and spirit filled event.

Covering subjects from dealing with Long-Term Prisoner issues, Victims issues, the need to move to Restorative Justice, and Alternatives to Incarceration, to Grandparents Rights and Barriers to Reentry, this was an opportunity to broaden our perspectives.

For me, I have been wrestling with an inmate's desire to set up a reconciliation event for perpetrators and victims at one of the prisons in Illinois. Honestly I have had a hard time trying to figure out an approach that would get the support needed by the prison warden. I was blessed to meet Rev. Robert Spicer at the Summit, a Pastor and Restorative Justice Trainer, actively involved in the Community Justice for Youth Initiative. Our initial discussions were extremely positive and we will be working together to make the reconciliation event a reality. I will be reporting progress as we work to move this forward.

For everyone in attendance this was an opportunity for people of faith to gather the information needed to begin to address a broad range of justice issues. From what I could tell it was a wonderful success.

One important form of support available to anyone reading this blog is to become a signatory on the Statement of People of Faith on the Transformation of the Illinois Criminal Justice System. Please, if you believe, as I do, that true justice will never exist in Illinois (or the broader USA) without proactive involvement of our faith based institutions and concerned citizens, take the step and sign on by clicking here: Statement of People of Faith.

The statement begins as follows: "As people of faith, we are committed to the transformation of the causes and impact of crime in our communities and the transformation of our criminal justice system. The reality of the United States system of criminal justice often stands in stark contrast to the shared and deeply held values of our diverse religious traditions and our shared civic traditions of democracy."

Until next time, God bless you.

Daryle

Introduction

2008-10-03T11:21:00.000-05:00

Hello and good day!

My name is Daryle Brown and while I've started a couple of blogs, I have yet to be faithful to them, failing to update them on anything resembling a regular basis. I think that is because I was being too broad in defining them. I was trying to address too much. While I have opinions on many topics, I am most passionate about justice. Therefore this blog will focus entirely on issues of justice, fairness, and lapses, as I see them, in our societies approaches to a level playing field for all.

A bit of background: I've been accused of being an activist by my friends for over 25 years. While I first joined an Optimist Club soon after college, it was really to provide an opportunity for me to gain experience in public speaking. Well, for those of you that understand God's way with us, He will place you in places and situations that are for reasons you may not realize, to do things you were not expecting. In my case becoming a member of the Optimist Club of Renaissance Detroit was the beginning of 25 years of service to my community. From there my work expanded to Junior Achievement of Southeast Michigan as a volunteer teaching business principles to high schoolers, the founding of the Africare Detroit chapter of Africare, an "on the ground" development organizations focused on providing real solutions to those in need on the continent f Africa, and over the years a host of other community service projects.

My family moved to Chicago (Oak Park actually) in 1997, and soon joined the Trinity United Church of Church. Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr. was a pastor that we had become familiar with as a frequent visitor to our church in Detroit, Hartford Memorial Baptist Church. He was (is) a good friend of Rev. Dr. Charles G. Adams, who baptised me, and our children, and married my wife and I.

Trinity is important to this introduction because it was there that my community service inclination led me to join the Prison Ministry. My involvement with prison ministry focused my attention on the cause of justice. For the last 8 years I have visited many prisons and jails in Illinois, and Wisconsin. Our ministry writes to over 150 inmates across America, and we have developed a variety of programs to both try to keep our youth from getting caught up in the justice system, and programs to assist newly released prisoners start a new life.

While most see this population as the discards of society, I have seen the potential they represent. Of course many folks in prison deserve to be there, but a vast number would never see the inside of a prison if not for a society that believes in punishment far more than rehabilitation.

My goal with this blog is to raise awareness of the issues with our law, and the application of it, as our communities are deprived of vitality and hope. Instead we are greeted with despair and hopelessness. I am looking for open dialog that will form consensus toward humanitarian reform of our criminal justice system.

In closing, I would like to encourage allies and opponents alike to contribute their ideas and passion to the commentaries that will be forthcoming.

Daryle