Helping change Criminal Justice SystemRe: [statecom-discuss] Fwd: No Fees on Offenders

[BillCunningham]

Can the bills be posted, so we can all see them?  I realize they may not have all been assigned numbers yet....

-----Original Message-----
>From: Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
>Sent: Feb 2, 2007 5:36 PM
>To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>Subject: Helping change Criminal Justice SystemRe: [statecom-discuss] Fwd: No	Fees on Offenders
>
>Interesting, Betts - I filed legislation to follow through on my camapgin 
>issues - especially in areas that seemed to crying out for resolution where 
>others were not - one was about six bills addressing different aspects of the 
>criminal (in)justice system.   Those added to a number of other good bills being 
>proposed and a couple more I am trying to get done through the budget process or 
>adminstratively could create a systemic shift.
>
>If you are willing to write press on these and maybe help with fact sheet 
>devleopment or outreach.networking plans that would be spectacular- let me konw 
>what youare up for-
>
>and anyone else out there with some energy - this could be a VERY impactful 
>focus - Love, grace
>In a message dated 2/2/07 3:11:25 PM, zisk at bu.edu writes:
>
>
>> Here is finally a position with which I can agree wnoleheartedly. Perhaps
>> because I know the inmates' dependence on outside support and the poor
>> families trying to support them against all odds. I speak from two yr's
>> experience having ccordinated the Alternatives to Violence program in
>> Norfolk, before Weld shut it down; and alas a four year relationship
>> following that, with a man serving a life sentence at Norfolk (okay you
>> didnt know this about me). I essentially supported him to the tune of more
>> than $100 a month during those yrs because his family couldnt. (Yes I still
>> care--but relationship ended when the threat of strip searches for me became
>> all pervasive.)  This fee is an outrage because it is levied on those
>> families who are quite poor to begin with.
>> 
>> I realize that prisoners rights arent a sexy or urgent topic right now.
>> After all, they are behind bars for a reason, etc etc. A few organizations
>> like the Legal Services group and the AFSC are behind this cause (on very
>> minimal basis because of budget constraints.)I support those efforts from a
>> budget stretched thin on so many efforts.
>> 
>> I wld like to suggest, in the mildest possible way, that we try very hard to
>> stick to local or regional issues when we take a stand. I would like to
>> suggest as well that when our national GPUS has taken a stand on foreign
>> policy we support them rather than taking our own stand--unless for urgent
>> reasons we disagree with them.Maybe Elie and Jamie could print a summary of
>> GPUS stands to help us along.
>> 
>> I find plenty to criticize in Mass politics (and I am sure Grace can add
>> chapter and verse.) I could name about five issues that I think deserve a
>> lot of our attention: the lousy health care program that Romney proposed is
>> one; prisoners rights (and the terrible conditions at MCI Walpole in max
>> security) is another. Lack of affordable housing statewide is a third. And I
>> guess my fourth and fifth would have to do with ecology--for example
>> overfishing and the resultant deaths (two boats lost lately) because of the
>> pressure to get it fast, regardless of safety. And (#5) the continuing
>> pollution of our outmoded plants. I realize all of these are tame issues in
>> comparison with stopping the war or issues about Palestine. But please note
>> that they are all local. We seem to have forgotten that.
>> 
>> Please I dont want to demean anyone working on other issues. But I urgently
>> suggest that we start with local issues. And I urge the AdCom to take a
>> stand on prisoners rights just for starters.
>> 
>> I am slowly getting back into shape. I will be glad to help wth drafting a
>> few statements if that will help--I just cant attend mtgs right now. With
>> respect--for all that Statecomm has done, and all of the mediating efforts
>> that people like Grace and Jill have tried. I love the GRP and I dont want
>> to leave it. I hope and pray that we can keep on track. And this isnt meant
>> to stifle opinions. I was a proudcarryng member of ACLU long before Mike
>> Dukakis was hesitant about admitting his membership. Poor Mike. I am glad I
>> never ran for office) Betts Zisk (the longest statement you will ever hear
>> from me).
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org
>> [mailto:statecom-discuss-bounces at green-rainbow.org]On Behalf Of
>> Gracegrnrnbw at aol.com
>> Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 2:10 PM
>> To: statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>> Subject: [statecom-discuss] Fwd: No Fees on Offenders
>> 
>> 
>> Wow, the things that happen that ouodn't hear about because you go away!
>> See below and then google "Patrick safety fees" if you want to read the
>> press
>> coverage at the time...
>> 
>> I don't know how much people are following developments with the new
>> adminstration but Patrick has pretty consistently proposed regressive
>> taxes - this is
>> certainly yet another one.
>> 
>> And what is the appeal of another fee on those who get convicted?
>> Overwhelming low-income folks, overwhelmingly people of color?   Given that
>> white
>> collar crime is rarely prosecuted, this just continues the criminal justice
>> system's bias.
>> 
>> but what I really find staggering is that the only appeal I see here is the
>> right wing tough-on-crime = people of color as criminals subtext.   didn't
>> we
>> just hear all this outrage when Healey used that angle to try to win an
>> election?   But it's okay as the basis of tax/fee policy?
>> 
>> Love, grace
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> statecom-discuss mailing list
>> statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>> http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss
>> 
>> 
>
>_______________________________________________
>statecom-discuss mailing list
>statecom-discuss at green-rainbow.org
>http://www.green-rainbow.org/mailman/listinfo/statecom-discuss


Bill Cunningham