Non Revocable Parole (NRP) Release

On January 25, 2010, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) instituted measures to reduce the State’s prison population. Specifically, Non Revocable Parole (NRP) was instituted under the authority of Penal Code Section 3000.03. By the end of 2010, CDCR estimates the prison population will be reduced by approximately 6,500 offenders through the implementation of NRP and enhanced early release credits. Los Angeles County is expected to have some 6, 000 NRP inmates by the end of the year; some who will represent a portion of the 21,000 supervised parolees expected to return to Los Angeles County during the year.

The NRP parolees are non-supervised, CAN NOT have a parole hold place on them pursuant to Penal Code Section 3056, and CAN NOT be returned to custody for a parole violation. However, they are subject to the same search conditions as supervised parolees. Eligibility for NRP is based on the following criteria:

1) Non-serious or non violent offender

2) Non-sex offender

3) Non-validated prison gang member

4) Low or moderate risk offender; and,

5) Individuals who have not committed a serious in-custody.

The CDCR will implement an upgrade to the parole Law Enforcement Automated Data Systems (LEADS) system for law enforcement to assist with the tracking of all parolees. This database contains parolee information including photographs taken of inmates when they are released. The NRP parolees will be added to LEADS with their photographs and unverified address.

What do you think about the new NRP for tha folks on lock down?

Resource Center Named in Honor of the late Kenneth Garner

At the Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Downtown Los Angeles, the school’s new resource center was named in the memory of the late Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Kenneth O. Garner. Deputy Chief Garner was a member of the LAPD for 31 years before his sudden passing in March of 2009. He was an active member of the community and last served as the Commanding Officer of Operation South Bureau. His work in starting the “Honor and Strength parolee re-entry program and has served individuals looking to get their lives back on track and become productive members of society.

Built with funds by the Rotary Club of Los Angeles, the resource collection included books, online periodicals and peer reviewed journals, DVD’s, access to academic research papers, and Internet-based research tools focused on the application of forensic psychology theories, principles, and evidence-based practiced in law enforcement. The collection will be made available at no cost to criminal justice agencies and organization including LAPD, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Mayor’s office, and community and faith based organizations involved in local parolee reentry projects.

Stop by and check it out…..I was able to find legal literature and statistics on legal data.

In 2002 while I was incarcerated I was blessed with the unique opportunity to perform an original piece of poetry which when on to become published work by an organization called Justice Now (http://www.jnow.org/). The CD collection is entitled “The We That Set Us Free” polictical icons such as Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, and Climbing Poetry also appear as guest artist on this CD collection. I actually performed this piece standing in the visitation room at the Central California Women Facility. Enjoy and hopefully you will support our cause and order your personal copy today at: http://www.akpress.org/ or http://www.jnow.org/

Voting Rights of Ex-Offenders under Review – Legislation

Voting Rights of Ex-Offenders under Review – Legislation & Policymaking – FindLaw Blotter

Through the years, there’s been a lot of confusion around the issue of who can and cannot vote in the state of California. With that in mind, the All of Us or None Voting Right campaign is focused specifically on California, as voting law are different in each state. In 2005, Legal Services for Prisoners with Children, the League of Women Voters and the ACLU filed a lawsuit against the California Secretary of State and won. The ruling in McPherson vs. Davis clearly defines who can vote. People in state or federal prison and people on parole cannot vote. However, anyone otherwise eligible to vote whois serving time for a misdemeanor or felong conviction in a county jail can vote vis absentee ballo, as can people on probation and peole off parole.

All of Us or None wrote letters to the 58 counties within California that oeprate jail facilities, asking what their policies were for implementaton and education regarding honoring an inmate’s right to vote while in county jail. Many different reponses were received and found that many weren’t aware that inmates serving time in county jail for felony sentences had the right to vote under California state law.

As a result, All of Us or None set up an meeting with the Secretary of State, presenting her with suggestions on how to go about getting the correct information to eligible inmates. In addition, the ACLU created a pamphlet with instructions on who is eligible to vote in the state of California and how to obtain an absentee ballot while in county jail.

On a FEDERAL LEVEL:

The House subcommittee has taken arguments on a new proposed bill that would require states to allow felons to vote in federal elections once they’re released from prison. The bill is called the Democracy Restoration Act, and it is being sponsored by John Conyers who is a democrat representing the state of Michigan. Conyers is also Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. The findings of the bill note that “given current rates of incarceration, approximately one in three of the next generation of African-American men will be disenfranchised at some point their lifetime.” The signing and passing of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, makes the last read sentence in this posting a sad fact and statistic. For reasons of both principle and sensible social policy, Congress should step in and give ex-offender the right to vote.

Anyway, the question for my “legal scholars and friends” is not who you or I think should be entitled to vote. That is not the system under which we live in. Our Constitution has the potential to delivery promise and guaranteed voting rights no matter what a person’s opinion is or how well that opinion is founded. The next issue is of course, if it does not, does the Federal government have the power to enforce on the States its judgment on the matter? As my mother would say on this one, “Some things are an act of God, other things are an act of Congress.” I guess this is the first step in exhausting all administrative remedies before we have to appeal to heaven.

Where do you fall on this one? Do convicted felons essentially “give up” their right to vote upon proving unable to uphold society’s laws? Or should their right to vote be restored alongside other rights, like their drivers’ license and the right to own property?
Posted using ShareThis

CA Felony Marijuana Cases Tossed Out – Legislation

CA Felony Marijuana Cases Tossed Out – Legislation & Policymaking – FindLaw Blotter

How much medical marijuana is too much?

The question has stumpted, police, prosecutors and defense attorneys since the imposition of the state statue. On January 21st of this year, the Supreme Court struck down a state law that imposed an 8 ounce limit and instead found that medical marijuana patients are entitled to “a “reasonable amount of the drug to treat their ailments. Since that ruling, several cases of marijuana possession have been dismissed in the state, due to law enforcement officials “inability to determine what, exactly, constitutes a “reasonable amount” On top of this new ruling, a November ballot measure, if approved, will legalize possession of small amounts of marijuana for non-medical purposes, this new measure could make the states’ already ill defined marijuana laws even more difficult to understand, much less enforce.

California voters legalize medical marijuana in 1996 but since then local law enforcement and federal authorities continue to wrestle how the laws should be upheld.

The New York State Senate Health Committee has passed a medical marijuana bill as support grows for putting a new law on the books. The move puts New Your a small step closer to joining more than 12 other states that already have passed legislation. New Youk could become the 15th state after New Jersey to legalize medical marijuana.

I think that on a general level, we as a whole society have global connections and ties, our utlimate purpose and goal on any level is to obtain “peace on earth!”

If we are sincere in our statement of purpose and efforts to bring that social goal into manifestation we should “Pass the Dutchie wit ya left han mon.”

I need ya’ll to weigh in with me on this one, where do you stand on the issue? Should medical marijuana be legalize or are we headed for trouble?

Posted using ShareThis

Senate Vote Reduces Crack Powder Cocaine Disparity – Legislation

Senate Vote Reduces Crack Powder Cocaine Disparity – Legislation & Policymaking – FindLaw Blotter

Under the current law, the crack-powder disparity has particular affected the AFRICAN-AMERICAN community. For US to be sleeping at the wheel on this one while our President has redefined the true definition of BLACK POWER in this country and our lifetimes is disrespectful to the efforts of the work of our President. FA REAL. The most current data shows although BLACKS make up 30% of crack users, they comprise more than 80% of those convicted of federal crack offense. As the law stands, a person convicted of crack cocaine possession gets the same mandatory jail time as someone with 100 times that quantity of powder cocaine. Now put that on ya pipe and smoke it!

President Obama made changes in the crack-powder disparity part of his presidential campaign promise and he is making the most sincere effort in history to actually deliver on his promise. That’s political gangsta-ism as its finest! And if the last fact was not enough, Obama is pushing a line on them white boys in the name of crack addicts! I wanna say that what Obama has done for the crack addict is just as powerful as what Jesus did on the cross for the sinner, but I am scared I might go to hell for blasphemy. So I’ll just say “It is Christ-like. Amen” but more importantly its needed and necessary for those who were/are lost 100 times over and beyond the “quantity of powder cocaine.” The Fair Sentencing Act, which is the name of the bill, was originally introduced by Senator Richard Durbin. There is also a similar bill pending in the House called the Fairness in Cocaine Sentencing Act of 2009. If you are an Obama fan throw ya BLACK fist in the air and say it loud ” I’M BLACK AND I’M PROUD.”

Where do you stand on this one?

Posted using ShareThis

Parole Oversight: California State Board Lacks Resources – Legislation

Parole Oversight: California State Board Lacks Resources – Legislation & Policymaking – FindLaw Blotter

Posted using ShareThis

The Prison System (Our Black Men) LOCKED UP

The Prison System (Our Black Men) LOCKED UP

America embarked on an aggressive campaign to “get tough of crime” by filling the nation’s prison ranks, it’s now clear that not enough emphasis was put on creating healthy prison environments or considering the impact that incarcerating so many people would have on the families and communites that they left behind. Of the 2.1 million people incarcerated in jails and prisons in 2005, 548,300 were Black males between the ages of of 20 and 39. What are your views on incarceration of Black males in America?