FREE event 6/16 at Harvard Law on redefining prosecutor’s role

Friday, June 16, 2017, 9:30am–4:30pm Wasserstein Hall, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA Join the Houston Institute and the ACLU for a daylong conference at Harvard Law School titled: “Redefining the Role of the Prosecutor within the Community.” Prosecutors are key actors within our current justice system and possess an enormous amount of discretion about who is charged, for what, and the severity of the sentence received. Additionally, prosecutors wield power in state legislatures, in determining how tax dollars are spent, and in prioritizing rehabilitation or retribution in these decisions. Yet, we know surprisingly little about how these decisions are made, why, and the pressures and incentives that inform prosecutorial actions and cultures. In the past several years, grassroots organizations, justice reform advocates and scholars have taken a more critical look at the role of prosecutors in building historic rates of incarceration, and have begun to define a more expansive set of metrics for measuring their performance. In the morning, we will identify and discuss new models for prosecution and hear from former prosecutors about their experiences and insights. We will then hear brief presentations from economist John Pfaff about his research regarding the impact of prosecutorial decisions on incarceration rates, and from Measures for Justice on new ways to measure “justice outcomes” within a community. Our afternoon panel and ensuing discussion will focus on creating and implementing models for community engagement and oversight. Confirmed speakers/organizations include: Adam Foss John Pfaff, Author of Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration and How to Achieve Real Reform Measures for Justice Miriam Krinsky, Fair and Just Prosecution Color Of Change PICO This event will be free and open to the public. More details to come!

RSVP Here

June 5 & 19 Judiciary Hearings Set

Activists are preparing to fill the hearing rooms at the Statehouse when the Judiciary Committee – where most bills for justice/corrections reform are heard, reviews juvenile justice, CORI reform and more. We recommend using public transit or taking the bus from Worcester on June 5 and June 19 hearing. See below for info. 1. Monday June 5 at 1:00 in Room A 1 Hearing covers   a. Justice Reinvestment Act, CORI reform, Ending punitive Fines and Fees, Raising the Felony Theft Threshold,Ending Mandatory Minimum Sentences on Drug Convictions etc.   b. Juvenile Justice bills on the Expungement of Juvenile Misdemeanors and Raising the age of those covered under the Juvenile Justice system. 2. Monday June 19 at 1:00 probably in Room A 1 AND Proceeded by 12:00 Rally at place to be determined at the State House Covers Repeal of long Mandatory Minimum sentences on drug convictions Covers the Governor’s CSG bill with the limited reforms it calls for Covers bills on Solitary STAND IN SOLIDARITY TO SUPPORT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM WITH EPOCA ON JUNE 5TH.  BUSES LEAVING FROM 4 KING ST.WORCESTER,MA.