Calling for Systemic Change

Advocacy Statement Reducing Mass Incarceration in Responsible Ways Approved by Westminsterrsquos Session deg November 2017

Commissioned by the Social Justice Ministry Team at Westminster Presbyterian Church

Westminster Presbyterian Church deg 1200 Marquette Ave deg Minneapolis deg MN deg 55403

Task force Members

Sandy Wolfe Wood Task Force Chair

PrincipalDesigningChangeMPA

Hon Nancy E Brasel DistrictCourtJudgeHennepinCountyofMinnesota

Taylor Edward Crouch-Dodson IntakeAdministrativeOfficerMinneapolisDepartmentofCivilRightsMPP

Kelley Jepsen LutherSeminaryMDivCandidate

Bridget Letnes StatewideRecidivismReductionProjectSupervisorMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrections

Bill Linder-Scholer DirectorofCommunityAffairsADCTelecommunications(ret)

Gwen Martin PatrolSergeantParamedicCottageGrovePoliceDepartmentPhD

Vivian Jenkins Nelsen SeniorFellowAugsburgCollege

Rev Douglas Mitchell Staff Liaison

AssociatePastorEmeritusWestminsterPresbyterianChurch

Table of Contents

Part I Introduction 1Part II Biblical amp Denominational Underpinnings 6

Part III Reducing Incarceration in Responsible Ways 9

LivabilityCrimes 9

DetentionAlternativesYouthampAdults 10

BailReform 11

CriminalizingMentalHealth 11

ProbationtoPrisonSentences 14

SentencingReformforDrugOffenses 15

SpecialtyCourts 16

RoleofthePublicDefender 17

EarlyInterventionforAt-RiskPopulations 17

ChildProtection 17

Attachment 18

EducationInitiatives 19

Part IV Improving the Lives of People Impacted by Crime and Incarceration 22

SolitaryConfinement 22

ProgrammingampEducationMinnesota 23

Post-IncarcerationHousingEmploymentandReentryProgramming 25

BantheBox 25

Expungement 26

FamilyampFaith 27

Part V Recommendations amp Conclusion 29

Bibliography 31

Appendices 38

AppendixA ExecutiveSummary 38

AppendixB Listeningsessionwithcongregation 38

AppendixC ListeningsessionwithHennepinCountyJudges 38

AppendixD Listeningsessionwithformerly-incarceratedindividuals

ampfamiliesofthoseindividuals 38

AppendixE ListeningsessionwithBetterFutures 38

AppendixF SelectionofjusticetextsfromtheBible 38

1

Part 1 Introduction

ldquoAs a society our decision to heap shame and contempt upon those who

struggle and fail in a system designed to keep them locked up and locked out

says far more about ourselves than it does about themrdquo

mdash Michelle Alexander author of The New Jim Crow

ldquoDoing justice therefore is a way to know Godrdquo

mdash The Reverend Douglas Mitchell Westminster Presbyterian Church Social Justice Advocacy Policy (May 2003)

Our CallWestminsterPresbyterianChurchhasalonghistoryofusingitsvoicetoleadinthe

publicsphereonsocialjusticeissuessuchasmarriageequalityaffordablehousingand

gunviolenceIn2003WestminsterrsquosSessionchargedtheSocialJusticeMinistryTeamto

developpolicystatementsontopicsrelatedtooppressionandjustice

Because of the call to establish shalom the Session of the Westminster

Presbyterian Church takes the position that an essential part of

our ministry in Godrsquos world is to advocate for justice in our own

communitiesmdashboth religious and civil1

AsapartofthiscallwhentheSessionadoptsapolicystatementtheFaithinAction

Councilpublicizesthereportrsquosfindingsanddevelopsrecommendationsforspecificactions

includingadvocacyeffortsanddirectoutreachopportunities

In2016theissueofmassincarcerationandcriminaljusticereformonceagainrosetothe

surfaceofpublicdebateonceagainremindingusofourobligationtouseourvoiceWest-

minsterformedtheCriminalJusticeReformTaskForce(hereafterreferredtoastheTask

Force)toexaminetheissueofcriminaljusticereformandmakebroadrecommendationsfor

apolicystatementbasedonitsfindingsThisreportisextensiveandtheTaskForcehopes

thatthecongregationwillusesomeorallofthecontentforfurtherstudyandactionin

conversationwiththeirlegislatorsandindiscussionwithinterfaithgroups

1Westminster Social Justice Advocacy Policy Statement 2003

2

Introduction to the topicTheUnitedStatesishometoonly5oftheworldrsquospopulationbut25oftheworldrsquosprisoners2

Overthepast30yearsprisonpopulationintheUnitedStateshasincreasedby3403These

statisticsandtherealitiestheyrepresenthavecreatednothingshortofalarmincitizens

ofallideologicalbeliefsInApril2016asurveyshowedthatnearly8in10Minnesotans

supportcomprehensivecriminaljusticereformHollyHarristheExecutiveDirectorofthe

USJusticeActionNetworkstatedldquoMinnesotaRepublicansandDemocratsagreethatthere

aretoomanypeopleinprisonanditistimeforsystematicsmart-on-crimereformsrdquo4As

wehaveconductedlisteningsessionswithcommunitymembersinMinnesotawehave

heardthisalarmechoedcollectively

Wehavealsoheardandstudiedtheanguishandtheimpactofracialdisparityofpeople

inprisonsMichelleAlexanderrsquosworkinthisareahashelpedtobringthetopicintothe

everydayconversationsofMinnesotansInherbookThe New Jim Crowshestates

Today there are more African-Americans under correctional controlmdash

in prison or jail on probation or parolemdashthan were enslaved in

1850 a decade before the Civil War began There are millions of

African-Americans now cycling in and out of prisons and jails or

under correctional control In major American cities today more

than half of working-age African-American men are either under

correctional control or branded felons and are thus subject to legalized

discrimination for the rest of their lives5

RaceisanundercurrentthroughouttheentiretyofourreportAsyoureadaboutinmates

withmentalillnessunevensentencingandprobationtheuseofsolitaryconfinement

thecycleofpovertythatinsuresmultiplefamilymembersacrossgenerationswillbeincar-

ceratedandtheinabilitytomakebailpleaserecognizethatifyouareAfrican-Americanthe

pictureismuchbleakerthanifyouareofthemajority-whitepopulation

ThoughMinnesotahistoricallyhashadalowprisonerpopulationourstatehasthe

fastestgrowingincarcerationrateinthenationItwasthereforeofprimaryimportance

2 Duvernay Ava Dr (2016) 13th 3 Galston William (2016) Criminal Justice Reform Issues and Options for the Next President Brookings Institute wwwbrookingseduresearchcriminal-justice-reform-issues-and-options-for-the-next-president 4 US Justice Action Network (2016) New Poll Minnesotans Overwhelmingly Support Criminal Justice Reform httpwwwjusticeactionnetworkorgnew-poll-minnesotans-overwhelmingly-support-criminal-justice-reform 5 Alexander Michelle (2010) The New Jim Crow

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

Task force Members

Sandy Wolfe Wood Task Force Chair

PrincipalDesigningChangeMPA

Hon Nancy E Brasel DistrictCourtJudgeHennepinCountyofMinnesota

Taylor Edward Crouch-Dodson IntakeAdministrativeOfficerMinneapolisDepartmentofCivilRightsMPP

Kelley Jepsen LutherSeminaryMDivCandidate

Bridget Letnes StatewideRecidivismReductionProjectSupervisorMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrections

Bill Linder-Scholer DirectorofCommunityAffairsADCTelecommunications(ret)

Gwen Martin PatrolSergeantParamedicCottageGrovePoliceDepartmentPhD

Vivian Jenkins Nelsen SeniorFellowAugsburgCollege

Rev Douglas Mitchell Staff Liaison

AssociatePastorEmeritusWestminsterPresbyterianChurch

Table of Contents

Part I Introduction 1Part II Biblical amp Denominational Underpinnings 6

Part III Reducing Incarceration in Responsible Ways 9

LivabilityCrimes 9

DetentionAlternativesYouthampAdults 10

BailReform 11

CriminalizingMentalHealth 11

ProbationtoPrisonSentences 14

SentencingReformforDrugOffenses 15

SpecialtyCourts 16

RoleofthePublicDefender 17

EarlyInterventionforAt-RiskPopulations 17

ChildProtection 17

Attachment 18

EducationInitiatives 19

Part IV Improving the Lives of People Impacted by Crime and Incarceration 22

SolitaryConfinement 22

ProgrammingampEducationMinnesota 23

Post-IncarcerationHousingEmploymentandReentryProgramming 25

BantheBox 25

Expungement 26

FamilyampFaith 27

Part V Recommendations amp Conclusion 29

Bibliography 31

Appendices 38

AppendixA ExecutiveSummary 38

AppendixB Listeningsessionwithcongregation 38

AppendixC ListeningsessionwithHennepinCountyJudges 38

AppendixD Listeningsessionwithformerly-incarceratedindividuals

ampfamiliesofthoseindividuals 38

AppendixE ListeningsessionwithBetterFutures 38

AppendixF SelectionofjusticetextsfromtheBible 38

1

Part 1 Introduction

ldquoAs a society our decision to heap shame and contempt upon those who

struggle and fail in a system designed to keep them locked up and locked out

says far more about ourselves than it does about themrdquo

mdash Michelle Alexander author of The New Jim Crow

ldquoDoing justice therefore is a way to know Godrdquo

mdash The Reverend Douglas Mitchell Westminster Presbyterian Church Social Justice Advocacy Policy (May 2003)

Our CallWestminsterPresbyterianChurchhasalonghistoryofusingitsvoicetoleadinthe

publicsphereonsocialjusticeissuessuchasmarriageequalityaffordablehousingand

gunviolenceIn2003WestminsterrsquosSessionchargedtheSocialJusticeMinistryTeamto

developpolicystatementsontopicsrelatedtooppressionandjustice

Because of the call to establish shalom the Session of the Westminster

Presbyterian Church takes the position that an essential part of

our ministry in Godrsquos world is to advocate for justice in our own

communitiesmdashboth religious and civil1

AsapartofthiscallwhentheSessionadoptsapolicystatementtheFaithinAction

Councilpublicizesthereportrsquosfindingsanddevelopsrecommendationsforspecificactions

includingadvocacyeffortsanddirectoutreachopportunities

In2016theissueofmassincarcerationandcriminaljusticereformonceagainrosetothe

surfaceofpublicdebateonceagainremindingusofourobligationtouseourvoiceWest-

minsterformedtheCriminalJusticeReformTaskForce(hereafterreferredtoastheTask

Force)toexaminetheissueofcriminaljusticereformandmakebroadrecommendationsfor

apolicystatementbasedonitsfindingsThisreportisextensiveandtheTaskForcehopes

thatthecongregationwillusesomeorallofthecontentforfurtherstudyandactionin

conversationwiththeirlegislatorsandindiscussionwithinterfaithgroups

1Westminster Social Justice Advocacy Policy Statement 2003

2

Introduction to the topicTheUnitedStatesishometoonly5oftheworldrsquospopulationbut25oftheworldrsquosprisoners2

Overthepast30yearsprisonpopulationintheUnitedStateshasincreasedby3403These

statisticsandtherealitiestheyrepresenthavecreatednothingshortofalarmincitizens

ofallideologicalbeliefsInApril2016asurveyshowedthatnearly8in10Minnesotans

supportcomprehensivecriminaljusticereformHollyHarristheExecutiveDirectorofthe

USJusticeActionNetworkstatedldquoMinnesotaRepublicansandDemocratsagreethatthere

aretoomanypeopleinprisonanditistimeforsystematicsmart-on-crimereformsrdquo4As

wehaveconductedlisteningsessionswithcommunitymembersinMinnesotawehave

heardthisalarmechoedcollectively

Wehavealsoheardandstudiedtheanguishandtheimpactofracialdisparityofpeople

inprisonsMichelleAlexanderrsquosworkinthisareahashelpedtobringthetopicintothe

everydayconversationsofMinnesotansInherbookThe New Jim Crowshestates

Today there are more African-Americans under correctional controlmdash

in prison or jail on probation or parolemdashthan were enslaved in

1850 a decade before the Civil War began There are millions of

African-Americans now cycling in and out of prisons and jails or

under correctional control In major American cities today more

than half of working-age African-American men are either under

correctional control or branded felons and are thus subject to legalized

discrimination for the rest of their lives5

RaceisanundercurrentthroughouttheentiretyofourreportAsyoureadaboutinmates

withmentalillnessunevensentencingandprobationtheuseofsolitaryconfinement

thecycleofpovertythatinsuresmultiplefamilymembersacrossgenerationswillbeincar-

ceratedandtheinabilitytomakebailpleaserecognizethatifyouareAfrican-Americanthe

pictureismuchbleakerthanifyouareofthemajority-whitepopulation

ThoughMinnesotahistoricallyhashadalowprisonerpopulationourstatehasthe

fastestgrowingincarcerationrateinthenationItwasthereforeofprimaryimportance

2 Duvernay Ava Dr (2016) 13th 3 Galston William (2016) Criminal Justice Reform Issues and Options for the Next President Brookings Institute wwwbrookingseduresearchcriminal-justice-reform-issues-and-options-for-the-next-president 4 US Justice Action Network (2016) New Poll Minnesotans Overwhelmingly Support Criminal Justice Reform httpwwwjusticeactionnetworkorgnew-poll-minnesotans-overwhelmingly-support-criminal-justice-reform 5 Alexander Michelle (2010) The New Jim Crow

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

Table of Contents

Part I Introduction 1Part II Biblical amp Denominational Underpinnings 6

Part III Reducing Incarceration in Responsible Ways 9

LivabilityCrimes 9

DetentionAlternativesYouthampAdults 10

BailReform 11

CriminalizingMentalHealth 11

ProbationtoPrisonSentences 14

SentencingReformforDrugOffenses 15

SpecialtyCourts 16

RoleofthePublicDefender 17

EarlyInterventionforAt-RiskPopulations 17

ChildProtection 17

Attachment 18

EducationInitiatives 19

Part IV Improving the Lives of People Impacted by Crime and Incarceration 22

SolitaryConfinement 22

ProgrammingampEducationMinnesota 23

Post-IncarcerationHousingEmploymentandReentryProgramming 25

BantheBox 25

Expungement 26

FamilyampFaith 27

Part V Recommendations amp Conclusion 29

Bibliography 31

Appendices 38

AppendixA ExecutiveSummary 38

AppendixB Listeningsessionwithcongregation 38

AppendixC ListeningsessionwithHennepinCountyJudges 38

AppendixD Listeningsessionwithformerly-incarceratedindividuals

ampfamiliesofthoseindividuals 38

AppendixE ListeningsessionwithBetterFutures 38

AppendixF SelectionofjusticetextsfromtheBible 38

1

Part 1 Introduction

ldquoAs a society our decision to heap shame and contempt upon those who

struggle and fail in a system designed to keep them locked up and locked out

says far more about ourselves than it does about themrdquo

mdash Michelle Alexander author of The New Jim Crow

ldquoDoing justice therefore is a way to know Godrdquo

mdash The Reverend Douglas Mitchell Westminster Presbyterian Church Social Justice Advocacy Policy (May 2003)

Our CallWestminsterPresbyterianChurchhasalonghistoryofusingitsvoicetoleadinthe

publicsphereonsocialjusticeissuessuchasmarriageequalityaffordablehousingand

gunviolenceIn2003WestminsterrsquosSessionchargedtheSocialJusticeMinistryTeamto

developpolicystatementsontopicsrelatedtooppressionandjustice

Because of the call to establish shalom the Session of the Westminster

Presbyterian Church takes the position that an essential part of

our ministry in Godrsquos world is to advocate for justice in our own

communitiesmdashboth religious and civil1

AsapartofthiscallwhentheSessionadoptsapolicystatementtheFaithinAction

Councilpublicizesthereportrsquosfindingsanddevelopsrecommendationsforspecificactions

includingadvocacyeffortsanddirectoutreachopportunities

In2016theissueofmassincarcerationandcriminaljusticereformonceagainrosetothe

surfaceofpublicdebateonceagainremindingusofourobligationtouseourvoiceWest-

minsterformedtheCriminalJusticeReformTaskForce(hereafterreferredtoastheTask

Force)toexaminetheissueofcriminaljusticereformandmakebroadrecommendationsfor

apolicystatementbasedonitsfindingsThisreportisextensiveandtheTaskForcehopes

thatthecongregationwillusesomeorallofthecontentforfurtherstudyandactionin

conversationwiththeirlegislatorsandindiscussionwithinterfaithgroups

1Westminster Social Justice Advocacy Policy Statement 2003

2

Introduction to the topicTheUnitedStatesishometoonly5oftheworldrsquospopulationbut25oftheworldrsquosprisoners2

Overthepast30yearsprisonpopulationintheUnitedStateshasincreasedby3403These

statisticsandtherealitiestheyrepresenthavecreatednothingshortofalarmincitizens

ofallideologicalbeliefsInApril2016asurveyshowedthatnearly8in10Minnesotans

supportcomprehensivecriminaljusticereformHollyHarristheExecutiveDirectorofthe

USJusticeActionNetworkstatedldquoMinnesotaRepublicansandDemocratsagreethatthere

aretoomanypeopleinprisonanditistimeforsystematicsmart-on-crimereformsrdquo4As

wehaveconductedlisteningsessionswithcommunitymembersinMinnesotawehave

heardthisalarmechoedcollectively

Wehavealsoheardandstudiedtheanguishandtheimpactofracialdisparityofpeople

inprisonsMichelleAlexanderrsquosworkinthisareahashelpedtobringthetopicintothe

everydayconversationsofMinnesotansInherbookThe New Jim Crowshestates

Today there are more African-Americans under correctional controlmdash

in prison or jail on probation or parolemdashthan were enslaved in

1850 a decade before the Civil War began There are millions of

African-Americans now cycling in and out of prisons and jails or

under correctional control In major American cities today more

than half of working-age African-American men are either under

correctional control or branded felons and are thus subject to legalized

discrimination for the rest of their lives5

RaceisanundercurrentthroughouttheentiretyofourreportAsyoureadaboutinmates

withmentalillnessunevensentencingandprobationtheuseofsolitaryconfinement

thecycleofpovertythatinsuresmultiplefamilymembersacrossgenerationswillbeincar-

ceratedandtheinabilitytomakebailpleaserecognizethatifyouareAfrican-Americanthe

pictureismuchbleakerthanifyouareofthemajority-whitepopulation

ThoughMinnesotahistoricallyhashadalowprisonerpopulationourstatehasthe

fastestgrowingincarcerationrateinthenationItwasthereforeofprimaryimportance

2 Duvernay Ava Dr (2016) 13th 3 Galston William (2016) Criminal Justice Reform Issues and Options for the Next President Brookings Institute wwwbrookingseduresearchcriminal-justice-reform-issues-and-options-for-the-next-president 4 US Justice Action Network (2016) New Poll Minnesotans Overwhelmingly Support Criminal Justice Reform httpwwwjusticeactionnetworkorgnew-poll-minnesotans-overwhelmingly-support-criminal-justice-reform 5 Alexander Michelle (2010) The New Jim Crow

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

1

Part 1 Introduction

ldquoAs a society our decision to heap shame and contempt upon those who

struggle and fail in a system designed to keep them locked up and locked out

says far more about ourselves than it does about themrdquo

mdash Michelle Alexander author of The New Jim Crow

ldquoDoing justice therefore is a way to know Godrdquo

mdash The Reverend Douglas Mitchell Westminster Presbyterian Church Social Justice Advocacy Policy (May 2003)

Our CallWestminsterPresbyterianChurchhasalonghistoryofusingitsvoicetoleadinthe

publicsphereonsocialjusticeissuessuchasmarriageequalityaffordablehousingand

gunviolenceIn2003WestminsterrsquosSessionchargedtheSocialJusticeMinistryTeamto

developpolicystatementsontopicsrelatedtooppressionandjustice

Because of the call to establish shalom the Session of the Westminster

Presbyterian Church takes the position that an essential part of

our ministry in Godrsquos world is to advocate for justice in our own

communitiesmdashboth religious and civil1

AsapartofthiscallwhentheSessionadoptsapolicystatementtheFaithinAction

Councilpublicizesthereportrsquosfindingsanddevelopsrecommendationsforspecificactions

includingadvocacyeffortsanddirectoutreachopportunities

In2016theissueofmassincarcerationandcriminaljusticereformonceagainrosetothe

surfaceofpublicdebateonceagainremindingusofourobligationtouseourvoiceWest-

minsterformedtheCriminalJusticeReformTaskForce(hereafterreferredtoastheTask

Force)toexaminetheissueofcriminaljusticereformandmakebroadrecommendationsfor

apolicystatementbasedonitsfindingsThisreportisextensiveandtheTaskForcehopes

thatthecongregationwillusesomeorallofthecontentforfurtherstudyandactionin

conversationwiththeirlegislatorsandindiscussionwithinterfaithgroups

1Westminster Social Justice Advocacy Policy Statement 2003

2

Introduction to the topicTheUnitedStatesishometoonly5oftheworldrsquospopulationbut25oftheworldrsquosprisoners2

Overthepast30yearsprisonpopulationintheUnitedStateshasincreasedby3403These

statisticsandtherealitiestheyrepresenthavecreatednothingshortofalarmincitizens

ofallideologicalbeliefsInApril2016asurveyshowedthatnearly8in10Minnesotans

supportcomprehensivecriminaljusticereformHollyHarristheExecutiveDirectorofthe

USJusticeActionNetworkstatedldquoMinnesotaRepublicansandDemocratsagreethatthere

aretoomanypeopleinprisonanditistimeforsystematicsmart-on-crimereformsrdquo4As

wehaveconductedlisteningsessionswithcommunitymembersinMinnesotawehave

heardthisalarmechoedcollectively

Wehavealsoheardandstudiedtheanguishandtheimpactofracialdisparityofpeople

inprisonsMichelleAlexanderrsquosworkinthisareahashelpedtobringthetopicintothe

everydayconversationsofMinnesotansInherbookThe New Jim Crowshestates

Today there are more African-Americans under correctional controlmdash

in prison or jail on probation or parolemdashthan were enslaved in

1850 a decade before the Civil War began There are millions of

African-Americans now cycling in and out of prisons and jails or

under correctional control In major American cities today more

than half of working-age African-American men are either under

correctional control or branded felons and are thus subject to legalized

discrimination for the rest of their lives5

RaceisanundercurrentthroughouttheentiretyofourreportAsyoureadaboutinmates

withmentalillnessunevensentencingandprobationtheuseofsolitaryconfinement

thecycleofpovertythatinsuresmultiplefamilymembersacrossgenerationswillbeincar-

ceratedandtheinabilitytomakebailpleaserecognizethatifyouareAfrican-Americanthe

pictureismuchbleakerthanifyouareofthemajority-whitepopulation

ThoughMinnesotahistoricallyhashadalowprisonerpopulationourstatehasthe

fastestgrowingincarcerationrateinthenationItwasthereforeofprimaryimportance

2 Duvernay Ava Dr (2016) 13th 3 Galston William (2016) Criminal Justice Reform Issues and Options for the Next President Brookings Institute wwwbrookingseduresearchcriminal-justice-reform-issues-and-options-for-the-next-president 4 US Justice Action Network (2016) New Poll Minnesotans Overwhelmingly Support Criminal Justice Reform httpwwwjusticeactionnetworkorgnew-poll-minnesotans-overwhelmingly-support-criminal-justice-reform 5 Alexander Michelle (2010) The New Jim Crow

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

2

Introduction to the topicTheUnitedStatesishometoonly5oftheworldrsquospopulationbut25oftheworldrsquosprisoners2

Overthepast30yearsprisonpopulationintheUnitedStateshasincreasedby3403These

statisticsandtherealitiestheyrepresenthavecreatednothingshortofalarmincitizens

ofallideologicalbeliefsInApril2016asurveyshowedthatnearly8in10Minnesotans

supportcomprehensivecriminaljusticereformHollyHarristheExecutiveDirectorofthe

USJusticeActionNetworkstatedldquoMinnesotaRepublicansandDemocratsagreethatthere

aretoomanypeopleinprisonanditistimeforsystematicsmart-on-crimereformsrdquo4As

wehaveconductedlisteningsessionswithcommunitymembersinMinnesotawehave

heardthisalarmechoedcollectively

Wehavealsoheardandstudiedtheanguishandtheimpactofracialdisparityofpeople

inprisonsMichelleAlexanderrsquosworkinthisareahashelpedtobringthetopicintothe

everydayconversationsofMinnesotansInherbookThe New Jim Crowshestates

Today there are more African-Americans under correctional controlmdash

in prison or jail on probation or parolemdashthan were enslaved in

1850 a decade before the Civil War began There are millions of

African-Americans now cycling in and out of prisons and jails or

under correctional control In major American cities today more

than half of working-age African-American men are either under

correctional control or branded felons and are thus subject to legalized

discrimination for the rest of their lives5

RaceisanundercurrentthroughouttheentiretyofourreportAsyoureadaboutinmates

withmentalillnessunevensentencingandprobationtheuseofsolitaryconfinement

thecycleofpovertythatinsuresmultiplefamilymembersacrossgenerationswillbeincar-

ceratedandtheinabilitytomakebailpleaserecognizethatifyouareAfrican-Americanthe

pictureismuchbleakerthanifyouareofthemajority-whitepopulation

ThoughMinnesotahistoricallyhashadalowprisonerpopulationourstatehasthe

fastestgrowingincarcerationrateinthenationItwasthereforeofprimaryimportance

2 Duvernay Ava Dr (2016) 13th 3 Galston William (2016) Criminal Justice Reform Issues and Options for the Next President Brookings Institute wwwbrookingseduresearchcriminal-justice-reform-issues-and-options-for-the-next-president 4 US Justice Action Network (2016) New Poll Minnesotans Overwhelmingly Support Criminal Justice Reform httpwwwjusticeactionnetworkorgnew-poll-minnesotans-overwhelmingly-support-criminal-justice-reform 5 Alexander Michelle (2010) The New Jim Crow

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

3

tomembersofourcommunitythatweworktoreduceournumbersofincarceratedindi-

vidualsHowevermembersofourcommunityalsorealizedthatsuchanundertaking

shouldnotoccurwithoutresponsibilityandawarenessoflargerpublicsafetygoalsIn

additionthecollateralconsequencesofmassincarcerationarenotinfactcollateral

thedirectimpactofincarcerationontheindividualsimprisonedandtheirfamiliesand

communityisenormousthuswehaveexaminedthecommunityimpactaswell

Process and structureAlthoughthispolicypaperdoesnotpurporttobeanacademicresearchpaperweconducted

anextensiveamountofresearchontopicsrelatedtocriminaljusticereformandreviewed

manybooksarticlesandwritingsWealsoconductedlisteningsessionswithmembersof

thecommunityincludingcongregationmembersjudgesformerlyincarceratedindividuals

andfamilymembersofthoseimpactedbyincarcerationWeencounteredthemessuch

assystemicracismandpovertydrugandalcoholaddictionhomelessnessthesignificant

presenceofmentalillnessinthesystemofjusticeandincarcerationandtheldquosiloeffectrdquothat

occurswhenmanyagenciesandnonprofitcommunitiestrytohelpbutcannotcoordinate

effortsWeweregreatlyimpactedbytheoverwhelmingfrustrationofcommunitymembers

whowantchangeyetfeelhelplesstobringaboutchangemdashdespitetheirdesiretovolunteeror

donatemoneyorresourcesInadditionwewereheartenedbydiscoveringprogramsthatare

workingandhavinganimpact

Inordertohumanizeandensureaholisticapproachtoourresearchwebelievedthatitwas

necessaryforourTaskForcetovisitafacilitythatincarceratesindividualsForsecurityreasons

wewereunabletovisitastateprisonhoweveronMarch222017wewereabletotourthe

WashingtonCountyJailinStillwaterMNThroughoutthetourwewereconfrontedwithfacts

andfiguresregardingthejailrsquos174ldquoresidentsrdquothevariousservicesandprogramsofferedatthe

jailanddetailsofthemenandwomenwhoworkatthejailasemployeesoftheWashington

CountySheriffrsquosOfficeTheseinsightsareincorporatedthroughoutthisreport

WehavedividedourreportintothefollowingsectionsPart IistheintroductionPart II

containsthebiblicalunderpinningsofourwork Part III isanin-depthlookatreducing

incarcerationPart IVcontainsspecificwaysinwhichwemightimprovethelivesofthose

impactedbyincarcerationandPart IVisasummaryofrecommendationsWeannotatethe

reportwithaseriesofAppendicesandaBibliography

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

4

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

Language MattersWewouldliketosaysomethingaboutframingLanguageisapowerfuldeterminantinour

abilitytodiscernanddescribepersonalvaluesandsocialrealitiesThelanguageofgenderfor

examplehasrecentlyundergonesignificantchangesthatdirectlyaffecthowwecommunicate

witheachotheraboutgenderorientationandsexualidentityInmanyimportantwaysthe

wordsweusetotalkaboutgenderhavebecomemoreinclusiveandlessdisparaging

Inasimilarmannerthelanguageweusetocommunicateaboutpolicyandpracticeinthe

criminaljusticesystemhasbeenchangingmdashalsoforthepurposeofbeinglessdisparaging

andmorehumaneAsmembersoftheTaskForcewersquoveintentionallysoughttounderstand

thesechangesinwordsandtermsandtoincorporatethechangeswhereappropriateIn

somecasesthechangesareclearandwellestablishedinothersthechangesareunderway

butlackwidespreaduseorconsensus

Webelievethissensitivitytolanguageisappropriatetoourworkoncriminaljustice

systemreformgiventhebiblicalunderpinningstoourworkandourpreferenceforan

approachtoreformthatprioritizesrehabilitationoverpunishment(restorativejustice

ratherthanretributive)

AsacaseinpointwenotedthatinrecentyearstheUSDepartmentofJusticehassought

toavoiduseoftermssuchasldquofelonrdquoandldquoconvictrdquothatmayhindertheprogressofindi-

vidualswhoseektore-entersocietysuccessfullyafterthecompletionoftheirprison

sentenceAmongprofessionalsworkinginthecriminaljusticesystemhereinMinnesota

weheardintentionaluseofwordslikeldquoyouthrdquoorldquoyouthfulrdquoinplaceofthemorepejorative

ldquojuvenilerdquo(asinldquoyouthcourtrdquoratherthanldquojuveecourtrdquo)BetterFuturesMinnesotaoneofthe

partnerorganizationsintheGreatRiverLandingpartnership(anaffordablehousingprogram

thatWestminsterhasinvestedin)referstothemeninitsprogrammingasindividualswho

haveexperiencedhighbarrierstohousingandemploymentasaresultoftheirhistoryof

incarcerationratherthansettlingforthemorenegativelabelldquoex-felonrdquoorldquofelonrdquoOurTask

Forcebeganitsworkwithanunderlyingassumptionofequalitychoosingourwordsas

carefullyaspossibleinthebeliefthatldquojustice is what love looks like in publicrdquo6

Summary of recommendationsWeendourreportwithfivedistinctrecommendationsthatemergedfrommonthsofstudy

prayeranddiscernmentTheyare(1)legislationthatbetterintegratessupportiveservices

6 Cornel West as quoted by Tavis Smiley at the Westminster Town Hall Forum September 2015

5

andreducesbureaucracyinthecriminaljusticesystem(2)resourcestosupportprograms

thatspecificallyaddressissueslikehousingeducationandjobinitiativesforpost-incar-

ceratedindividuals(3)advocacyeffortstoencouragerobustgovernmentfundingofthe

publicdefendertreatmentcourtsandeffortsbysocialworkerstoassistincarceratedindi-

viduals(4)advocacyforsentencingreformand(5)engagementwiththelargerissuesof

povertyandchildrenimpactedbyparentsinthecriminaljusticesystem

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

6

Our work on unpacking the complex nature of the criminal justice system was

guided by the biblical traditions of justice and compassion We see justice right

at the very beginning

ThecreationstoryinGenesis1statesthateveryhumanbeingiscreatedintheimage

ofGodThisdivineimageplaceseachpersoninarelationshiptoGodandtoeachother

inwhicheachpersonisofequalworthThereforeeachpersonistobetreatedjustlyto

protectandpreservethatworth

Thisunderlyingassumptionofequalityleadsustoseehowaspractitionerswecanlook

uponourChristiantheologytounderstandjusticeWithinthescripturewefindthefocus

toberestorativejusticeratherthanretributivejusticeandthegoalistoservetheshalom

(iewholeness)ofthecommunityTheprinciplesofrestorativejusticehaveoftenguided

thepronouncementsoncriminaljusticeforthePresbyterianChurchUSA(PCUSA)

whichdefinesrestorativejusticeasldquoaddressingthehurtsandtheneedsofthevictimthe

offenderandthecommunityinsuchawaythatallmdashvictimoffenderandcommunitymdash

mightbehealedrdquo7WefindthissimilarfocusandgoalsettingintheResolutiononRestor-

ativeJustice(RRJ)fromthe214thGeneralAssembly(2002)ofthePCUSAwhichstates

The fundamental orientation of the Old Testament scriptures is not

to demand conformance to moral or religious law The fundamental

orientation is to sustainmdashor where broken to restoremdashthe covenantal

relationships and the covenantal bonds of the human community before

God In the Old Testament Godrsquos righteousness lsquoinvolves both justice and

compassion as expressed in Godrsquos concern for the weak and vulnerablersquo8

ThisisclearlythecalloftheprophetJeremiahasheaddressesthekingofJudahintheBook

ofJeremiah

Thus says the Lord lsquoAct with justice and righteousness and deliver

from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed And

do no wrong or violence to the alien the orphan and the widowhellip Do

you think you are a king because you compete in cedar Did not your

7 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf 8 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf

Part 2 Biblical amp denominational underpinnings

4

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

Language MattersWewouldliketosaysomethingaboutframingLanguageisapowerfuldeterminantinour

abilitytodiscernanddescribepersonalvaluesandsocialrealitiesThelanguageofgenderfor

examplehasrecentlyundergonesignificantchangesthatdirectlyaffecthowwecommunicate

witheachotheraboutgenderorientationandsexualidentityInmanyimportantwaysthe

wordsweusetotalkaboutgenderhavebecomemoreinclusiveandlessdisparaging

Inasimilarmannerthelanguageweusetocommunicateaboutpolicyandpracticeinthe

criminaljusticesystemhasbeenchangingmdashalsoforthepurposeofbeinglessdisparaging

andmorehumaneAsmembersoftheTaskForcewersquoveintentionallysoughttounderstand

thesechangesinwordsandtermsandtoincorporatethechangeswhereappropriateIn

somecasesthechangesareclearandwellestablishedinothersthechangesareunderway

butlackwidespreaduseorconsensus

Webelievethissensitivitytolanguageisappropriatetoourworkoncriminaljustice

systemreformgiventhebiblicalunderpinningstoourworkandourpreferenceforan

approachtoreformthatprioritizesrehabilitationoverpunishment(restorativejustice

ratherthanretributive)

AsacaseinpointwenotedthatinrecentyearstheUSDepartmentofJusticehassought

toavoiduseoftermssuchasldquofelonrdquoandldquoconvictrdquothatmayhindertheprogressofindi-

vidualswhoseektore-entersocietysuccessfullyafterthecompletionoftheirprison

sentenceAmongprofessionalsworkinginthecriminaljusticesystemhereinMinnesota

weheardintentionaluseofwordslikeldquoyouthrdquoorldquoyouthfulrdquoinplaceofthemorepejorative

ldquojuvenilerdquo(asinldquoyouthcourtrdquoratherthanldquojuveecourtrdquo)BetterFuturesMinnesotaoneofthe

partnerorganizationsintheGreatRiverLandingpartnership(anaffordablehousingprogram

thatWestminsterhasinvestedin)referstothemeninitsprogrammingasindividualswho

haveexperiencedhighbarrierstohousingandemploymentasaresultoftheirhistoryof

incarcerationratherthansettlingforthemorenegativelabelldquoex-felonrdquoorldquofelonrdquoOurTask

Forcebeganitsworkwithanunderlyingassumptionofequalitychoosingourwordsas

carefullyaspossibleinthebeliefthatldquojustice is what love looks like in publicrdquo6

Summary of recommendationsWeendourreportwithfivedistinctrecommendationsthatemergedfrommonthsofstudy

prayeranddiscernmentTheyare(1)legislationthatbetterintegratessupportiveservices

6 Cornel West as quoted by Tavis Smiley at the Westminster Town Hall Forum September 2015

5

andreducesbureaucracyinthecriminaljusticesystem(2)resourcestosupportprograms

thatspecificallyaddressissueslikehousingeducationandjobinitiativesforpost-incar-

ceratedindividuals(3)advocacyeffortstoencouragerobustgovernmentfundingofthe

publicdefendertreatmentcourtsandeffortsbysocialworkerstoassistincarceratedindi-

viduals(4)advocacyforsentencingreformand(5)engagementwiththelargerissuesof

povertyandchildrenimpactedbyparentsinthecriminaljusticesystem

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

6

Our work on unpacking the complex nature of the criminal justice system was

guided by the biblical traditions of justice and compassion We see justice right

at the very beginning

ThecreationstoryinGenesis1statesthateveryhumanbeingiscreatedintheimage

ofGodThisdivineimageplaceseachpersoninarelationshiptoGodandtoeachother

inwhicheachpersonisofequalworthThereforeeachpersonistobetreatedjustlyto

protectandpreservethatworth

Thisunderlyingassumptionofequalityleadsustoseehowaspractitionerswecanlook

uponourChristiantheologytounderstandjusticeWithinthescripturewefindthefocus

toberestorativejusticeratherthanretributivejusticeandthegoalistoservetheshalom

(iewholeness)ofthecommunityTheprinciplesofrestorativejusticehaveoftenguided

thepronouncementsoncriminaljusticeforthePresbyterianChurchUSA(PCUSA)

whichdefinesrestorativejusticeasldquoaddressingthehurtsandtheneedsofthevictimthe

offenderandthecommunityinsuchawaythatallmdashvictimoffenderandcommunitymdash

mightbehealedrdquo7WefindthissimilarfocusandgoalsettingintheResolutiononRestor-

ativeJustice(RRJ)fromthe214thGeneralAssembly(2002)ofthePCUSAwhichstates

The fundamental orientation of the Old Testament scriptures is not

to demand conformance to moral or religious law The fundamental

orientation is to sustainmdashor where broken to restoremdashthe covenantal

relationships and the covenantal bonds of the human community before

God In the Old Testament Godrsquos righteousness lsquoinvolves both justice and

compassion as expressed in Godrsquos concern for the weak and vulnerablersquo8

ThisisclearlythecalloftheprophetJeremiahasheaddressesthekingofJudahintheBook

ofJeremiah

Thus says the Lord lsquoAct with justice and righteousness and deliver

from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed And

do no wrong or violence to the alien the orphan and the widowhellip Do

you think you are a king because you compete in cedar Did not your

7 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf 8 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf

Part 2 Biblical amp denominational underpinnings

5

andreducesbureaucracyinthecriminaljusticesystem(2)resourcestosupportprograms

thatspecificallyaddressissueslikehousingeducationandjobinitiativesforpost-incar-

ceratedindividuals(3)advocacyeffortstoencouragerobustgovernmentfundingofthe

publicdefendertreatmentcourtsandeffortsbysocialworkerstoassistincarceratedindi-

viduals(4)advocacyforsentencingreformand(5)engagementwiththelargerissuesof

povertyandchildrenimpactedbyparentsinthecriminaljusticesystem

PART 1 INTRODUCTION

6

Our work on unpacking the complex nature of the criminal justice system was

guided by the biblical traditions of justice and compassion We see justice right

at the very beginning

ThecreationstoryinGenesis1statesthateveryhumanbeingiscreatedintheimage

ofGodThisdivineimageplaceseachpersoninarelationshiptoGodandtoeachother

inwhicheachpersonisofequalworthThereforeeachpersonistobetreatedjustlyto

protectandpreservethatworth

Thisunderlyingassumptionofequalityleadsustoseehowaspractitionerswecanlook

uponourChristiantheologytounderstandjusticeWithinthescripturewefindthefocus

toberestorativejusticeratherthanretributivejusticeandthegoalistoservetheshalom

(iewholeness)ofthecommunityTheprinciplesofrestorativejusticehaveoftenguided

thepronouncementsoncriminaljusticeforthePresbyterianChurchUSA(PCUSA)

whichdefinesrestorativejusticeasldquoaddressingthehurtsandtheneedsofthevictimthe

offenderandthecommunityinsuchawaythatallmdashvictimoffenderandcommunitymdash

mightbehealedrdquo7WefindthissimilarfocusandgoalsettingintheResolutiononRestor-

ativeJustice(RRJ)fromthe214thGeneralAssembly(2002)ofthePCUSAwhichstates

The fundamental orientation of the Old Testament scriptures is not

to demand conformance to moral or religious law The fundamental

orientation is to sustainmdashor where broken to restoremdashthe covenantal

relationships and the covenantal bonds of the human community before

God In the Old Testament Godrsquos righteousness lsquoinvolves both justice and

compassion as expressed in Godrsquos concern for the weak and vulnerablersquo8

ThisisclearlythecalloftheprophetJeremiahasheaddressesthekingofJudahintheBook

ofJeremiah

Thus says the Lord lsquoAct with justice and righteousness and deliver

from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed And

do no wrong or violence to the alien the orphan and the widowhellip Do

you think you are a king because you compete in cedar Did not your

7 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf 8 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf

Part 2 Biblical amp denominational underpinnings

6

Our work on unpacking the complex nature of the criminal justice system was

guided by the biblical traditions of justice and compassion We see justice right

at the very beginning

ThecreationstoryinGenesis1statesthateveryhumanbeingiscreatedintheimage

ofGodThisdivineimageplaceseachpersoninarelationshiptoGodandtoeachother

inwhicheachpersonisofequalworthThereforeeachpersonistobetreatedjustlyto

protectandpreservethatworth

Thisunderlyingassumptionofequalityleadsustoseehowaspractitionerswecanlook

uponourChristiantheologytounderstandjusticeWithinthescripturewefindthefocus

toberestorativejusticeratherthanretributivejusticeandthegoalistoservetheshalom

(iewholeness)ofthecommunityTheprinciplesofrestorativejusticehaveoftenguided

thepronouncementsoncriminaljusticeforthePresbyterianChurchUSA(PCUSA)

whichdefinesrestorativejusticeasldquoaddressingthehurtsandtheneedsofthevictimthe

offenderandthecommunityinsuchawaythatallmdashvictimoffenderandcommunitymdash

mightbehealedrdquo7WefindthissimilarfocusandgoalsettingintheResolutiononRestor-

ativeJustice(RRJ)fromthe214thGeneralAssembly(2002)ofthePCUSAwhichstates

The fundamental orientation of the Old Testament scriptures is not

to demand conformance to moral or religious law The fundamental

orientation is to sustainmdashor where broken to restoremdashthe covenantal

relationships and the covenantal bonds of the human community before

God In the Old Testament Godrsquos righteousness lsquoinvolves both justice and

compassion as expressed in Godrsquos concern for the weak and vulnerablersquo8

ThisisclearlythecalloftheprophetJeremiahasheaddressesthekingofJudahintheBook

ofJeremiah

Thus says the Lord lsquoAct with justice and righteousness and deliver

from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed And

do no wrong or violence to the alien the orphan and the widowhellip Do

you think you are a king because you compete in cedar Did not your

7 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf 8 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf

Part 2 Biblical amp denominational underpinnings

7

father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness Then it was well

with him He judged the cause of the poor and needy then it was well

Is this not to know mersquo says the Lord (Jeremiah 223 15 16)

DoingjusticeisknowingGodJesusmakesthesamecalltodojusticeintheBookof

Matthew

Woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites For you tithe mint dill

and cumin and have neglected the weightier matters of the law justice

and mercy and faith It is these you ought to have practiced without

neglecting the others (Matthew 2323)

Akeyelementofbiblicaljusticeisthatitisnotaneutralapplicationofanabstractlegal

systemInsteadbiblicaljusticeisopenlybiasedinfavorofpeoplewhohavenopoweror

standinglikeexamplesJeremiahgaveofthealientheorphanandthewidowItstandsto

protectthosewhoareweakpoorandmarginalized

IntheNewTestamenttheimageoftheKingdomofGodistheprimaryexpressionofjustice

andrighteousnessJesusexplicitlyrejectstheretributivelawoflextalionisorldquoaneyeforan

eyerdquoandcallsusinsteadtoloveourenemies(Matthew 538-45)Justiceisnotmeasuredby

whatpeopledeservefortheircriminalbehaviorbutbyhowtheharmishealedandrelation-

shipsarere-established

Theresolutionsoughtisnotthatthepersonwhohasstrayedldquogetswhattheydeserverdquobut

ratherthatrelationshipsarere-establishedandharmsarehealedInourbiblicaltradition

thereisanldquohellipinsistencethatGoddoesnotdealwithhumanevilandsinbyseeking

retributionorplottingthedestructionofthosewhosinrdquotothecontraryldquoGodtakesthe

initiativeintryingtoovercomeevilwithgoodhellipGodrsquosjusticeisorientednottowardretri-

butionbuttowardlsquohealingreconciliationtherestorationofrelationshipsrsquordquo9Concernfor

thewholecommunityanditsshalomiseverpresent

Thesafetyofcitizensisafundamentalpartofthecriminaljusticesystemandsomeindi-

vidualswhobecauseoftheircriminalactionsshouldbeincarceratedPunishmentand

retributionshouldneverbethedrivingforceofincarceration

9 Presbyterian Church (USA) 214th General Assembly (2002) Resolution on Restorative Justice Office of the General Assembly Louisville httpogapcusaorgmediauploadsogapdfrestorative-justicepdf

PART 2 BIBLICAL amp DENOMINATIONAL UNDERPINNINGS

8

ldquoThefirststeptowardrestorationmustbetoprotectthosewhohavesufferedandthose

whoareatrisktosufferatthehandsofothersrdquo10Thisapproachtakestheprotectionof

peoplersquossafetyveryseriouslybyholdingoffendersaccountablefortheiractionsintheleast

restrictivewaypossible

Wefindguidancefromastatementbythe200thGeneralAssemblyofthePCUSA(1988)

onPrisonViolenceandNonviolentAlternativeswhichurgedthatldquoindividualPresbyte-

riansandtheentitiesoftheGeneralAssemblyhellipadvocateasocialorderwherecompassion

andjusticecharacterizeeffortstowardthoseinthecriminaljusticesystemrdquoandcalled

forldquochangingaprisonsystemthatisbasedontheconceptofpunishmenttoonethat

encouragestherestorationoftheoffendertothecommunityandthedevelopmentofalter-

nativestoincarcerationrdquo11Thisrestorationiskeytotheworkwedoasachurchandsociety

HealingthereforemeansareturntowholenessforallconcernedThebiblicalconceptof

shalomistheguideforassessingthiswholenessShalomisasocialandcommunalterm

whichindicatesholisticwell-beingInadditionshalomsignifiesgoodrelationsamong

personsfamiliesnationsthephysicalenvironmentandbetweeneachoftheseandGod

IndoingsoGodintendsforthejustpeaceofshalomtobethegoalofourlifetogether

10 Ibid 11 Presbyterian Church (USA) 200th General Assembly (1988) Statement on Prison Violence and Nonviolent Alternatives httpswwwpcusaorgresourcerestorative-justice

PART 2 BIBLICAL amp DENOMINATIONAL UNDERPINNINGS

9

In this section we address ways in which incarceration rates could be lowered

both by focusing on incarceration itself and by focusing on the systemic

societal issues that are root causes of crime particularly low-level offenses

Livability CrimesInseveralofourlisteningsessionsweheardconcernsoversentencesforso-called

ldquolivabilitycrimesrdquo12Theseincludebutarenotlimitedtotrespassingaggressivesolici-

tationviolationofopenbottlelawsandlittering13Inparticularwhiledowntownbusi-

nessescountontheMinneapolisPoliceDepartmenttochargethesecrimessothatthearea

remainswelcomingtopayingmembersofthepublictheincarcerationrelatedtothese

crimesfeelstomanylikethecriminalizationofpovertyandhomelessnessBroadefforts

madeatthecityandstatelevelmustfocusonboth(1)attemptingtoprovidesocialservices

tokeeppersonsexperiencinghomelessnessoutofjailand(2)holisticapproachesthat

addresstherootcausesofthesecrimes

HennepinCountyhasimplementedaninitiativeconnectingateamofsocialworkers

withinmatesinaneffortldquotobringbasicsocialservicestothousandsofinmatesatthe

countyjailinthehopethatoncetheyleavejailtheywillbelesslikelytocomebackrdquo14The

initiativeincludessupportivehousinginformationmentalhealthcounselingandassis-

tancewithhealthinsurancePartofthesuccessofthisprogramisthatithasgarnered

cooperationacrosssystemsincludingthesheriffrsquosdepartmentjudgespublicdefenders

prosecutorssocialworkersandhealthcareproviders

County programs are leveraging county resources across systems to

maximize collective experience and implementing innovative solutions

that are creative and flexible to focus more effort where it makes most

sense in the criminal justice process15

Thiseffortisencouragingbothfromasubstantivestandpointandbecauseitrepresents

anefforttobreakdownthesilosthatoftenoccurinthegovernmentandnonprofitservices

offeredtovulnerablecitizens

12 Stahl Brandon (2016) ldquoHennepin County specialty court offers path out of homelessnessrdquo Star Tribune httpwwwstartribunecomon-east-lake-street-proposed-change-in-punishment-for-livability-crimes-is-a-complicated-issue415528394 13 Appelman Law Firm LLC (2017) ldquoMinnesota Open Container Offenserdquo httpsaacriminallawcomminnesota-dui-lawsminnesota-open-container-offense14 Serres Chris (2015) ldquoAt county jail social workers hope to stop the revolving doorrdquo Star Tribune httpwwwstartribunecomat-county-jail-social-workers-hope-to-stop-the-revolving-door291341891 15 Hennepin County (2017) ldquoBetter Together Hennepinrdquo httpwwwhennepinusyour-governmentprojects-initiativesbetter-together

Part 3 Reducing incarceration in responsible ways

10

Detention Alternatives Youth amp AdultsInthejuvenilejusticeareaHennepinCountyispartofaJuvenileDetentionAlternatives

Initiative(JDAI)TheJDAIseekstoeliminateinappropriateorunnecessaryuseofsecure

detentionforourcommunityrsquosyouthpreventracialandethnicdisparitiesandredirect

resourcestoeffectivecommunity-basedandculturallyappropriateservicesforyouthand

theirfamiliesAfterthesuccessofJDAIHennepinCountyisnowimplementingtheAdult

DetentionInitiative(ADI)acollaborativethathasldquodevelopedandisexecutingastrategic

actionplanforidentifyingindividualswhomaynotneedtobedetainedinjailwhiletheir

caseisbeingresolvedrdquo16

TheADInotesthattheHennepinCountyAdultDetentionCentersometimesreferredtoas

thecountyjailhas33000admissionsannuallywithacostof$132perindividualperday

andthatatleastonethirdofthejailpopulationsuffersfromanidentifiedmentalillness

ldquoOftendetainingthesepeopleinjailworsenstheirsymptomsandconditionsrdquoInaddition

ldquo[t]hosewhoremaininjailforlowleveloffensesaredisproportionatelypoorrdquoADIisdoing

thefollowing

bull CollaboratingwiththeDepartmentofHealthandHumanServicestofind appropriatealternativestojailforthementallyill

bull WorkingwiththeDepartmentofCommunityCorrectionsand Rehabilitation(DOCCR)toreviewpoliciesandproceduresforissuingbench warrantsreservingarrestandjailtimeforoccasionswhencompliance withcourtconditionsandprogresstowardsrehabilitationcannotbe

achievedthroughalternativemeans

bull Reducingbenchwarrantsforpeoplewhodonotappearincourt

bull WorkingwiththeHennepinCountySheriffrsquosOfficetoinstitutealdquocourt expeditorrdquotomonitorcasesandworktoeliminateunnecessarystays17

bull Workingonbailreformtoensuredecisionstodetainorreleasearebased

onrisk18

16 Hennepin County (2017) ldquoAdult Detention Initiative Fact Sheetrdquo httpwwwhennepinuscjcc 17 Hennepin County (2016) ldquoAdult Detention Initiativerdquo httpwwwhennepinus-mediahennepinusyour-governmentleadershipdocumentsADI-Handout-October-2016pdf 18 Ibid

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

11

TheHennepinCountyCriminalJusticeCoordinatingCommitteewhichisresponsiblefor

implementingADIneedstoberecognizedencouragedandfundedfortheseeffortsIn

additionwesupportalatermeasurementoftheeffortstodeterminewhethertheyhave

madeadifferenceinreducingpre-trialincarcerationnumbersandrecidivism

Bail ReformBailreformwillnotnecessarilyreduceratesoflong-termincarcerationintheformof

prisonsentencesbutithasbeenatopicofconcerninthemediaoflateandweheard

concernoverpre-dispositionincarcerationduetoexcessivebailatseveralofourlistening

sessionsWeheardfromjudgesandcommunitymembersconcernedabouttheinequityin

pre-dispositionincarcerationfordefendantsOftenindividualschargedwithacrimewill

failtoshowupforahearingbecauseofmentalillnesshomelessnessortransportation

challengesAwarrantwillbeissuedfortheirarrestoftenresultinginshort-termincarcer-

ationMinnesotaishometoseveralnon-profitorganizationsaimedataddressingthese

seeminglyintractableissuesandwesupportlookingfurtherintotheissueofbailreform

andhowpretrialincarcerationdisproportionatelyaffectsthepoor

Initiativesatagrassrootslevelarehavingapositiveimpactonthosesufferingfromthe

difficultiesofthecriminaljusticesystemFreedomFundisanonprofitthatprovidesassis-

tancetolow-incomepeopleinMinnesotabyacceptingdonationstopostbail19Theonly

caveatfortheindividualistoshowuptotheirnextcourtdateThefounderidentifieda

keypainpointforindividualswithlowincomesmanyofthesepeopleareforcedtoplead

guiltyacceptapenaltyandacriminalrecordinlieuofservingtimeinjailbecausethey

cannotaffordbailInthiswaybailplaysanimportantmdashalbeitcontroversialmdashrolefor

prosecutorsanddefendantswhoareseekingtoavoidjailtimeFreedomFundisforcing

conversationsbypractitionersthroughoutthestateofMinnesotatothinktwiceaboutthe

legitimacyofthecurrentbailsystem

Criminalizing Mental HealthWeheardmanyconcernsoverwhatwasperceivedasthecriminalizationofmentalhealth

orincarceratingindividualswithmentalillnessinsteadofprovidingthemwithinpatient

oroutpatientpsychiatricservicesNumerousindividualsworkinginthecriminaljustice

systemexpressedtheirdesireandperceivednecessityfortreatingmentallyillindividuals

ratherthancomplicatingtheirillnessesinprisonResourceshoweverareextraordinarily

19 Mannix Andy (2017) University of Minnesota Student Takes on Injustices in the Bail System Star Tribune httpwwwstartribunecomuniversity-of-minnesota-student-takes-on-injustices-in-the-bail-system418289153

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

12

scarceandoftenabsentBasedonthetheorythatpeoplewholackself-controlwillengage

indelinquentorcriminalbehavioraccessiblementalhealthtreatmentforeveryone

isessentialPsychotherapyisthebestwayforsomecriminalstorecognizetheldquoerrors

oftheirwaysrdquoandtoestablishmethodsofself-controlthatinsulateagainstoffending

Controltheoryhassuggestedthatregulationoftheindividualmustcomethroughpolicies

fosteringintegrationintothesocialorderratherthanthroughpoliciesofisolationand

punishmentCriminaljusticepolicymakersarecontinuouslylookingforwaystoreduce

thelikelihoodofdelinquentorcriminalbehavior

Whiletherearemanycriminalswhoarediagnosedwithamentalillnessadiagnosisalone

doesnotjustifycriminalbehaviorUnfortunatelymentalhealthissuesaredrivingpeople

intothecriminaljusticesystemFromourlisteningsessionwithagroupofHennepin

CountyJudgeswelearnedthatroughly40ofHennepinCountycriminalcasesinvolve

mentalhealthissuesWhenaskedhowtheyseethecourtsystemaddressingthisintersec-

tionalitybetweenmentalhealthandcrimethejudgesrespondedwiththedefinitionof

ldquocompetencyrdquothelevelofmentalhealththatguidessentencingdecisionsordismissalof

casesuntilldquocompetencyisrestoredrdquoCasesinvolvingyouthaswelearnedfromtheListening

SessionrequirepsychologicalexaminationsforallperpetratorsFromtheseconversations

wegainedadeeperunderstandingofhowmentalhealthplaysapivotalroleinthecriminal

justicesystemforadultsandyouthYetdespitetheseeffortstonormalizeandfocusonthe

importanceofmentalhealthmuchneedstobedonetoimprovethesystem

DuringourtouroftheWashingtonCountyJailwespokewithseveralcorrectionaldeputies

ThejailsergeantwhogavethetoursaidldquoSomanymentallyillcomeintothejailandIwish

thattherewassomethingelsethatcouldbedoneinsteadofincarcerationrdquoDuringourtour

wegatheredthefollowinginsights

bull Thereisadistinctneedforfacilitiestotreatmentalhealthpatientswhodonot belonginaprison

bull Accordingtooneofficialonanygivendayapproximately95ofallinmatesareon medicationformentalhealthrelatedillness

bull Inmatesarediagnosedwithawiderangeofmentalillnessesfrom anxietyandordepressiontopsychoticdisordersInmatesandtheir medicationarereviewedbyapart-timedoctorwhoiscontractedfroma localproviderinStillwaterTheyensurethatthemedicationisnotaddictive Wewereleftwithquestionsabouthowdiagnosesaredetermined

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

13

bull Correctionaldeputiesandlawenforcementofficersonpatrolhavethe opportunitytoparticipateina4-daycrisisinterventiontraining(CIT)which isanintensementalhealthtrainingprogramthatutilizesactorsinscenarios andthechancetodialoguewithcurrentlydiagnosedmentallyillpatients

DuringaJanuarypresentationattheWestminsterPresbyterianChurchSocialJustice

ForumDrThomasAdamsPresidentandCEOofBetterFuturesMinnesotaidentified

acriticalneedforhealthandwellnessengagementinpost-incarcerationservicesDr

AdamsnotedthatldquothroughpartnershipswithHennepinHealthNorthPointHealthand

WellnessandMNSureBetterFuturesrsquoparticipantsrsquoimmediate[post-incarceration]mental

andphysicalhealthneedsareassessedandaddressedrdquoThatincludesldquovisionmentaland

physicalhealthaswellasanychemicaldependencyissuesthatcouldimpactapartici-

pantrsquospotentialtofullyparticipateinalife-buildingBetterFuturesmodelrdquo

Duringourcongregationallisteningsessionsthefollowingconcernswerevoiced

bull Thenarrativesurroundingmentalhealthmustchange

bull Criminaljusticeagencieswouldbenefitfrommoretrainingaboutmental healthissues

bull Thereshouldbealinkbetweensentencingreformandrestorativejustice withregardtomentalhealthissues

bull Communitiesneedmorementalhealthresources

bull Prisonsneedmorementalhealthprofessionalsonstaff

bull Prisonisapoorsubstituteformentalhealthtreatmentandprisonsshouldnotbe orreplacementalhealthtreatmentfacilities

bull Welearnedthatinsomecasesincarceratedpersonshavetopayfortheir mentalhealthmedsthemselvesHealthcareingeneralisnotwhatit shouldbeinprisonfacilities

Plentyofanecdotalevidenceexiststoshowthatstatesarespendingmoretoincarcerate

peoplewithmentalillnessthanitwouldcosttoprovidethemwithtreatmentArecent

studyldquoEffectsofOutpatientTreatmentonRiskofArrestofAdultswithSeriousMental

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

14

IllnessandAssociatedCostsrdquo(May 2013 Journal of Psychiatric Services)20providesdatato

supportthatconclusionThisstudyhasreceivedwidespreadattention

Probation to Prison SentencesTherevocationofprobationduetotechnicalviolationsofprobation(egfailingtoremain

soberfailingtoremainincontactwithprobationofficer)isanareaofthecriminaljustice

systemwhichbearsreforming

FirstweneedtounderstandthenatureofprobationinMinnesotaProbationandsuper-

visedreleasearetimeservedundersupervisioneitherinplaceofjailorprisontimeor

asthesequeltojailorprisontimeMinnesotadoesnotuseaParoleBoardIn1980new

sentencingguidelinescalledforjudgestosetthetermsofreleaseforeachoffender

includingthedateofsupervisedreleaseDeterminant sentencingdictatesthatoffenders

whogotoprisonspendtwothirdsoftheirtimeincarceratedinastatecorrectionalfacility

andonethirdinthecommunityundersupervision

EventhoughMinnesotahasoneofthelowestprisonpopulationratesweleadthe

nationinratesofpeopleonprobationProbationisoftenusedmorethanjailtimewithin

HennepinCountyasanefforttofocusontreatmentratherthanpunishmentldquoAsofthe

endof2015nearly100000peopleinthestatewereunderprobationmdashthefifth-highest

rateinthenationaccordingtoBJSdatardquo21Whiletheselargenumbersofpeopleon

probationmayleadustobelievethesystemisworkingbetterthaninstatesthatincar-

ceratemorepeopleweneedtodigdeeperintothenumberstounderstandtheimpactsof

communitysupervision

Themajorityoffelony-levelprobationersinMinnesotaareundersupervisionfordrugor

DWI-relatedcrimesin2016103000peoplewereonprobationstatewideand19000on

supervisedreleaseProbationandsupervisedreleaseareattemptstoreturnpeopletotheir

communitiesinhopesthatcommunity-basedtreatmentandprogramscanhelpreduce

apersonrsquosriskofrecidivismHoweverapersonundersupervisedreleasemayreturnto

prisonforfailingtomeetstandardorspecialconditionsasdeterminedbysupervising

authoritiessomeofthesefallintothecategoryofldquotechnicalviolationsrdquosuchasfailingto

findandmaintainaresidenceorsteadyemploymentfailingtoattendspecificmandated

programsorfailingtomaintaincontactwiththeiragentmdashinotherwordsviolationsthat

20 Marso Andy (2016) ldquoResearch illuminates cost of criminalizing mental illnessrdquo The Topeka Capital Journal httpcjonlinecomnews2016-10-22research-illuminates-cost-criminalizing-mental-illness 21 Minnesota Department of Corrections Overview to the House Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance Committee January 18 2017

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

13

bull Correctionaldeputiesandlawenforcementofficersonpatrolhavethe opportunitytoparticipateina4-daycrisisinterventiontraining(CIT)which isanintensementalhealthtrainingprogramthatutilizesactorsinscenarios andthechancetodialoguewithcurrentlydiagnosedmentallyillpatients

DuringaJanuarypresentationattheWestminsterPresbyterianChurchSocialJustice

ForumDrThomasAdamsPresidentandCEOofBetterFuturesMinnesotaidentified

acriticalneedforhealthandwellnessengagementinpost-incarcerationservicesDr

AdamsnotedthatldquothroughpartnershipswithHennepinHealthNorthPointHealthand

WellnessandMNSureBetterFuturesrsquoparticipantsrsquoimmediate[post-incarceration]mental

andphysicalhealthneedsareassessedandaddressedrdquoThatincludesldquovisionmentaland

physicalhealthaswellasanychemicaldependencyissuesthatcouldimpactapartici-

pantrsquospotentialtofullyparticipateinalife-buildingBetterFuturesmodelrdquo

Duringourcongregationallisteningsessionsthefollowingconcernswerevoiced

bull Thenarrativesurroundingmentalhealthmustchange

bull Criminaljusticeagencieswouldbenefitfrommoretrainingaboutmental healthissues

bull Thereshouldbealinkbetweensentencingreformandrestorativejustice withregardtomentalhealthissues

bull Communitiesneedmorementalhealthresources

bull Prisonsneedmorementalhealthprofessionalsonstaff

bull Prisonisapoorsubstituteformentalhealthtreatmentandprisonsshouldnotbe orreplacementalhealthtreatmentfacilities

bull Welearnedthatinsomecasesincarceratedpersonshavetopayfortheir mentalhealthmedsthemselvesHealthcareingeneralisnotwhatit shouldbeinprisonfacilities

Plentyofanecdotalevidenceexiststoshowthatstatesarespendingmoretoincarcerate

peoplewithmentalillnessthanitwouldcosttoprovidethemwithtreatmentArecent

studyldquoEffectsofOutpatientTreatmentonRiskofArrestofAdultswithSeriousMental

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

14

IllnessandAssociatedCostsrdquo(May 2013 Journal of Psychiatric Services)20providesdatato

supportthatconclusionThisstudyhasreceivedwidespreadattention

Probation to Prison SentencesTherevocationofprobationduetotechnicalviolationsofprobation(egfailingtoremain

soberfailingtoremainincontactwithprobationofficer)isanareaofthecriminaljustice

systemwhichbearsreforming

FirstweneedtounderstandthenatureofprobationinMinnesotaProbationandsuper-

visedreleasearetimeservedundersupervisioneitherinplaceofjailorprisontimeor

asthesequeltojailorprisontimeMinnesotadoesnotuseaParoleBoardIn1980new

sentencingguidelinescalledforjudgestosetthetermsofreleaseforeachoffender

includingthedateofsupervisedreleaseDeterminant sentencingdictatesthatoffenders

whogotoprisonspendtwothirdsoftheirtimeincarceratedinastatecorrectionalfacility

andonethirdinthecommunityundersupervision

EventhoughMinnesotahasoneofthelowestprisonpopulationratesweleadthe

nationinratesofpeopleonprobationProbationisoftenusedmorethanjailtimewithin

HennepinCountyasanefforttofocusontreatmentratherthanpunishmentldquoAsofthe

endof2015nearly100000peopleinthestatewereunderprobationmdashthefifth-highest

rateinthenationaccordingtoBJSdatardquo21Whiletheselargenumbersofpeopleon

probationmayleadustobelievethesystemisworkingbetterthaninstatesthatincar-

ceratemorepeopleweneedtodigdeeperintothenumberstounderstandtheimpactsof

communitysupervision

Themajorityoffelony-levelprobationersinMinnesotaareundersupervisionfordrugor

DWI-relatedcrimesin2016103000peoplewereonprobationstatewideand19000on

supervisedreleaseProbationandsupervisedreleaseareattemptstoreturnpeopletotheir

communitiesinhopesthatcommunity-basedtreatmentandprogramscanhelpreduce

apersonrsquosriskofrecidivismHoweverapersonundersupervisedreleasemayreturnto

prisonforfailingtomeetstandardorspecialconditionsasdeterminedbysupervising

authoritiessomeofthesefallintothecategoryofldquotechnicalviolationsrdquosuchasfailingto

findandmaintainaresidenceorsteadyemploymentfailingtoattendspecificmandated

programsorfailingtomaintaincontactwiththeiragentmdashinotherwordsviolationsthat

20 Marso Andy (2016) ldquoResearch illuminates cost of criminalizing mental illnessrdquo The Topeka Capital Journal httpcjonlinecomnews2016-10-22research-illuminates-cost-criminalizing-mental-illness 21 Minnesota Department of Corrections Overview to the House Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance Committee January 18 2017

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

14

IllnessandAssociatedCostsrdquo(May 2013 Journal of Psychiatric Services)20providesdatato

supportthatconclusionThisstudyhasreceivedwidespreadattention

Probation to Prison SentencesTherevocationofprobationduetotechnicalviolationsofprobation(egfailingtoremain

soberfailingtoremainincontactwithprobationofficer)isanareaofthecriminaljustice

systemwhichbearsreforming

FirstweneedtounderstandthenatureofprobationinMinnesotaProbationandsuper-

visedreleasearetimeservedundersupervisioneitherinplaceofjailorprisontimeor

asthesequeltojailorprisontimeMinnesotadoesnotuseaParoleBoardIn1980new

sentencingguidelinescalledforjudgestosetthetermsofreleaseforeachoffender

includingthedateofsupervisedreleaseDeterminant sentencingdictatesthatoffenders

whogotoprisonspendtwothirdsoftheirtimeincarceratedinastatecorrectionalfacility

andonethirdinthecommunityundersupervision

EventhoughMinnesotahasoneofthelowestprisonpopulationratesweleadthe

nationinratesofpeopleonprobationProbationisoftenusedmorethanjailtimewithin

HennepinCountyasanefforttofocusontreatmentratherthanpunishmentldquoAsofthe

endof2015nearly100000peopleinthestatewereunderprobationmdashthefifth-highest

rateinthenationaccordingtoBJSdatardquo21Whiletheselargenumbersofpeopleon

probationmayleadustobelievethesystemisworkingbetterthaninstatesthatincar-

ceratemorepeopleweneedtodigdeeperintothenumberstounderstandtheimpactsof

communitysupervision

Themajorityoffelony-levelprobationersinMinnesotaareundersupervisionfordrugor

DWI-relatedcrimesin2016103000peoplewereonprobationstatewideand19000on

supervisedreleaseProbationandsupervisedreleaseareattemptstoreturnpeopletotheir

communitiesinhopesthatcommunity-basedtreatmentandprogramscanhelpreduce

apersonrsquosriskofrecidivismHoweverapersonundersupervisedreleasemayreturnto

prisonforfailingtomeetstandardorspecialconditionsasdeterminedbysupervising

authoritiessomeofthesefallintothecategoryofldquotechnicalviolationsrdquosuchasfailingto

findandmaintainaresidenceorsteadyemploymentfailingtoattendspecificmandated

programsorfailingtomaintaincontactwiththeiragentmdashinotherwordsviolationsthat

20 Marso Andy (2016) ldquoResearch illuminates cost of criminalizing mental illnessrdquo The Topeka Capital Journal httpcjonlinecomnews2016-10-22research-illuminates-cost-criminalizing-mental-illness 21 Minnesota Department of Corrections Overview to the House Public Safety and Security Policy and Finance Committee January 18 2017

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

15

donotinvolveadditionalcriminalbehaviorExtenuatingcircumstancesoftenimpactthese

failurestomeetsupervisedreleaserequirementsmdashthelackofaffordablehousingavailable

treatmentbedslittleornofamilytofallbackonortransportationbarriers

Approximately36 of the prison population is made up of ldquotechnicalrdquo violatorsorthose

whofailtomeettheconditionsoftheirsupervisedrelease22

Theconcernisthatusingprisonasamandatoryconsequenceforfailingprobationor

supervisedreleaseprovideslittleopportunitytoreformlongtermbehaviorResearchnotes

thatprisonasageneralruledoesnotimprovemattersanditoftenmakesthingsworse23

Inonestudyitwasfoundthatincarcerationincreasedrecidivismby14comparedto

community-basedsanctions24

Additionallyroughly48ofmalesandnearly60offemaleprisonersaresentencedto

servelessthansixmonthsinprison25Theseshortstintsdonotallowincarceratedpersons

toenrollinschooltreatmentorothervaluableprogrammingshowntoreducefuture

criminalbehaviorTheseshortstintshoweverdisruptfamilyandpersonallivesremove

apersonfromemploymentorcommunityprogrammingopportunitiesandforceinter-

actionswithotherpersonssometimeshigherriskwhocanmodeladditionalandmore

extremeanti-socialbehaviors

Ourrecommendationisthatcommunity-basedsanctionsbeexploredmorethoroughly

asalternativestoprisonsentencesforpersonswhodonotalwayshavetheabilityto

meetprobationorsupervised-releaseconditionsEvidence-basedassessmentscanhelp

determineneedandresponsivityissuesthatpreventapersonfrommeetingconditionsIn

additionsupervisingagentsshouldhavetheauthoritytomatchneedswithcommunitybased

servicesbeforeconsideringexecutingaprisoncommitmentorreturningapersontoprison

Sentencing Reform for Drug OffensesTheldquowarondrugsrdquoofthe1980sbroughtsentencingpoliciessuchasmandatoryminimum

sentencesforparticulardrugcrimesextremelylongprisonsentencesforthesameanda

reductioninthediscretionofdistrictcourtjudgestofashionappropriateandjustsentences

forthoseconvictedofdrugcrimesInthelastdecadewehaveseenthosepoliciesdialed

22 Ibid 23 Latessa E Listwan S amp Koetzle D What Works (and Doesnrsquot) in Reducing Recidivism 2015 24 Jonson C 2010 The impact of imprisonment on reoffending A meta-analysis Unpublished doctoral dissertation Cincinnati OH University of Cincinnati 25 DOC 2017

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

16

backareductionofmandatoryminimumsandincreaseddiscretionfordistrictcourt

judgesldquoInanincreasinglyrareachievementconservativesandliberalshadcometogether

ontheissueputtingthemonthevergeofwinningreductionsinmandatoryminimum

sentencesandcreatingnewprogramstohelpoffendersadjusttolifeafterprisonrdquo26

UnfortunatelythecurrentJusticeDepartmentisreversingthistrendtowardmoreequitable

sentencingreturningtothedraconianpoliciesofmandatoryminimumsagainsttheadviceof

theDOJrsquosownresearchdivision27

Anycriminaljusticereformmustincludediscretionfordistrictcourtjudgesanda

reductionoreliminationofmandatoryminimumsentencesldquoNoteverybodywhofalls

withintheletterofthecriminalprohibitionissomebodywhodeservesthatkindof

criminalpunishmentItrsquosnotaboutexcusingpeopleorcondoningcriminalbehavioritrsquosa

questionoftryingtofigureouthowmuchpunishmentisenoughandatwhatpointareyou

pilingonneedlesslyandatgreatcostrdquo28

Specialty CourtsHennepinCountysetsanationwideexampleinaddressingparticularpopulationsof

citizenswithldquoproblem-solvingcourtsrdquoorldquotreatmentcourtsrdquoThesecourtsattemptto

addressrootcausessuchasalcoholanddrugaddictionmentalillnesseffectsofmilitary

serviceandhomelessnessasawaytoaddressthecrimethatoftenresultsfromthoseroot

causesHennepinCountyrsquosProblem-SolvingCourtsincludeVeteransCourtDWICourt

CriminalMentalHealthCourtModelDrugCourtHousingOutreachforMinneapolitans

EstablishingStability(HOMES)andGainingIndependenceforFemalesinTransition(GIFT)

ForexampletheHOMESCourtstartedwithanideafromtheMinneapolisnonprofitSt

StephensrsquoHumanServicesandlinksindividualschargedwithlow-leveloffenseswith

housingservicesIfanindividualinHOMEScourtworkswiththesocialworkersassigned

tohelphimorherthecourtcandelaythechargesandpotentiallydismissthemIfthe

individualdoesnotfollowthroughheorshewouldstillfacepotentialjailtime29InDrug

Courtthemissionistoldquoincreasepublicsafetyimprovechemicalhealthandreducecrime

26 Hulse Carl (2017) Unity Was Emerging on Sentencing Then Came Jeff Sessions The New York Times httpswwwnytimescom20170514uspoliticsjeff-sessions-criminal-sentencinghtml_r=0 27 Christopher Ingraham(2017) It took Jeff Sessions just one month to turn Obama-era drug policy on its head Washington Post httpswwwwashingtonpostcomnewswonkwp20170602it-took-jeff-sessions-just-one-month-to-turn-obama-era-drug-policy-on-its-headutm_term=14c5a3604481 28 David Alan Sklansky law professor Stanford University quoted in Ruiz Rebecca (2017) Attorney General Orders Tougher Sentences Rolling Back Obama Policy New York Times httpsnytimn2r6Rote 29 Stahl Brandon (2016) ldquoHennepin County specialty court offers path out of homelessnessrdquo Star Tribune httpwwwstartribunecomhennepin-county-specialty-court-offers-path-out-of-homelessness405798186

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

16

backareductionofmandatoryminimumsandincreaseddiscretionfordistrictcourt

judgesldquoInanincreasinglyrareachievementconservativesandliberalshadcometogether

ontheissueputtingthemonthevergeofwinningreductionsinmandatoryminimum

sentencesandcreatingnewprogramstohelpoffendersadjusttolifeafterprisonrdquo26

UnfortunatelythecurrentJusticeDepartmentisreversingthistrendtowardmoreequitable

sentencingreturningtothedraconianpoliciesofmandatoryminimumsagainsttheadviceof

theDOJrsquosownresearchdivision27

Anycriminaljusticereformmustincludediscretionfordistrictcourtjudgesanda

reductionoreliminationofmandatoryminimumsentencesldquoNoteverybodywhofalls

withintheletterofthecriminalprohibitionissomebodywhodeservesthatkindof

criminalpunishmentItrsquosnotaboutexcusingpeopleorcondoningcriminalbehavioritrsquosa

questionoftryingtofigureouthowmuchpunishmentisenoughandatwhatpointareyou

pilingonneedlesslyandatgreatcostrdquo28

Specialty CourtsHennepinCountysetsanationwideexampleinaddressingparticularpopulationsof

citizenswithldquoproblem-solvingcourtsrdquoorldquotreatmentcourtsrdquoThesecourtsattemptto

addressrootcausessuchasalcoholanddrugaddictionmentalillnesseffectsofmilitary

serviceandhomelessnessasawaytoaddressthecrimethatoftenresultsfromthoseroot

causesHennepinCountyrsquosProblem-SolvingCourtsincludeVeteransCourtDWICourt

CriminalMentalHealthCourtModelDrugCourtHousingOutreachforMinneapolitans

EstablishingStability(HOMES)andGainingIndependenceforFemalesinTransition(GIFT)

ForexampletheHOMESCourtstartedwithanideafromtheMinneapolisnonprofitSt

StephensrsquoHumanServicesandlinksindividualschargedwithlow-leveloffenseswith

housingservicesIfanindividualinHOMEScourtworkswiththesocialworkersassigned

tohelphimorherthecourtcandelaythechargesandpotentiallydismissthemIfthe

individualdoesnotfollowthroughheorshewouldstillfacepotentialjailtime29InDrug

Courtthemissionistoldquoincreasepublicsafetyimprovechemicalhealthandreducecrime

26 Hulse Carl (2017) Unity Was Emerging on Sentencing Then Came Jeff Sessions The New York Times httpswwwnytimescom20170514uspoliticsjeff-sessions-criminal-sentencinghtml_r=0 27 Christopher Ingraham(2017) It took Jeff Sessions just one month to turn Obama-era drug policy on its head Washington Post httpswwwwashingtonpostcomnewswonkwp20170602it-took-jeff-sessions-just-one-month-to-turn-obama-era-drug-policy-on-its-headutm_term=14c5a3604481 28 David Alan Sklansky law professor Stanford University quoted in Ruiz Rebecca (2017) Attorney General Orders Tougher Sentences Rolling Back Obama Policy New York Times httpsnytimn2r6Rote 29 Stahl Brandon (2016) ldquoHennepin County specialty court offers path out of homelessnessrdquo Star Tribune httpwwwstartribunecomhennepin-county-specialty-court-offers-path-out-of-homelessness405798186

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

17

bytargetingthepopulationoffelonypropertyanddrugoffenderswhohaveasubstance

usedisorderandareathighrisktoreoffendrdquo30EntryintoDrugCourtisvoluntaryand

participantsaresubjecttosupervisionwithinputfromamulti-disciplinaryteamofprofes-

sionalsSuccessfulcompletionoftheprogramresultsinadischargefromactiveprobation

Role of the Public DefenderThePublicDefenderplaysacriticalroleinthejusticesystemyetisconsistentlyunder-

fundedPublicdefendersareoverwhelmedinoursystemwhichleadstolessattention

paidtoclientsandafundamentallackoftrustthatclientshavefortheircourt-appointed

attorneysInourlisteningsessionswesawtheresultsofthisunderfundingformerly

incarceratedindividualscomplainedabouttheirattorneysandjudgescomplainedthat

thepublicdefendersdonothaveenoughtimetogivefullattentiontoeachcaseWhileit

istruethatallaspectsofthesystemmdashprosecutorssocialworkersjudgesandothersmdash

arecurrentlyoverloadedweconsistentlyheardthatpublicdefendersborethebruntof

overloadandunderfundingThepublicdefenderiscriticaltoasystemthatpurportstobe

fairandjustwemusttrustthatstronglegalrepresentationisavailabletorichandpoor

alikeWithoutthattrustthesystembreaksdownAsataskforcewestronglyrecommend

additionalresourcesforthepublicdefendersinMinnesota

Early Intervention for At-Risk PopulationsWhenfocusingonmassincarcerationitiseasytofocusonthecriminaljusticesystemand

theprisonsystemInallthatweheardandreadwewerestruckbythe(perhapsobvious)

sentimentthatcriminaljusticereformwillnotbemeaningfulunlessitaddressesthe

largersocietalproblemsofpovertyandtheeducationgapparticularlybetweenwhitesand

personsofcolorThefollowingsectionsdeveloptheseconceptsfurther

Child Protection

Whenaskedabouttheone thing thathewouldchangeaboutthecriminaljusticesystem

toreduceincarcerationaHennepinCountyjudgesaidthathewouldfocusonearlyinter-

ventionforat-riskpopulationsHesawveryclearlythelinkthatexistsbetweenfamiliesin

childprotectionandthechildrenrsquoseventualinteractionwiththecriminaljusticesystemas

adultsTherestoftheHennepinCountyjudgesthatparticipatedinthislisteningsession

noddedinagreementWefurtheridentifywiththeirsentimentespeciallyhereinMinnesota

30 Minnesota Judicial Branch (2015) ldquoHennepin County Drug Courtrdquo httpwwwmncourtsgovmncourtsgovmediascao_libraryDrug20Courts4th20DistrictDrug20CourtHennepin-Drug-Court-Brochurepdf

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

18

In2014BrandonStahloftheStarTribunewroteanarticlemeanttoshockhisreaders

intowantingtoknowmoreaboutthecurrentlyfailedMinnesotachildwelfaresystem

HestatedldquoFifty-sixchildreninMinnesotahavediedofmaltreatmentsince2005

despitecountiesknowingthechildwasatriskorthecaretakerwasdangerousrdquo31

Thesechildmortalityratesareunacceptableunfortunatelyfewactionshavetakenplace

tochangethesystemUnderstandingtheimpactthatincarcerationhasonanadultisjust

onesideoftheissueWhenweexpandourviewtoincludethepartnersandchildrenof

thoseincarceratedtheproblemsgrowexponentially

GovernorMarkDaytonconvenedaGovernorrsquosTaskForceontheProtectionofChildren

whichpublishedafinaldraftreportinMarch201532Thisreportoutlinedavarietyof

amendmentstoimprovethescreeningprocessofchildprotectionservicesthatfocusonthe

outcomesthatmeasuressuccessofimprovingthelivesofchildrenWeencouragethiswork

andhopethatsimilareffortswillbemademovingforwardatthestatelevel

Attachment

Anotheropportunitytoreducefutureincarcerationofat-riskpopulationsistofocus

onldquoattachmentrdquoLatelysocialscienceresearchershavedocumentedtheimportanceof

attachmenttoreduceAdverseChildhoodExperiences(ACEs)whichhavebeenlinkedto

higherratesofcriminalactivityandleadadultstoprisonAccordingtotheSubstance

AbuseandMentalHealthServicesAdministration(SAMHSA)examplesofACEsinclude

physicalabusesexualabuseemotionalabusephysicalneglectemotionalneglect

mothertreatedviolentlysubstancemisusewithinhouseholdhouseholdmentalillness

parentalseparationordivorceandincarceratedhouseholdmember33Acycleofabuse

canoccurbetweengenerationsandleavelastingimpactsonthestabilityofhomesfor

childrenduringveryimportantdevelopmenttime-periodsThiscycleplaysalargeroleIn

additionloveandprotectionarekeyincreatingattachmentbetweenchildandparent

Whenthisdoesnotformachildrsquosentirelifeisaffectedincludingtheabilitytoformrela-

tionshipsunderstandingofself-worthhealthsocialskillsandmood34Causesforthis

failedattachmentincluderepeatedparentalchangesasdevelopedthroughfostercareand

despondentparentingingeneral

31 Stahl Brandon (2014) ldquoLessons from child abuse deaths go unheeded in Minnesotardquo Star Tribunehttpwwwstartribunecomlessons-from-child-abuse-deaths-go-unheeded-in-minnesota282031701 32 ldquoGovernorrsquos Task Force on the Protection of Children Final Report and Recommendationsrdquo (March 2015) Star Tribune httpstmediastartribunecomdocumentsDraft+report+by+Governorrsquos+Task+Force+on+the+Protection+of+Childrenpdf 33 SAMHSA (2017) Adverse Childhood Experiences httpswwwsamhsagovcaptpracticing-effective-preventionprevention-behavioral-healthadverse-childhood-experiences 34 WebMD (2017) Reactive Attachment Disorder httpwwwwebmdcommental-healthmental-health-reactive-attachment-disorder

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

19

PsychologistsdiagnosethisfailedattachmentasReactiveAttachmentDisorder(RAD)35

Theemotionalseparationthatchildrendevelopwithabsentparentssuchasthosetaken

bythecriminaljusticesystemisaprecursortobehaviorthatultimatelyleadstoincar-

cerationThesebehaviorsincludeself-destructionanimalabuseandgeneralpersistence

toviolenceUnderstandingthisdisorderleadstofurtherquestionsthatarecurrentlyleft

unaddressedsuchas

bull Forfamilieswhohaveanincarceratedparenthowdowecreate opportunitiesforattachment

bull WithanincreaseintheincarcerationratesofAfricanAmericanandNative AmericanwomeninMinnesotahowdowehandlethechildrenwhoremaininthe community

bull Whatprogrammingcanbeaddedtojailsprisonstohelpwithattachment

bull Howcanweprovideeducationaboutattachmenttofamiliesinpovertyorcrisis

Education Initiatives

Theeducationgapisparticularlyprofoundinfamilieswhereoneparentisincarcerated

Inthesesituationsextraresourcesareneededbecausethesechildrenareatahigherrisk

forincarcerationthantheirpeersSchoolsystemsoffertheperfectlocationforsuchearly

interventionprogramswherementalillnessispresentTeachersandadministratorsmust

actasadvocatesfordiagnosesandsupportfortreatmentthatwillkeepchildrenand

theirfamiliessafeandoutofthesystemBuildingclosetrustingrelationshipsisakey

connectionforsuccesswiththisunderservedandvulnerablepopulationofchildren

Trainingprofessionalstobepresentforoneanotherparticularlyintheeducationsettingis

keyforchildrenofincarceratedparents

WestminsterPresbyterianChurchhasbeenaleaderinthisinitiativeformanyyearsIn

2014theLeagueofWomenVotershostedaforumentitledInterrupting the Prison Pipe-

line36moderatedbyPastorDougMitchellwithfourguestspeakersincludingMarkHaase

fromtheCriminalJusticeTrendsMarkKappelhofffromCouncilonCrimeandJustice

PolicingandChiefKrisArnesonfromtheUniversityofMinnesotaLawSchoolandMinne-

35 Families by Design (2017) ldquoReactive Attachment Disorderrdquo Nancy Thomas Parenting httpwwwattachmentorgreactive-attachment-disorder 36 League of Women Voters (2014) Interrupting the Prison Pipeline Youtube httpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=NebxYWeusAg

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

20

apolisPoliceDepartmentThisforumfocusedontheschool-to-prisonpipelineandthe

importanceoffamilyandcommunityadvocatesinpreservingtheeducationandfuture

successofchildrenOpportunitieslikethisprovideanopenandhonestdialogueaboutthe

roleofeducationandareimportantandencouraged

ThelinkbetweenlackofeducationandprisonisbothobviousandstartlingThemore

wecandotosupporteducationinitiativesinat-riskpopulationsthemorewewillbe

helpingtoreduceincarcerationratesTheachievementgapneedstobeaddressedherein

MinnesotaandthenationasawholeThecurrentdebateislargelyaboutschoolchoice

orpublicschoolsButtherealissueistheschool-to-prisonpipelineresultingfrombehav-

ioralproblemsofkidsinschoolsthatdonrsquothavetheresources(egadultstimemoney

programstraining)toclosethegap

Additionallyithasbeenfoundthatstudentswhoareremovedfromtheirclassroom

settingsmdashforbehavioralproblemsorotherwisemdashstrugglewithinterpersonalrelationships

aswellasacademicsuccessPsychologistsAdelmanandTaylorfoundthatldquopullingat-risk

studentsoutofclasstobecounseledpunishedorsuspendedforaggressivebehaviorsor

bullyinginterferedwiththeirpeerrelationshipsandacademicprogressrdquo37Thepsycholo-

gistsdiscoveredthatkeepingthesechildreninstimulatingsupportiveclassroomshelped

themtostopactingoutandlearntosharetheirownuniquegiftswithotherkids

Otherroadblockswhichcanhinderachildrsquosopportunityforagoodlearningenvironment

gobeyondtheschoolsystemHealthandwellnessplayalargeroleinthesuccessofachild

atschoolManyschoolshavecutproactiveandpreventivehealthservicesreducingthe

numberofschoolnursesandpsychologistswhoregularlymonitorstudentswhomayneed

helpAschool-basedpsychologistornursetrainedinmentalhealthisinabetterpositionto

assistachildstrugglingwithbehavioralissuesthanmanyfrontlineteachers

Wealsoneedtofindwaystoteachparentshowtobeadvocatesfortheirchildrenwithin

schoolsystemsTherearemanydifferentorganizationsthatcreatebondsbetweenat-risk

childrenandsupportivementoringadultssuchasBigBrothersBigSistersofAmericaAt

thelocalleveltheNetworkfortheDevelopmentofChildrenofAfricanDescent(NdCAD)is

doingsomeimpressiveworktoempowerparentsintheliteraryeducationoftheirchildren

OneclassisentitledldquoParentPowerrdquoandencouragestheroleofparenttobeoneoflifelong

teacher38TheystateldquoEverythingparentsdoathometoadvanceliteracyhaslong-term

37 DeAngelis Tory (2012) ldquoHelping At-Risk Students Succeedrdquo American Psychological Association wwwapaorgmonitor201202at-risk-studentsaspx 38 NdCAD (2016) ldquoParent Powerrdquo httpndcadorgportfolio=children-needed-family

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

21

effectsonpreparingachildforsuccessinschoolandliferdquoThesebasicskillsfurtherdrive

attachmentbetweenparentandchildandworktoproactivelycounterissueslikeACEs

andRADWeencouragethistypeofworkandhopethatmoreorganizationwhoworkwith

at-riskpopulationsadoptsimilarpoliciesandprograms

PART 3 REDUCING INCARCERATION IN RESPONSIBLE WAYS

22

Part 4 Improving the Lives of People Impacted by Crime and Incarceration

In this section we focus on the impact that the incarceration system has

on individuals their families and the greater community Our insights

were developed from listening sessions tour of the Washington County Jail

and research

Solitary ConfinementQuakersfirstintroducedsolitaryconfinementintheUnitedStatesasldquoprisonreformrdquothey

assumedthattimespentinisolationwouldhelpinmatesfindGodaswellasaninnersenseof

well-beingThisexperimentfailedbadlyandthecountrylargelyabandonedisolationinthe

1890sInthe1970sovercrowdedprisonsresultedinviolentuprisingsandsolitaryconfine-

ment39Todayover80000personsareheldinsolitaryconfinementintheUnitedStates40

MinnesotahasonlyrecentlybeguntolookatalternativestoisolationpracticesWhile

safetyreasonsexistforisolatingsomeinmatesDOCregardsthepracticeasnecessaryto

maintainasecureenvironmentforallinmatesCurrentlyMinnesotahasnooversightor

guidelinesforhowisolationshouldbeusednorhowlongsomeonecanremaininsolitary

confinementInarecentarticlebyAndyMannixintheStarTribunemorethan1600

Minnesotainmateshavespent6monthsorlongerinisolationinthelast10yearsOver

thatsame10-yearperiodMinnesotahassent17500inmatesintosolitaryconfinement

437ofwhichwereinisolationoneyearorlonger41Thefollowingisadescriptionofthe

isolationexperience

For at least 23 hours a day walled off from all outside sounds Nasseff

was confined inside an 8 frac12-by-11-foot cell A single bed concrete

bench shower and toilet left just enough space for him to do push-ups

A camera mounted on the ceiling watched him at all times Unseen

hands flushed the toilet and controlled the light42

Inmatesinisolationregularlyactoutinthefollowingwaysfloodtheircellscutthem-

selvesandsmearbloodandtheirownfecesonthemselvesandtheircellsbangoncell

doorshowlandpaceback-and-forthOneprisonerdescribeditasldquobeingburiedalive

withnothingtodordquo43Isolationtendstoexacerbatementalillnessandseveralstudiesshow

39 Last Days of Solitary PBSrsquo Show Frontline 41817 40 Ibid 41 Andy Mannix ldquoExtreme Isolation Scars State Inmatesrdquo Minneapolis Star Tribune 12416 42 Ibid 43 Last Days of Solitary PBSrsquo Show Frontline 41817

23

thatwheninmatesarereleasedtheirexperienceinisolationmakesitmorelikelytheywill

reoffendandendupbackinprison44

In2013theStateofMaineinstitutedseveralreformstoaddressthepsychologicalharm

donebysolitaryconfinementprisonerdiscussiongroupsfacilitatedbyaprisonpsychol-

ogistestablishedbehaviorexpectationsandaclearpathtoreintegrationwiththegeneral

prisonpopulationInshorttheyofferedtheinmateshopeInusingthesetechniquesasof

2017Mainereducedthenumberofprisonersinsolitaryconfinementfrom100to845

The reality is 80 of these inmates are going to be hitting the streets

so we can either make them worse and create more victims or we can

rehabilitate them46

Asataskforceweencouragefurtherreformstoreducetheuseofsolitaryconfinementin

MinnesotaWerecognizetheneedforsolitaryconfinementtoprotectfellowprisonersbut

donotrecognizeitforpunitiveuseEffortsliketheMaineexampleprovideMinnesotawith

amapforhoweffectivepolicymakingcanaddressrootissuestopunishment

Programming amp EducationThroughourlisteningsessionsandresearchwelearnedaboutthepivotalroleeducation

canplayforindividualsduringtheirtimeinprisonAccordingtotheMinnesota

DepartmentofCorrectionobtainingasecondarydegreewhileinprisonsignificantly

increasesonersquoschancesofsecuringemploymentwithinthefirsttwoyearsafterrelease

fromprisonby5947Uponintakeintotheprisonsystemalladultoffendersarescreened

bytheTestofAdultBasicEducation(TABE)Thistestcoupledwiththeircurrenteduca-

tionalstatus(iedegreesearned)determinestheeducationalpaththeywilltakeOptions

foreducationalopportunitiesincludeGEDprogramsenrichmentprogramsacademic

post-secondarypathaswellascareerandtechnicaltraining48

InAugustof2015theMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionspassedDivisionDirective

204040whichguaranteeseligibleincarceratedoffendersaneducationalpathwayto

44 Ibid 45 Ibid 46 Ibid 47 Minnesota Department of Corrections (2015) ldquoEducational Programming Evaluationrdquo httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles751392062383MnDOC_Educational_Programming_Evaluation_DOC_Website_Finalpdf 48 Minnesota Department of Corrections httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles531455136429MAP-2016-2018-02042016-Single_Pages_for_Webpdf

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

22

Part 4 Improving the Lives of People Impacted by Crime and Incarceration

In this section we focus on the impact that the incarceration system has

on individuals their families and the greater community Our insights

were developed from listening sessions tour of the Washington County Jail

and research

Solitary ConfinementQuakersfirstintroducedsolitaryconfinementintheUnitedStatesasldquoprisonreformrdquothey

assumedthattimespentinisolationwouldhelpinmatesfindGodaswellasaninnersenseof

well-beingThisexperimentfailedbadlyandthecountrylargelyabandonedisolationinthe

1890sInthe1970sovercrowdedprisonsresultedinviolentuprisingsandsolitaryconfine-

ment39Todayover80000personsareheldinsolitaryconfinementintheUnitedStates40

MinnesotahasonlyrecentlybeguntolookatalternativestoisolationpracticesWhile

safetyreasonsexistforisolatingsomeinmatesDOCregardsthepracticeasnecessaryto

maintainasecureenvironmentforallinmatesCurrentlyMinnesotahasnooversightor

guidelinesforhowisolationshouldbeusednorhowlongsomeonecanremaininsolitary

confinementInarecentarticlebyAndyMannixintheStarTribunemorethan1600

Minnesotainmateshavespent6monthsorlongerinisolationinthelast10yearsOver

thatsame10-yearperiodMinnesotahassent17500inmatesintosolitaryconfinement

437ofwhichwereinisolationoneyearorlonger41Thefollowingisadescriptionofthe

isolationexperience

For at least 23 hours a day walled off from all outside sounds Nasseff

was confined inside an 8 frac12-by-11-foot cell A single bed concrete

bench shower and toilet left just enough space for him to do push-ups

A camera mounted on the ceiling watched him at all times Unseen

hands flushed the toilet and controlled the light42

Inmatesinisolationregularlyactoutinthefollowingwaysfloodtheircellscutthem-

selvesandsmearbloodandtheirownfecesonthemselvesandtheircellsbangoncell

doorshowlandpaceback-and-forthOneprisonerdescribeditasldquobeingburiedalive

withnothingtodordquo43Isolationtendstoexacerbatementalillnessandseveralstudiesshow

39 Last Days of Solitary PBSrsquo Show Frontline 41817 40 Ibid 41 Andy Mannix ldquoExtreme Isolation Scars State Inmatesrdquo Minneapolis Star Tribune 12416 42 Ibid 43 Last Days of Solitary PBSrsquo Show Frontline 41817

23

thatwheninmatesarereleasedtheirexperienceinisolationmakesitmorelikelytheywill

reoffendandendupbackinprison44

In2013theStateofMaineinstitutedseveralreformstoaddressthepsychologicalharm

donebysolitaryconfinementprisonerdiscussiongroupsfacilitatedbyaprisonpsychol-

ogistestablishedbehaviorexpectationsandaclearpathtoreintegrationwiththegeneral

prisonpopulationInshorttheyofferedtheinmateshopeInusingthesetechniquesasof

2017Mainereducedthenumberofprisonersinsolitaryconfinementfrom100to845

The reality is 80 of these inmates are going to be hitting the streets

so we can either make them worse and create more victims or we can

rehabilitate them46

Asataskforceweencouragefurtherreformstoreducetheuseofsolitaryconfinementin

MinnesotaWerecognizetheneedforsolitaryconfinementtoprotectfellowprisonersbut

donotrecognizeitforpunitiveuseEffortsliketheMaineexampleprovideMinnesotawith

amapforhoweffectivepolicymakingcanaddressrootissuestopunishment

Programming amp EducationThroughourlisteningsessionsandresearchwelearnedaboutthepivotalroleeducation

canplayforindividualsduringtheirtimeinprisonAccordingtotheMinnesota

DepartmentofCorrectionobtainingasecondarydegreewhileinprisonsignificantly

increasesonersquoschancesofsecuringemploymentwithinthefirsttwoyearsafterrelease

fromprisonby5947Uponintakeintotheprisonsystemalladultoffendersarescreened

bytheTestofAdultBasicEducation(TABE)Thistestcoupledwiththeircurrenteduca-

tionalstatus(iedegreesearned)determinestheeducationalpaththeywilltakeOptions

foreducationalopportunitiesincludeGEDprogramsenrichmentprogramsacademic

post-secondarypathaswellascareerandtechnicaltraining48

InAugustof2015theMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionspassedDivisionDirective

204040whichguaranteeseligibleincarceratedoffendersaneducationalpathwayto

44 Ibid 45 Ibid 46 Ibid 47 Minnesota Department of Corrections (2015) ldquoEducational Programming Evaluationrdquo httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles751392062383MnDOC_Educational_Programming_Evaluation_DOC_Website_Finalpdf 48 Minnesota Department of Corrections httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles531455136429MAP-2016-2018-02042016-Single_Pages_for_Webpdf

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

23

thatwheninmatesarereleasedtheirexperienceinisolationmakesitmorelikelytheywill

reoffendandendupbackinprison44

In2013theStateofMaineinstitutedseveralreformstoaddressthepsychologicalharm

donebysolitaryconfinementprisonerdiscussiongroupsfacilitatedbyaprisonpsychol-

ogistestablishedbehaviorexpectationsandaclearpathtoreintegrationwiththegeneral

prisonpopulationInshorttheyofferedtheinmateshopeInusingthesetechniquesasof

2017Mainereducedthenumberofprisonersinsolitaryconfinementfrom100to845

The reality is 80 of these inmates are going to be hitting the streets

so we can either make them worse and create more victims or we can

rehabilitate them46

Asataskforceweencouragefurtherreformstoreducetheuseofsolitaryconfinementin

MinnesotaWerecognizetheneedforsolitaryconfinementtoprotectfellowprisonersbut

donotrecognizeitforpunitiveuseEffortsliketheMaineexampleprovideMinnesotawith

amapforhoweffectivepolicymakingcanaddressrootissuestopunishment

Programming amp EducationThroughourlisteningsessionsandresearchwelearnedaboutthepivotalroleeducation

canplayforindividualsduringtheirtimeinprisonAccordingtotheMinnesota

DepartmentofCorrectionobtainingasecondarydegreewhileinprisonsignificantly

increasesonersquoschancesofsecuringemploymentwithinthefirsttwoyearsafterrelease

fromprisonby5947Uponintakeintotheprisonsystemalladultoffendersarescreened

bytheTestofAdultBasicEducation(TABE)Thistestcoupledwiththeircurrenteduca-

tionalstatus(iedegreesearned)determinestheeducationalpaththeywilltakeOptions

foreducationalopportunitiesincludeGEDprogramsenrichmentprogramsacademic

post-secondarypathaswellascareerandtechnicaltraining48

InAugustof2015theMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionspassedDivisionDirective

204040whichguaranteeseligibleincarceratedoffendersaneducationalpathwayto

44 Ibid 45 Ibid 46 Ibid 47 Minnesota Department of Corrections (2015) ldquoEducational Programming Evaluationrdquo httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles751392062383MnDOC_Educational_Programming_Evaluation_DOC_Website_Finalpdf 48 Minnesota Department of Corrections httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles531455136429MAP-2016-2018-02042016-Single_Pages_for_Webpdf

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

24

enhancetheirqualityoflifeandeconomicstabilityTheDirectivereads

Adult facilities must provide comprehensive educational programming

including literacy general education development (GED) and high

school diploma special education transition to post-secondary and

career post-secondary life skills and other programs designed to

prepare offenders for successful reentry into society

AspartoftheirMasterAcademicPlantheDepartmentofCorrectionsisattheforefront

ofeducationreformforincarceratedindividualswithinthenationResearcharound

educationreformhasbeenamajortopicofdiscussionsincetheVeraInstitutelaunched

theirrelationshipwiththeDOCrecentlyTheimmediatepushbacktoanyinitiatives

surroundingin-prisoneducationalopportunitiesishowtaxdollarsarebeingallocated

WhenMPRNewsrsquoKerriMillerdiscussedthefeasibilityofcollegeprogrammingforprison

inmateswithLoisDavisoftheRANDCorporationandFredPatrickoftheVeraInstitutein2015

theyfoundthatldquoForeverydollarspentonprisoneducationprogramsitsavestaxpayerson

averageabout$5inincarcerationcostsrdquo49Furthermoresucheducationalprogramsplacethe

focusbackonrehabilitativeserviceswhileinprisonandendingthecycleofrecidivism

AccordingtotheGEDTestingServicetheMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionsranks

firstinthenationalamongallstatedepartmentsinGEDpassingratewitharateof9350

Withinthestatesystemthereareanastounding16differentcareerandtechnicaltraining

areasrangingfrombarbercosmetologylicensinginformationaltechnologycareers

masonryandwelding51

Despitethiswidearrayofopportunitiesforoffendersaccessibilitytotheseprograms

variesbetweenlocationsTheMasterAcademicPlancontainsacareercoachinginitiative

butasofyetthispilotprogramisnotspecifiedforallfacilitiesThistypeofopportunity

shouldbeavailableatallfacilitiessothatoffendersreceivethehelptheyneedthrough

planninganddreamingofanewfuturethatisattainableandrealistic52

49 Mumford Tracy (2015) Should prisoners have access to a college education MPR News httpswwwmprnewsorgstory20151103bcst-college-courses-for-prisoners 50 Minnesota Department of Corrections ldquoFact Sheet and Adult Programmingrdquo httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles961459343959Education_Fact_Sheet_and_Adult_Programming_Feb2016pdf 51 Minnesota Department of Corrections (pg 8) httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles531455136429MAP-2016-2018-02042016-Single_Pages_for_Webpdf 52 Minnesota Department of Corrections (pg 9) httpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles531455136429MAP-2016-2018-02042016-Single_Pages_for_Webpdf

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

25

Post-Incarceration Housing Employment and Reentry ProgrammingNationalresearchshowsthatintegrationandcomprehensivereentryprogramshavethe

greatestsuccessinrehabilitatingindividualsreducingrecidivismandreconnectingindi-

vidualswiththecommunity53Affordablehousingisthenecessarystartingpointgiventhe

factthatindividualswhohaveservedtimeinprisonare4-6timesmorelikelytoexperience

homelessnessthanthegeneralpopulationand77ofpeoplebeingreleasedreportthat

theyreceivenohelpinfindingastableplacetolive54Thisholisticapproachmdashfocusingon

thewholepersonincludingmedicalandmentalhealthcareaswellascognitivebehavioral

interventionsanddevelopingparentingskillsmdashiskeytosuccessfulreentrytransitions55

ThereforeweendorseeffortssuchasthecurrentldquoUnlockingOpportunitiesrdquolegislationto

winstatecompetitivefundingforprovidingongoingsupportiveservicesrentandoper-

atingsupportforserviceproviders56Inadditionwestronglysupportthedevelopmentand

deploymentofpost-incarcerationreentryprogramsliketheGreatRiverLandinghousing

programco-sponsoredbyWestminsterPresbyterianChurchwhichisbasedonholistic

modelsthatcombinethebenefitsofaffordablehousingbasicemploymentandclient

supportiveservices57

Ban the BoxIn2014Minnesotabecamethethirdstateinthecountrytopasslegislationthatprohibited

employersfromaskingaboutcriminalhistoryonanemployeersquosinitialapplicationThis

legislationwouldimpactbothpublicandprivateemployersLeadershipfromtheNational

AssociationfortheAdvancementofColoredPeople(NAACP)applaudedthepassageofthis

legislationNAACPPresidentandCEOBenJealousstated

As Americans we believe in second chances and we believe that work is

redemptive This is a victory for Minnesota This bill makes it possible

for thousands of parents who have made a mistake and paid their

price to one day get a job get their children out of foster care and pull

their lives and their families back together58

53 On the research basis for the ldquoGreat River Landingrdquo affordable housing program [co-sponsored by Westminster Presbyterian Church-Minneapolis] see ldquoBetter Futures Fit with Pew Research 13 Strategies for Successful Supervision and Reentryrdquo Unpublished paper Great River Landing Task Force April 27 2017 54 Wilder Research ldquoHomeless adults and children in Minnesotardquo April 2015 55 ldquoBetter Futures Fit with Pew Research 13 Strategies for Successful Supervision and Reentryrdquo 56 ldquoOverview Proposed lsquoUnlocking Opportunitiesrsquo legislationrdquo Unpublished paper Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative November 8 201657 ldquoOverview Proposed lsquoUnlocking Opportunitiesrsquo legislationrdquo Unpublished paper Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative November 8 201658 NAACP ldquoNAACP Celebrates Passage of lsquoBan the Boxrsquo in Minnesotardquo httpsdonatenaacporgnewsentrynaacp-celebrates-passage-of-ban-the-box-in-minnesota

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

26

NAACPwasamemberofacoalitionwithlocalorganizationssuchasTakeActionMinnesotarsquos

ldquoJustice4AllCampaignrdquoTheCouncilonCrimeandJusticeTheLeagueofWomenVotersof

MinnesotaandothergroupsintheTwinCitiesTodayemployersarelearningwaystoensure

thattheymeettheguidelinesoutlinedinthelegislationTheMinnesotaDepartmentof

HumanRightsissuedanoverviewthatisinstructiveforemployersontheirwebsite59

TheBantheBoxmovementhasnowspreadthroughoutthecountryAccordingtoNational

EmploymentLawProject(NELP)over150citiesandcountiesin26statesintheUShave

passedlegislationtobanthebox60OrganizationslikeNELPhavedevelopedBantheBox

Toolkitsthatempowerlocalcommunitiestoinitiatecampaignsforcommunitybuilding

andmobilizationaroundthisimportantissueBanningtheboxwillhaveagreatimpacton

ourcommunitiesandensurethatpeoplearenotbeingtreatedunfairlybasedontheirpast

criminalbackgrounds

Expungement

In2015Minnesotapassedanewlawtochangehowsoonarecordcouldbesealed

ldquoUnderthenewlawsomeformeroffenderscanapplytohavetheirrecordssealedtwoto

fiveyearsaftercompletingtheirsentencesrdquo61Thisprocessofexpungementprovidesfor

manyanopportunitytorestarttheirlivesforthebetterYetitistremendouslydifficultto

navigatetheoverwhelmingamountofpaperworkrequiredAfterthepaperworkthereisa

mandatoryfeeofmorethan$200whichvariesdependingontheconvictionandcounty62

InanattempttoalleviatethesehardshipsandbarriersmanyprofessionalsinMinnesota

areworkingwithpeopletofiletheirexpungementpaperworkSuchorganizationsinclude

theVolunteerLawyersNetworkandUniversityofMNLawSchoolHowevermanyofthese

organizationsareconcentratedintheurban-metroareawhichrestrictsaccessforthose

livingingreater-MinnesotaInadditionexpungementforout-of-stateoffensesareeven

moredifficulttypicallyrequiringthehighexpenseoflegalassistance

Otherwaysthatwecanaddressbarriersrelatedtoexpungementincludeexpandingclinics

59 MDHR (2017) ldquoBan the Box Lawrdquo Department of Human Rights httpsmngovmdhremployerscriminal-backgroundbanbox-overview-privempjsp 60 Rodriguez and Christman (2015) ldquoThe Fair ChanceBan the Box Toolkitrdquo National Employment Law Project httpwwwnelporgpublicationthe-fair-chance-ban-the-box-toolkit 61 Jackson Sharyl (2015) ldquoNew Minnesota law makes it easier to expunge criminal recordsrdquo Star Tribune httpwwwstartribunecomnew-minnesota-law-makes-it-easier-to-expunge-criminal-records289846451 62 Minnesota Judicial Branch (2011) ldquoStep-by-Step Guide How to ask the Court to Expunge (Seal) your Criminal Court Recordrdquo httpwwwmncourtsgovDocuments50PublicSelf_Help_CenterStep_by_Step_Guide_to_Expungements_FINAL_on_webpdf

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

27

toassistformerly-incarceratedprisonerswiththeprocessofferingfreelegalhelpand

seekingdonorswhowillgiftmoneyforthefees

Aglobally-recognizedleaderintheworkofexpungementandprotectionofcivilliberties

isthenow-retiredHonorableLaJuneLange63whoservedinHennepinCountyasapublic

defenderFourthJudicialCourtjudgehandingcivilandcriminalcasesandcontinuesto

beanadvocateforjusticeThroughouthercareersheservedasapillarforunderstanding

theintersectionalityofraceandgenderwithinthejudicialsystemplacinghighvalueon

equityAsacongregationandasalliesofracialjusticeweshouldcontinuetopromotethe

leadershipofwomenwhoembodythecharacteristicsofJudgeLange

Family amp FaithAfterlisteningcloselytothefamiliesofincarceratedindividualswediscoveredsome

keythemesoneofwhichwastheimportanceofstudyingandstoppingcyclesoffamily

incarcerationpovertyandabuseWhenaskedtoprovidesomeexamplesoneparticipant

sharedthispersonalstoryabouthisownlifeAsateenageboyheremembershisincar-

ceratedfatherrepeatedlytellinghimthatheneededtostayoutoftroubleHedismissed

theadvicebecausehesawhisfatherasahypocritemdashrdquodoasIsaynotasIdordquoManyyears

laterasanadultthismanrecalledtellinghischildrenthesamethingmdashfromaphonein

prisonHeacknowledgedhisfrustrationthatthesechildrenwouldignorehisadvicejustas

hehadignoredhisfatherrsquosadvice

HowdoyoubreakthiscycleWehavealreadytalkedaboutsystemicfixesthatprovidea

safetynetforpeopleatriskofperpetuatinggenerationalincarcerationHoweverasafaith

communitywemustrecognizeourroleinprovidingsupportbothforthefamiliesofthose

incarceratedandthoseinprison

Dataexiststosupporthowimportantitisforpeopleinprisontomaintainalinktotheir

homecongregationInNovember2011astudybytheMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrec-

tionsfoundthatformerly-incarceratedpersonswere13lesslikelytorecidivateifthey

receivedvisitorswhileinprisonldquoVisitsfromsiblingsin-lawsfathersandclergywerethe

mostbeneficialinloweringrecidivismrdquo64Thisstudyfoundclergyvisitstohavethegreatest

effectThePrisonFellowship65isonesuccessfulexampleofaninitiativetobringtheloveof

63 Tyner Artika (2016) Women Leading Change Profile of the Honorable LaJune Lange Ms JD httpsms-jdorgblogarticlewomen-leading-change-profile-of-the-honorable-lajune-lange 64 MNDOC ldquoPrison Visitation Research Briefrdquo Department of Corrections httpswwwdocstatemnuspagesfileslarge-filesPublications11-11PrisonVisitationResearchinBrief_Finalpdf 65 The Prison Fellowship (2017) httpswwwprisonfellowshiporg

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

28

Christandthefellowshipofchurchcongregationstogetherwiththosewithintheincarcer-

ationsystemThroughtrainingandinspiringchurchcommunitiesthePrisonFellowship

workstorestoreaprisonerrsquosfaithempowerprisonwardensofferministriestofamilies

supportsuccessfulreentryandadvocateforrestorativejusticereform

Thesefindingsshouldchallengeusasacongregationtoconsiderhowwemightbecome

moreinvolvedHowcanwehelpindividualsstrengthenorfindtheirfaithwhileinprison

Howcanweworktocreatealinktotheworldoutsidetheirprisonwallsandthenbethere

forthemwhentheyre-entersocietyInkeepingwithourdenominationalcalltohealrela-

tionshipsweshouldfocusonwhatcanweteachaboutforgivenessgracehopeandlove

PART 4 IMPROVING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY CRIME AND INCARCERATION

29

Our recommendations are the result of the deep listening and extensive study

we have done over a period of nine months They reflect what we learned and

lay the foundation for continued action for this congregation and others in

the community as we seek changes in the current criminal justice system Each

of these recommendations is supported by the content of the report

bull Combating the ldquosilo effectrdquo We strongly urge our legislatorsmdashcollaborating across sectorsmdashto craft legislation that better integrates supportive services and reduces bureaucracy in the criminal justice system FromthebeginningofourworkwehaverecognizedthatthereisnoshortageofindividualsandorganizationswhoarewillingandreadytohelpindividualswhoarecaughtupinawebofhomelessnessmentalillnessandincarcerationThereishoweveranequallycomplexwebofbureaucracythatsurroundstheorganizationsprovidingsupportThustheorganizationsprovidinghelpandsupportsufferaldquosiloeffectrdquowhichpreventsthemfromreachingthepeopletheyaretryingtohelpWeurgecreativesolutionstoreducethisldquosiloeffectrdquosothatorganizationscanshareinformationwitheachotherandbeconnectedwithpeoplewhoneedhelpOneexampleofanattempttoreducethissiloeffectisHennepinCountyrsquosdecisiontoplaceasocialworkerinthecourtroomonthein-custodydowntownmisdemeanorcalendarsothatthesocialworkercanconnectdefendantswithresourceslikehousingassistanceandmentalhealthservicesThisisoneofthebestexampleswehaveseenofreachingacrossboundariesmdashinthiscasesocialservicestocriminallawmdashtohelpreduceincarcerationandassistthosewhoareincarcerated

bull Resources for programs that work We urge our congregation to continue to provide needed resources to one or more proven programs that specifically address issues like housing education and job initiatives for post-incarcerated individualsMostofthereasonsforhopethatwehaveseencomeintheformofprogramsthatworkmdashbothgovernmentalandnon-profitMinnesotahasnoshortageofpeoplewhowanttohelpThosewhocreateprogramsthatworkneedtobeencouragedandsupportedThebestexampleswehaveseenaretheADIinitiativeinHennepinCountytreatmentcourtsinmanyMinnesotaCountiesSimpsonHousingtheGreatRiverLandingprojectandprogramsthataddressattachmentsothatadversechildhoodexperiencesarereduced

Part 5 Recommendations amp Conclusion

30

bull Resources for necessary governmental programs We strongly support advocacy efforts to encourage robust government funding of the public defender treatment courts and efforts by social workers to assist incarcerated individuals MassincarcerationisaproblemofgovernmentthegovernmentspendsresourcesbothcreatingitandaddressingitWeurgefullfundingforpost-prisonprogramlegislationthatassistsresidentsforaproductivelifeafterincarceration

bull Sentencing reform We encourage our members to work for sentencing reformAshasbecomeobvioustoindividualsofallideologicalbackgroundsanycriminaljusticereformmustincludediscretionfordistrictcourtjudgesandareductionoreliminationofmandatoryminimumsentences

bull System-wide work on poverty and child protection We recommend our members engage with the larger issues of poverty and children impacted by parents in the criminal justice systemItwasapparentthroughthisprocessthatsolutionstomassincarcerationinvolvebothashort-termviewofthecriminaljusticesystemandalonger-termviewofthepovertygapthatleadstocrimeAsacongregationwehavetheresponsibilitytoaddressboththroughlegislativeadvocacyanddirectmissioninvolvementThroughournewpartnershipwithStDavidrsquosCenterforChildandFamilyDevelopmentwehavetheopportunitytobetterunderstandtheseissueseducateourselvesandothersonhowearlychildhoodeducationcanbreakthecycleofpovertyandhopefullyimpactnewgenerationsinourcommunity

Thisreportattemptstohighlightboththelevelofdespairweseewithinthecriminal

justicesystemaswellasglimmersofhopecreatedbythoseworkingonmeaningful

reformWefoundmanyreasonsforhopeandaffirmationthatmdashaspeopleoffaithmdashweare

calledtoactionOurjusticesystemservestohealsocietyafteracrimehasbeencommitted

butsentencesforthosecrimesmustdo no more harm than the crime itself Wemustensure

thatacommunitytryingtohealfromacrimedoesnotintheprocessripitselfapart

throughthecycleofpovertycreatedbyincarceration

Thisreportisaclarioncalltodo justice

PART 5 RECOMMENDATIONS amp CONCLUSION

31

BIBLIOGRAPHYmdashOrganizedbytopic

Please noteThisreportisacollectiveeffortanddoesnotrepresenttheindividualviewsofanyone

memberofWestminstertheSessionortheTaskForce

Race and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice SystemFraseRichardSldquoWhatExplainsPersistentRacialDisproportionalityinMinnesotarsquosPrisonandJailPopulationsrdquoInCrimeandJusticeAReviewofResearchVol38(November202009)pp201-280

GlaudeJrEddieSDemocracyinBlackHowRaceStillEnslavestheAmericanSoulNewYorkBroadwayBooksCrownPublishingPenguinRandomHouse20162017

MuhammadKhalilGibranldquoPowerandPunishmentTwonewbooksaboutraceandcrimerdquoNewYorkTimesApril142017

NewYorkTimesEditorialBoardldquoLockedUpforBeingPoorrdquoNewYorkTimesMay52017

TheSentencingProjectldquoTheColorofJusticeRacialandEthnicDisparitiesinStatePrisonsrdquo(2016)

StevensonBryanJustMercyAStoryofJusticeandRedemptionNewYorkSpiegelampGrauRandomHousePenguinRandomHouse2014

WallisJimAmericarsquosOriginalSinRacismWhitePrivilegeandtheBridgetoaNewAmericaGrandRapidsMIBrazosPressBakerPublishingGroup2016

WestminsterTownHallForumpresentationsbyBryanStevensonandEddieGlaudeJrhttpwwwwestminsterforumorg

Reducing Incarceration in Responsible Ways

Livability CrimesAppelmanLawFirmLLC(2017)ldquoMinnesotaOpenContainerOffenserdquohttpsaacriminallawcomminnesota-dui-lawsminnesota-opencontainer-offense

HennepinCounty(2017)ldquoBetterTogetherHennepinrdquohttpwwwhennepinusyour-governmentprojects-initiativesbetter-together

SerresChris(2015)ldquoAtcountyjailsocialworkershopetostoptherevolvingdoorrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomat-countyjail-social-workers-hope-to-stop-the-revolving-door

StahlBrandon(2016)ldquoHennepinCountyspecialtycourtofferspathoutofhomelessnessrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomon-east-lake-street-proposed-change-in-punishment-for-livability-crimes-is-a-complicated-issue415528394

Detention Alternatives

29

Our recommendations are the result of the deep listening and extensive study

we have done over a period of nine months They reflect what we learned and

lay the foundation for continued action for this congregation and others in

the community as we seek changes in the current criminal justice system Each

of these recommendations is supported by the content of the report

bull Combating the ldquosilo effectrdquo We strongly urge our legislatorsmdashcollaborating across sectorsmdashto craft legislation that better integrates supportive services and reduces bureaucracy in the criminal justice system FromthebeginningofourworkwehaverecognizedthatthereisnoshortageofindividualsandorganizationswhoarewillingandreadytohelpindividualswhoarecaughtupinawebofhomelessnessmentalillnessandincarcerationThereishoweveranequallycomplexwebofbureaucracythatsurroundstheorganizationsprovidingsupportThustheorganizationsprovidinghelpandsupportsufferaldquosiloeffectrdquowhichpreventsthemfromreachingthepeopletheyaretryingtohelpWeurgecreativesolutionstoreducethisldquosiloeffectrdquosothatorganizationscanshareinformationwitheachotherandbeconnectedwithpeoplewhoneedhelpOneexampleofanattempttoreducethissiloeffectisHennepinCountyrsquosdecisiontoplaceasocialworkerinthecourtroomonthein-custodydowntownmisdemeanorcalendarsothatthesocialworkercanconnectdefendantswithresourceslikehousingassistanceandmentalhealthservicesThisisoneofthebestexampleswehaveseenofreachingacrossboundariesmdashinthiscasesocialservicestocriminallawmdashtohelpreduceincarcerationandassistthosewhoareincarcerated

bull Resources for programs that work We urge our congregation to continue to provide needed resources to one or more proven programs that specifically address issues like housing education and job initiatives for post-incarcerated individualsMostofthereasonsforhopethatwehaveseencomeintheformofprogramsthatworkmdashbothgovernmentalandnon-profitMinnesotahasnoshortageofpeoplewhowanttohelpThosewhocreateprogramsthatworkneedtobeencouragedandsupportedThebestexampleswehaveseenaretheADIinitiativeinHennepinCountytreatmentcourtsinmanyMinnesotaCountiesSimpsonHousingtheGreatRiverLandingprojectandprogramsthataddressattachmentsothatadversechildhoodexperiencesarereduced

Part 5 Recommendations amp Conclusion

30

bull Resources for necessary governmental programs We strongly support advocacy efforts to encourage robust government funding of the public defender treatment courts and efforts by social workers to assist incarcerated individuals MassincarcerationisaproblemofgovernmentthegovernmentspendsresourcesbothcreatingitandaddressingitWeurgefullfundingforpost-prisonprogramlegislationthatassistsresidentsforaproductivelifeafterincarceration

bull Sentencing reform We encourage our members to work for sentencing reformAshasbecomeobvioustoindividualsofallideologicalbackgroundsanycriminaljusticereformmustincludediscretionfordistrictcourtjudgesandareductionoreliminationofmandatoryminimumsentences

bull System-wide work on poverty and child protection We recommend our members engage with the larger issues of poverty and children impacted by parents in the criminal justice systemItwasapparentthroughthisprocessthatsolutionstomassincarcerationinvolvebothashort-termviewofthecriminaljusticesystemandalonger-termviewofthepovertygapthatleadstocrimeAsacongregationwehavetheresponsibilitytoaddressboththroughlegislativeadvocacyanddirectmissioninvolvementThroughournewpartnershipwithStDavidrsquosCenterforChildandFamilyDevelopmentwehavetheopportunitytobetterunderstandtheseissueseducateourselvesandothersonhowearlychildhoodeducationcanbreakthecycleofpovertyandhopefullyimpactnewgenerationsinourcommunity

Thisreportattemptstohighlightboththelevelofdespairweseewithinthecriminal

justicesystemaswellasglimmersofhopecreatedbythoseworkingonmeaningful

reformWefoundmanyreasonsforhopeandaffirmationthatmdashaspeopleoffaithmdashweare

calledtoactionOurjusticesystemservestohealsocietyafteracrimehasbeencommitted

butsentencesforthosecrimesmustdo no more harm than the crime itself Wemustensure

thatacommunitytryingtohealfromacrimedoesnotintheprocessripitselfapart

throughthecycleofpovertycreatedbyincarceration

Thisreportisaclarioncalltodo justice

PART 5 RECOMMENDATIONS amp CONCLUSION

31

BIBLIOGRAPHYmdashOrganizedbytopic

Please noteThisreportisacollectiveeffortanddoesnotrepresenttheindividualviewsofanyone

memberofWestminstertheSessionortheTaskForce

Race and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice SystemFraseRichardSldquoWhatExplainsPersistentRacialDisproportionalityinMinnesotarsquosPrisonandJailPopulationsrdquoInCrimeandJusticeAReviewofResearchVol38(November202009)pp201-280

GlaudeJrEddieSDemocracyinBlackHowRaceStillEnslavestheAmericanSoulNewYorkBroadwayBooksCrownPublishingPenguinRandomHouse20162017

MuhammadKhalilGibranldquoPowerandPunishmentTwonewbooksaboutraceandcrimerdquoNewYorkTimesApril142017

NewYorkTimesEditorialBoardldquoLockedUpforBeingPoorrdquoNewYorkTimesMay52017

TheSentencingProjectldquoTheColorofJusticeRacialandEthnicDisparitiesinStatePrisonsrdquo(2016)

StevensonBryanJustMercyAStoryofJusticeandRedemptionNewYorkSpiegelampGrauRandomHousePenguinRandomHouse2014

WallisJimAmericarsquosOriginalSinRacismWhitePrivilegeandtheBridgetoaNewAmericaGrandRapidsMIBrazosPressBakerPublishingGroup2016

WestminsterTownHallForumpresentationsbyBryanStevensonandEddieGlaudeJrhttpwwwwestminsterforumorg

Reducing Incarceration in Responsible Ways

Livability CrimesAppelmanLawFirmLLC(2017)ldquoMinnesotaOpenContainerOffenserdquohttpsaacriminallawcomminnesota-dui-lawsminnesota-opencontainer-offense

HennepinCounty(2017)ldquoBetterTogetherHennepinrdquohttpwwwhennepinusyour-governmentprojects-initiativesbetter-together

SerresChris(2015)ldquoAtcountyjailsocialworkershopetostoptherevolvingdoorrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomat-countyjail-social-workers-hope-to-stop-the-revolving-door

StahlBrandon(2016)ldquoHennepinCountyspecialtycourtofferspathoutofhomelessnessrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomon-east-lake-street-proposed-change-in-punishment-for-livability-crimes-is-a-complicated-issue415528394

Detention Alternatives

30

bull Resources for necessary governmental programs We strongly support advocacy efforts to encourage robust government funding of the public defender treatment courts and efforts by social workers to assist incarcerated individuals MassincarcerationisaproblemofgovernmentthegovernmentspendsresourcesbothcreatingitandaddressingitWeurgefullfundingforpost-prisonprogramlegislationthatassistsresidentsforaproductivelifeafterincarceration

bull Sentencing reform We encourage our members to work for sentencing reformAshasbecomeobvioustoindividualsofallideologicalbackgroundsanycriminaljusticereformmustincludediscretionfordistrictcourtjudgesandareductionoreliminationofmandatoryminimumsentences

bull System-wide work on poverty and child protection We recommend our members engage with the larger issues of poverty and children impacted by parents in the criminal justice systemItwasapparentthroughthisprocessthatsolutionstomassincarcerationinvolvebothashort-termviewofthecriminaljusticesystemandalonger-termviewofthepovertygapthatleadstocrimeAsacongregationwehavetheresponsibilitytoaddressboththroughlegislativeadvocacyanddirectmissioninvolvementThroughournewpartnershipwithStDavidrsquosCenterforChildandFamilyDevelopmentwehavetheopportunitytobetterunderstandtheseissueseducateourselvesandothersonhowearlychildhoodeducationcanbreakthecycleofpovertyandhopefullyimpactnewgenerationsinourcommunity

Thisreportattemptstohighlightboththelevelofdespairweseewithinthecriminal

justicesystemaswellasglimmersofhopecreatedbythoseworkingonmeaningful

reformWefoundmanyreasonsforhopeandaffirmationthatmdashaspeopleoffaithmdashweare

calledtoactionOurjusticesystemservestohealsocietyafteracrimehasbeencommitted

butsentencesforthosecrimesmustdo no more harm than the crime itself Wemustensure

thatacommunitytryingtohealfromacrimedoesnotintheprocessripitselfapart

throughthecycleofpovertycreatedbyincarceration

Thisreportisaclarioncalltodo justice

PART 5 RECOMMENDATIONS amp CONCLUSION

31

BIBLIOGRAPHYmdashOrganizedbytopic

Please noteThisreportisacollectiveeffortanddoesnotrepresenttheindividualviewsofanyone

memberofWestminstertheSessionortheTaskForce

Race and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice SystemFraseRichardSldquoWhatExplainsPersistentRacialDisproportionalityinMinnesotarsquosPrisonandJailPopulationsrdquoInCrimeandJusticeAReviewofResearchVol38(November202009)pp201-280

GlaudeJrEddieSDemocracyinBlackHowRaceStillEnslavestheAmericanSoulNewYorkBroadwayBooksCrownPublishingPenguinRandomHouse20162017

MuhammadKhalilGibranldquoPowerandPunishmentTwonewbooksaboutraceandcrimerdquoNewYorkTimesApril142017

NewYorkTimesEditorialBoardldquoLockedUpforBeingPoorrdquoNewYorkTimesMay52017

TheSentencingProjectldquoTheColorofJusticeRacialandEthnicDisparitiesinStatePrisonsrdquo(2016)

StevensonBryanJustMercyAStoryofJusticeandRedemptionNewYorkSpiegelampGrauRandomHousePenguinRandomHouse2014

WallisJimAmericarsquosOriginalSinRacismWhitePrivilegeandtheBridgetoaNewAmericaGrandRapidsMIBrazosPressBakerPublishingGroup2016

WestminsterTownHallForumpresentationsbyBryanStevensonandEddieGlaudeJrhttpwwwwestminsterforumorg

Reducing Incarceration in Responsible Ways

Livability CrimesAppelmanLawFirmLLC(2017)ldquoMinnesotaOpenContainerOffenserdquohttpsaacriminallawcomminnesota-dui-lawsminnesota-opencontainer-offense

HennepinCounty(2017)ldquoBetterTogetherHennepinrdquohttpwwwhennepinusyour-governmentprojects-initiativesbetter-together

SerresChris(2015)ldquoAtcountyjailsocialworkershopetostoptherevolvingdoorrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomat-countyjail-social-workers-hope-to-stop-the-revolving-door

StahlBrandon(2016)ldquoHennepinCountyspecialtycourtofferspathoutofhomelessnessrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomon-east-lake-street-proposed-change-in-punishment-for-livability-crimes-is-a-complicated-issue415528394

Detention Alternatives

31

BIBLIOGRAPHYmdashOrganizedbytopic

Please noteThisreportisacollectiveeffortanddoesnotrepresenttheindividualviewsofanyone

memberofWestminstertheSessionortheTaskForce

Race and Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice SystemFraseRichardSldquoWhatExplainsPersistentRacialDisproportionalityinMinnesotarsquosPrisonandJailPopulationsrdquoInCrimeandJusticeAReviewofResearchVol38(November202009)pp201-280

GlaudeJrEddieSDemocracyinBlackHowRaceStillEnslavestheAmericanSoulNewYorkBroadwayBooksCrownPublishingPenguinRandomHouse20162017

MuhammadKhalilGibranldquoPowerandPunishmentTwonewbooksaboutraceandcrimerdquoNewYorkTimesApril142017

NewYorkTimesEditorialBoardldquoLockedUpforBeingPoorrdquoNewYorkTimesMay52017

TheSentencingProjectldquoTheColorofJusticeRacialandEthnicDisparitiesinStatePrisonsrdquo(2016)

StevensonBryanJustMercyAStoryofJusticeandRedemptionNewYorkSpiegelampGrauRandomHousePenguinRandomHouse2014

WallisJimAmericarsquosOriginalSinRacismWhitePrivilegeandtheBridgetoaNewAmericaGrandRapidsMIBrazosPressBakerPublishingGroup2016

WestminsterTownHallForumpresentationsbyBryanStevensonandEddieGlaudeJrhttpwwwwestminsterforumorg

Reducing Incarceration in Responsible Ways

Livability CrimesAppelmanLawFirmLLC(2017)ldquoMinnesotaOpenContainerOffenserdquohttpsaacriminallawcomminnesota-dui-lawsminnesota-opencontainer-offense

HennepinCounty(2017)ldquoBetterTogetherHennepinrdquohttpwwwhennepinusyour-governmentprojects-initiativesbetter-together

SerresChris(2015)ldquoAtcountyjailsocialworkershopetostoptherevolvingdoorrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomat-countyjail-social-workers-hope-to-stop-the-revolving-door

StahlBrandon(2016)ldquoHennepinCountyspecialtycourtofferspathoutofhomelessnessrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomon-east-lake-street-proposed-change-in-punishment-for-livability-crimes-is-a-complicated-issue415528394

Detention Alternatives

32

HennepinCounty(2017)ldquoAdultDetentionInitiativeFactSheetrdquohttpwwwhennepinuscjcc

HennepinCounty(2016)ldquoAdultDetentionInitiativerdquohttpwwwhennepinus-mediahennepinusyour-governmentleadershipdocumentsADI-Handout-October-2016pdf

Bail ReformldquoUniversityofMinnesotastudenttakesoninjusticesinbailsystemrdquoStarTribuneApril52017

MannixAndyldquoJudgeslawyerswanttofixbailsystemtokeeppooroutofjailrdquoStarTribuneApril262017

Criminalizing Mental HealthldquoLawmakerspushsolitaryreformminuskeyprotectionformentallyillrdquoStarTribuneMarch282017

MarsoAndy(2016)ldquoResearchilluminatescostofcriminalizingmentalillnessrdquoTheTopekaCapitalJournalhttpcjonlinecomnews2016-10-22research-illuminates-cost-criminalizing-mental-illness

WolffNancyandJingShildquoChildhoodandAdultTraumaExperiencesofIncarceratedPersonsandTheirRelationshiptoAdultBehavioralHealthProblemsandTreatmentrdquoInternationalJournalofEnvironmentalResearchandPublicHealthMay20129(5)1908-1926

ProbationJonsonC2010TheimpactofimprisonmentonreoffendingAmeta-analysisUnpublisheddoctoraldissertationCincinnatiOHUniversityofCincinnati

LatessaEListwanSampKoetzleDWhatWorks(andDoesnrsquot)inReducingRecidivism2015

MinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionsOverviewtotheHousePublicSafetyandSecurityPolicyandFinanceCommitteeJanuary182017

MollJennaandPatrickPurtillldquoMinnesotamustwiseupaboutprobationreformrdquoStarTribuneApril142017

Sentencing ReformChanenDavidldquoMinncommissionvotesdowndrug-sentencingchangerdquoStarTribuneDecember302016

MannixAndyldquoMeasuretostrippowerfromMinnesotaSentencingCommissionadvancesrdquoMinneapolisStarTribuneMarch92017

HulseCarl(2017)UnityWasEmergingonSentencingThenCameJeffSessionsTheNewYorkTimeshttpswwwnytimescom20170514uspoliticsjeff-sessions-criminal-sentencinghtml_r=0

BIBLIOGRAPHY

33

IngrahamChristopher(2017)IttookJeffSessionsjustonemonthtoturnObama-eradrugpolicyonitsheadWashingtonPosthttpswwwwashingtonpostcomnewswonkwp20170602it-took-jeff-sessions-just-one-month-to-turn-obama-era-drug-policy-on-itsheadutm_term=14c5a3604481

LopezRicardoldquoMinnesotaHouseunanimouslyapprovesdrug-sentencingreformsrdquoStarTribuneMay212016

MinnesotaJudicialBranch(2015)ldquoHennepinCountyDrugCourtrdquohttpwwwmncourtsgovmncourtsgovmediascao_libraryDrug20Courts4th20DistrictDrug20CourtHennepin-Drug-Court-Brochurepdf

DavidAlanSklanskylawprofessorStanfordUniversityquotedinRuizRebecca(2017)AttorneyGeneralOrdersTougherSentencesRollingBackObamaPolicyNewYorkTimeshttpsnytimn2r6Rote

StahlBrandon(2016)ldquoHennepinCountyspecialtycourtofferspathoutofhomelessnessrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomhennepin-county-specialty-court-offers-path-out-of-homelessness405798186

StolbergSherylGayandEricLichtblauldquoSweepingFederalReviewCouldAffectConsentDecreesNationwiderdquoNewYorkTimesApril32017

USJusticeActionNetworkldquoMinnesotaLegislaturePassesSignificantReformstoDrugLaws129-0rdquoDecember2016

Specialty CourtsSmithKellyldquoHennepinCountyfocusesoninfantstobreakchildprotectioncyclerdquoStarTribuneAugust22017[FeaturesleadershiprolebyHennepinCountyDistrictJudgeandWestminsterPresbyterianChurchmemberNancyBrasel]httpwwwstartribunecomhennepin-county-focuses-on-infants-to-break-child-protection-cycle439097153

Early InterventionDeAngelisTory(2012)ldquoHelpingAt-RiskStudentsSucceedrdquoAmericanPsychologicalAssociationwwwapaorgmonitor201202at-riskstudentsaspx

FamiliesbyDesign(2017)ldquoReactiveAttachmentDisorderrdquoNancyThomasParentinghttpwwwattachmentorgreactive-attachmentdisorder

ldquoGovernorrsquosTaskForceontheProtectionofChildrenFinalReportandRecommendationsrdquo(March2015)StarTribunehttpstmediastartribunecomdocumentsDraft+report+by+Governorrsquos+Task+Force+on+the+Protection+of+Childrenpdf

LeagueofWomenVoters(2014)InterruptingthePrisonPipelineYoutubehttpswwwyoutubecomwatchv=NebxYWeusAg

NdCAD(2016)ldquoParentPowerrdquohttpndcadorgportfolio=children-needed-family

BIBLIOGRAPHY

34

SAMHSA(2017)AdverseChildhoodExperienceshttpswwwsamhsagovcaptpracticing-effective-preventionprevention-behavioralhealthadverse-childhood-experiences

StahlBrandon(2014)ldquoLessonsfromchildabusedeathsgounheededinMinnesotardquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomlessons-from-child-abuse-deaths-go-unheeded-in-minnesota282031701

WebMD(2017)ReactiveAttachmentDisorderhttpwwwwebmdcommental-healthmental-health-reactive-attachmentdisorder

Opioid Addiction and the Criminal Justice SystemBalkoRadleyldquoIncarcerationisthewrongwaytofightopioidoverdosesrdquoTheWashingtonPostApril182017

Improving the Lives of People Impacted by Crime and Incarceration

Solitary ConfinementLastDaysofSolitaryPBSrsquoShowFrontline41817

MannixAndyldquoExtremeIsolationScarsStateInmatesrdquoMinneapolisStarTribune12416

MannixAndyldquoMinnesotajoinednationalpartnershiptoreducesolitaryconfinementrdquoStarTribuneDecember192016

MinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionsldquoRestrictiveHousingProgressandFutureDirectionsforMinnesotaPrisonsrdquoJanuary2017

ldquoSolitaryconfinementLegislationtakesstepstowardessentialreformrdquoCommentarybystaterepre-sentativeNickZerwasStarTribuneApril42017

Programming and EducationMinnesotaDepartmentofCorrections(2015)ldquoEducationalProgrammingEvaluationrdquohttpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles751392062383MnDOC_Educational_Programming_Evaluation_DOC_Website_Finalpdf

MinnesotaDepartmentofCorrectionsldquoFactSheetandAdultProgrammingrdquohttpwwwdocstatemnuspagesfiles961459343959Education_Fact_Sheet_and_Adult_Programming_Feb2016pdf

MumfordTracy(2015)ShouldprisonershaveaccesstoacollegeeducationMPRNewshttpswwwmprnewsorgstory20151103bcst-college-courses-for-prisoners

BIBLIOGRAPHY

35

Post-Incarceration Housing Employment and ReentryGreatRiverLandinganaffordablehousingprojectofBeaconInterfaithHousingCollaborativehttpwwwbeaconinterfaithorgwhat-we-dohousinggreat-river-landing

ldquoBetterFuturesFitwithPewResearch13StrategiesforSuccessfulSupervisionandReentryrdquoUnpublishedpaperGreatRiverLandingTaskForceApril272017

GriffithsCurtYvonDandurandandDanielleMurdochldquoTheSocialReintegrationofOffendersandCrimePreventionrdquoTheInternationalCentreforCriminalLawReformandCriminalJusticePolicyApril2007

ldquoOverviewProposedlsquoUnlockingOpportunitiesrsquolegislationrdquoUnpublishedpaperBeaconInterfaithHousingCollaborativeNovember82016[ReGreatRiverLandingproject]

RubinRobertEldquoHowtoHelpFormerInmatesThriverdquoNewYorkTimesJune32016

WilderResearchldquoHomelessadultsandchildreninMinnesotardquoApril2015

Ban the BoxMDHR(2017)ldquoBantheBoxLawrdquoDepartmentofHumanRightshttpsmngovmdhremployerscriminal-backgroundbanboxoverview-privempjsp

NAACPldquoNAACPCelebratesPassageoflsquoBantheBoxrsquoinMinnesotardquohttpsdonatenaacporgnewsentrynaacp-celebrates-passage-ofban-the-box-in-minnesota

RodriguezandChristman(2015)ldquoTheFairChanceBantheBoxToolkitrdquoNationalEmploymentLawProjecthttpwwwnelporgpublicationthe-fair-chance-ban-the-box-toolkit

ExpungementJacksonSharyl(2015)ldquoNewMinnesotalawmakesiteasiertoexpungecriminalrecordsrdquoStarTribunehttpwwwstartribunecomnew-minnesota-law-makes-it-easier-to-expunge-criminal-records289846451

MinnesotaJudicialBranch(2011)ldquoStep-by-StepGuideHowtoasktheCourttoExpunge(Seal)yourCriminalCourtRecordrdquohttpwwwmncourtsgovDocuments50PublicSelf_Help_CenterStep_by_Step_Guide_to_Expungements_FINAL_on_webpdf

TynerArtika(2016)WomenLeadingChangeProfileoftheHonorableLaJuneLangeMsJDhttpsms-jdorgblogarticlewomenleading-change-profile-of-the-honorable-lajune-lange

Family and FaithMNDOCldquoPrisonVisitationResearchBriefrdquoDepartmentofCorrectionshttpswwwdocstatemnuspagesfileslarge-files

BIBLIOGRAPHY

36

Publications11-11PrisonVisitationResearchinBrief_Finalpdf63ThePrisonFellowship(2017)httpswwwprisonfellowshiporg

Policy and Legal ChallengesHagerEliAlysiaSantoandSimoneWeichselbaumldquoEightwaysJeffSessionscouldchangecriminaljusticerdquoTheMarshallProjectNewsNovember182016

HulseCarlldquoUnityWasEmergingonSentencingThenCameJeffSessionsrdquoNewYorkTimesMay142017

KellerBillldquoWill2017betheyearofcriminaljusticereformrdquoNewYorkTimesDecember162016RuizRebeccaRldquoAttorneyGeneralOrdersTougherSentencesRollingBackObamaPolicyrdquoNewYorkTimesMay122017

Presbyterian Church USAldquoTheChurchandtheCriminalJusticeSystemPublicPolicyStatementsofthePresbyterianChurch(USA)1952-2002rdquo

PresbyterianCriminalJusticeNetworkhttpwwwpresbyterianmissionorgministriesphewapcjn

ldquoResolutiononRestorativeJusticerdquoApprovedbythe214thGeneralAssembly(2002)PresbyterianChurch(USA)

Additional ResourcesAmericanCivilLibertiesUnionAmericanCriminalLawReformProject

ChildressJamesFldquoRighteousnessrdquoWestminsterDictionaryofChristianEthicsJamesFChildressandJohnMcQuarrieeditorsPhiladelphiaWestminsterPress1983507

ldquoFinalReportofthePresidentrsquosTaskForceon21stCenturyPolicingrdquo(May2015)httpscopsusdojgovpdftaskforcetaskforce_finalreportpdf

ForresterDuncanBldquoJusticerdquoDictionaryofEthicsTheologyandSocietyPaulBarryClarkeandAndrewLinzeyeditorsLondonRoutledge1996502-3

GoffmanAliceldquoHowwersquoreprimingsomekidsforcollege--andothersforprisonrdquoTEDTalkMay2015

HudsonDavid(2015)PresidentObamaldquoOurCriminalJusticeSystemIsnrsquotasSmartasItShouldBerdquoObamaWhiteHouseArchivesblogJuly152015

MannixAndyldquoBidtoreopenprivateprisoninwesternMinngetsnewlookatCapitolrdquoStarTribuneMarch212017

BIBLIOGRAPHY

37

MinnesotaCorrectionsAssociationldquo2017LegislativeAgendardquoOctober252016httpwwwmn-caorg

MinnesotaSecondChanceCoalitionhttpswwwfacebookcomMNSecondChanceCoalition

NolanPatldquoDearPresidentTrumpHerersquosHowtoGetRightonCrimemdashPart1rdquoTheMarshallProjectJan172017

PewCharitableTrustPublicSafetyPerformanceProjectpodcastldquoLessIncarcerationLessCrimerdquoMarch212017

PrisonPolicyInitiativeldquoMinnesota[State]Profilerdquo2012

RobinaInstituteofCriminalLawandCriminalJusticeUniversityofMinnesota

SchultzElizaandRebeccaVallasCenterforAmericanProgressldquoSixStatesLeadingtheChargeonSecond-ChancePoliciesrdquoApril72017

StraussValerieldquoParentsrsquoincarcerationiskeypartofeducationgaprdquoWashingtonPostMarch152017

TakeActionMinnesotaldquoJusticeforAllrdquo(JFA)campaign

BIBLIOGRAPHY

38

Appendix A ExecutiveSummaryhttpwwwwestminstermplsorgwp-contentuploads201803EXECUTIVESUMMARY_

CJRTF_FINALpdf

Appendix B ListeningSessionwiththeWestminsterPresbyterianChurchCongregation

httpwwwwestminstermplsorgwp-contentuploads201803CongregationalListening-

Sessionsdocx-1pdf

Appendix C ListeningSessionwithHennepinCountyJudgeshttpwwwwestminstermplsorgwp-contentuploads201803HennepinCountyJudge-

ListeningSessionpdf

Appendix D ListeningSessionwithFormerlyIncarceratedIndividualsampFamilieshttpwwwwestminstermplsorgwp-contentuploads201803ListeningSessionwithFor-merlyIncarceratedIndividualsandFamiliespdf

Appendix E ListeningSessionwithBetterFutures

httpwwwwestminstermplsorgwp-contentuploads201803ListeningSessionwith-

BetterFuturespdf

Appendix F SelectionofJusticeTextsfromtheBible

httpwwwwestminstermplsorgwp-contentuploads201803JusticeTextspdf

APPENDICES