Committee For Ex-Offenders Equality

08/06/2019

The Canaanite Holy Temple of Science and its integrated auxiliary, the Canaanite Theological Learning Center (School of Moorish Theology & Civics Studies) and its programs of the Committee For Criminal Justice Reform and We The People of Justice Media will be coming very soon, so stay tuned!

03/01/2019

THE COMMITTEE FOR EX-OFFENDERS EQUALITY IS SHUT DOWN UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

01/22/2019

01/13/2019

I just signed the campaign: Follow through on your reform commitments within your first 100 Days! It would mean the world to me if you could also add your name to this important issue. Every name that is added builds momentum around the campaign and makes it more likely for us to get the change we want to see. Will you join me by taking action on this campaign? After you've signed the petition please also take a moment to share it with others. Wesley Bell was elected St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney with a message of change-- but prosecutors from the Bob McCulloch's administration have joined a police union in an effort to block reforms. Sign on to show Wesley Bell you support his work to dismantle corruption, mass incarceration and criminalization of Black people in St. Louis County!

This November, St. Louis County voters made the choice to transform the local criminal justice system. On the four year anniversary of Mike Brown’s death, the criminal justice reform candidate, Wesley Bell, ousted the 20-year incumbent, Bob McCulloch, the prosecutor who failed to indict the police...

12/07/2018

YOUR RIGHTS!
You have the right to remain silent. If you wish to exercise that right, say so out loud. You have the right to refuse to consent to a search of yourself, your car or your home. If you are not under arrest, you have the right to calmly leave. You have the right to a lawyer if you are arrested. Ask for one immediately. Regardless of your immigration or citizenship status, you have constitutional rights.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES!
Do stay calm and be polite. Do not interfere with or obstruct the police. Do not lie or give false documents. Do prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Do remember the details of the encounter. Do file a written complaint or call your local ACLU if you feel your rights have been violated.

IF YOU ARE STOPPED FOR QUESTIONING!
Stay calm. Don't run. Don't argue, resist or obstruct the police, even if you are innocent or police are violating your rights. Keep your hands where police can see them. Ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, calmly and silently walk away. If you are under arrest, you have a right to know why. You have the right to remain silent and cannot be punished for refusing to answer questions. If you wish to remain silent, tell the officer out loud. In some states, you must give your name if asked to identify yourself. You do not have to consent to a search of yourself or your belongings, but police may "pat down" your clothing if they suspect a weapon. You should not physically resist, but you have the right to refuse consent for any further search. If you do consent, it can affect you later in court.

IF YOU ARE STOPPED IN YOUR CAR!
Stop the car in a safe place as quickly as possible. Turn off the car, turn on the internal light, open the window part way and place your hands on the wheel. Upon request, show police your driver's license, registration and proof of insurance. If an officer asks to look inside your car, you can refuse to consent to the search. But if police believe your car contains evidence of a crime, your car can be searched without your consent. Both drivers and passengers have the right to remain silent. If you are a passenger, you can ask if you are free to leave. If the officer says yes, sit silently or calmly leave. Even if the officer says no, you have the right to remain silent.

IF THE POLICE COME TO YOUR HOME!
If the police come to your home, you do not have to let them in unless they have certain kinds of warrants. Ask the officer to slip the warrant under the door or hold it up to the window so you can inspect it. A search warrant allows police to enter the address listed on the warrant, but officers can only search the areas and for the items listed. An arrest warrant allows police to enter the home of the person listed on the warrant if they believe the person is inside. Even if officers have a warrant, you have the right to remain silent. If you choose to speak to the officers, step outside and close the door.

IF YOU ARE ARRESTED!
Do not resist arrest, even if you believe the arrest is unfair. Say you wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer immediately. Don't give any explanations or excuses. If you can't pay for a lawyer, you have the right to a free one. Don't say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer. You have the right to make a local phone call. The police cannot listen if you call a lawyer. Prepare yourself and your family in case you are arrested. Memorize the phone numbers of your family and your lawyer. Make emergency plans if you have children or take medication.

IF YOU FEEL YOUR RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED!
Remember: police misconduct cannot be challenged on the street. Don't physically resist officers or threaten to file a complaint. Write down everything you remember, including officers' badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from, and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If you are injured, take photographs of your injuries (but seek medical attention first). File a written complaint with the agency's internal affairs division or civilian complaint board. In most cases, you can file a complaint anonymously if you wish. Call your local ACLU.

12/07/2018

REDEMPTION: A redeeming. 2.A being redeemed. 3.deliverance; rescue. 4. Deliverance from sin; salvation.

No matter how low a human being goes in his or her existence, the practice of true religion/spirituality with the correct understanding supplies a sure way to overcome any and all human ills, frailties and failings. This is true because all individuals are essentially one with the Divine Self. Through the process of ignorance they have forgotten their true identity. Through the path of true religion/spirituality, you may discover your true essence, thereby unleashing the gifts and infinite power of the spirit. It does not matter what the crime or what sin you have committed. The light of wisdom and the practices of purification can bring about a transformation in the consciousness of any human being. From the lower self you can move up to the Higher Self. This science begins with your understanding and forgiveness of yourself and then the intensive process of introspection and realization of the truth through building a life based on Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice.

Not knowing your true identity you treat others unkindly, you indulge in hatred and anger of others. You are unaware of your talents and your capacity to love yourself and others. You have come to a state which has led you to experience the degradation and loss of spiritual and physical freedom. You search for excitement and fulfillment of your desires through your worldly relationships, by entertaining yourself with the media, drugs and alcohol, or by acquiring objects (cars, clothes, etc.) that you think will make you happy. You do these things because you have been taught that this is the way to pursue happiness. But have any of these things brought you true and lasting happiness and peace? In order to truly be happy you must unleash your spirit. You are the one responsible for your condition because of your past actions based on ignorance. Therefore, do not waste any more time by blaming others or by seeking to find explanations in society or other external causes. The wonderful thing is that you are also the one who by your actions illumined by the light of wisdom in action (Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice), can change your life.

The solution to all of the problems of life is to “KNOW THYSELF”, through self knowledge, all of the misconceptions of the mind which have led to degraded states, erroneous thoughts, conflict and misunderstanding are washed away. Through self knowledge one discovers the supreme happiness which comes from inner contentment and peace which cannot come from external objects or relationships in the world.

What is a Convict? The dictionary defines convict as a person found guilty of a crime, especially one serving a prison sentence. Is this guilt or prison sentence a part of your eternal existence? Is it a permanent blot on your soul which will send you to hell forever? The Wisdom of Jesus has taught us that the soul is innately divine and has a possibility to evolve, to discover its own higher reality which is immortal and pure in the Supreme Self (GOD). This means that it is possible to overcome and transcend any and all forms of negativity or evil actions of the past.

The Divine Principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice represents the very order which maintains creation. So the way I see it is that GOD created the universe by putting the Divine Principles in the place of chaos. So creation itself is the Divine Principles. Creation without order is chaos. The Divine Principles is a profound teaching in reference to the nature of creation and the manner in which human conduct should be cultivated. It refers to a deep understanding of Divinity and the manner in which virtuous qualities can be developed in the human heart so as to come closer to the Divine. So in my eyes the Divine Principles are a philosophy, a spiritual symbol as well as a cosmic energy or force which pervades the entire universe. When you live in the path of virtue, you become the symbolic embodiment of the Divine Principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice. The Divine Principles represents wisdom and spiritual awakening through balance and equanimity. Virtue is the path of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice and inner expansion of the heart. The Divine Principles are latent in every human heart but needs to be awakened and developed in order for their benefits to be reaped. The Divine Principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice are a profound teaching in reference to the human heart and how the negative tendencies can cloud the intellect and cause a human being to become even lower than an animal. In the pursuit of happiness or what people have come to feel will bring happiness, the most heinous atrocities have been committed throughout history and these same acts of unrighteousness have led to the destruction of the perpetrator. So why does vice and unrighteousness continue to exist in the world?

All souls come to the earth for the purpose of discovering true happiness. They are in search for true fulfillment, true contentment. However, this desire becomes degraded when the soul of a human being sinks into ignorance about where that happiness can be found. This condition leads to negative experience, negative thoughts and negative feelings, which produce more negativity. When there is no higher vision of life, despair, restlessness, passion greed, anger, violence and desire does not think about the consequences nor the correctness or wrongness of their actions. It then becomes possible to lie, cheat, and steal, all in an effort to gain what they think they want, what they believe will satisfy their need. They become capable of hurting others and susceptible to being hurt by others, manipulated by others and ultimately they lead themselves to experiences of pain and sorrow such as failed relationships, trouble with the law, inability to experience mental peace, disappointments, frustrations, illness, etc.

You must see the higher vision of life and discover the abode of true happiness, peace, and contentment which transcends all worldly measures. This exalted vision of life is the innate potential of every human being. What is necessary is the dedication and perseverance to seek a higher understanding of the divine nature of the innermost heart. Your inner Higher Self has the power to absolve and redeem all negativity. This is the highest goal of all human beings and the most difficult one as well. However, as you gain greater understanding and greater will to act with virtue, your vision of the divine will increase and draw you closer and closer to the Higher Self. This is the glory of virtue and its power to vanquish and eradicate vice from the human heart. Virtue is the quality which implies harmony with the universe. Virtue is that which leads a human being to come into harmony with the Divine (GOD). From a mythological standpoint, sin is to be understood as the absence of wisdom which leads to righteousness, harmony and peace and the existence of ignorance which leads to mental unrest, conflict and the endless desires of the mind. Sin operates in human life as any movement which works against self-discovery, and virtue is any movement toward discovering the essential truth of the innermost heart. The state of ignorance will end only when the mind develops a higher vision. It must look beyond the illusions of human desire and begin to seek something more substantial and abiding. This is when the aspirant develops an interest in spirituality and the practice of order, correctness, self-improvement, purification and intellectual development. These qualities are symbolized by the Divine Principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice and your Third Eye (the sight of your Higher Self) is the symbol of discerning intellect which can see right from wrong, good from evil, truth from untruth, etc.

When a child is born, does that child know anything about the associations and acquaintances he or she will make? Do they know about the either good or bad people they will meet? Do they know about the negative things they will do in the future? There are many factors which determine the actions which an individual will perform in their lifetime. The most important of these is the tendency that person carried forth from the previous lifetimes. You are not a finite, mortal human being. In reality you are an immortal soul, wandering from the realm of physical nature as you take birth again and again (reincarnation) in the search of true happiness and peace. Your search has led you to thousands of the past lives wherein you experienced prosperity and adversity as well as degrees of sinfulness and virtue. If there was a tendency to negative thoughts in the past lifetime there may be a tendency for more negativity in this lifetime if it is stimulated and not opposed.

The most important thing to remember now is that your present effort can overcome any and all of your past negativity if you apply yourself with earnestness and resolve to become fully established in virtue. This means that you must decide to dedicate your life to discovering and facing all shades of vice and negativity within you and in so doing never fall back into the pits of ignorance which lead to pain and sorrow. Having forgotten your eternal nature you have been wandering through many lifetimes, meeting many other souls in the form of friends, relatives, etc. who are also wandering travelers, also seeking the same thing you are: peace and contentment. However, when the soul forgets its immortal, loving and virtuous nature it becomes indoctrinated by society and takes on the values and beliefs of society. If society says that money is most important, then the masses of ignorant people do whatever they can to get money. Those who cannot do it legally, do it by any other means, because they have lost the connection to their fellow souls due to the delusion of ignorance caused by the pressure of desires and mental agitation. If those around them call them bad, they begin to think that they are a bad person and then proceed to think of themselves as evil and unconsciously they generate thoughts of hatred, slander, lewdness, murders, theft and everything that harms, which cause them untold miseries through many lifetimes. The universe is one connected essence. When you allow negativity in your mind you are communing with the negative thoughts from all over the universe. This is why it is important, especially in the beginning your practice of true religion/spirituality, to break with all negative associations to as well as with all negative habits (drugs, tabasco, vices, rudeness, cursing, worldly people, etc.) to the extent that is possible while keeping company with those who are wise, virtuous, loving and peaceful.

In reality, there is no real badness in the true you, the deepest part of you. Your soul is in reality pure and full of love which is waiting to be discovered. However, your ego (lower self) is like a blanket of dust which settles on a piece of glass and obstructs the light from passing through. When you live according to the mother of virtues and the harmonies of life which breeds Justice, mercy, love and right, then the dust of hatred, slander, lewdness, murders, theft and everything that harms are removed from your being and then it is possible for you to discover the treasure which lies within your own heart. When this treasure arises in the heart it has an effect on others. This is the source of divine qualities (Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice) which a spiritual aspirant can share with the world. Thus, there is in reality no such thing as a criminal heart, only hearts which are clamoring for freedom from the bonds of ignorance and fear.

The lower self breeds hatred, slander, lewdness, murders, theft, and everything that harms. You can overcome the lower self through virtue. You can be redeemed and you can transform the lower self into a positive force for the Higher Self. In the end it will be revealed that the Higher Self and the lower self are in reality not two personalities, but indeed one and the same. So the idea behind the teaching of the lower self is that the true enemy is not outside of you, but within your own personality and it exists there in the form of negative qualities which in effect fetter your higher vision of spiritual reality. They cloud your intellect and deteriorate the willpower, so they allow sinfulness and unrighteousness. However, the love, sweetness and wisdom of the divine is also there within you and this divine essence is equipped with immense spiritual force which can be discovered and used for developing a positive vision which can eradicate all negativity and reveal the true you as the sun is revealed when the clouds disperse after a storm.

In conclusion, when you learn to open your heart you will initially discover the negativity which has led you to untoward situations in your life, but just as a diamond is hidden in the encrusted, hardened piece of carbon, your luminous higher self is hidden behind your hardened ego and its selfishness. True spirituality means moving toward to the Divine. Moving toward the Divine means leaving behind the pettiness and negativity of the ego (lower self). Egoism (chaos) cannot exist where there is Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom, and Justice. When you learn to cleanse yourself of this selfishness you will discover the true self within you. This is a new birth which does not occur from the union of a man and a woman or in a hospital or in a church. It occurs in your very heart. You can begin right now, wherever you are, to practice the ancient teachings of true religion/spirituality.

No jail can change a human being. Only you can cause a true transformation in your own life. In reality there are no criminal hearts, but there are people who live life based on ignorance and negativity. Ignorance and negativity are the path of pain and sorrow in life and the life hereafter. When the ignorance and negativity are removed, then it is possible to have a real transformation of the heart. This kind of transformation is not like those people who simply change from one vice only to pick up another. This kind of transformation offers an opportunity to discover a greater world wherein the mistakes of the past become the tools for enlightenment as you begin to understand the reasons and causes of all events in your life. The science of true religion/spirituality and the Divine Principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice are the gateway to positive self-effort. As you become aware of your Divine gifts you will be able to heal yourself and share and uplift others. It is recommend that you take up the study of the book: "The Nag Hammadi Library". This book will help you to set up your own personal spiritual practice and will answer many questions about the Divine Principles and the character of the lower self. Proper guidance is an essential part of correct spiritual development. Jesus has provided a book series of Gnostic Gospels, which will lead you to understanding. The rest is up to you now. Many people believe they are free due to their many possessions or status. In reality they are slaves to their desires and this bo***ge causes them to experience the many problems of life. True religion/spirituality is that science which leads to understanding, inner discovery and expansion in consciousness. When these occur in the human heart, ignorance is eradicated and true freedom is achieved. This is true freedom and inner fulfillment which cannot be derived or affected by outer conditions or circumstances.

Those who desire to tread the path of true religion/spirituality should allow their devotional feeling to flow toward GOD. You must begin to feel that your actions, thoughts and words are those of GOD. Place yourself in his hands and allow his loving hand to guide you. Feel that the adversity you have created for yourself will be overcome through the grace of GOD. See adversity as lessons from GOD and chant his name in adoration and praise as the very source of your strength and will to destroy what is ignorant and sinful within yourself, so as to purify your heart. You must engage yourself in selfless service. Even if you volunteer and do not receive payment, feel that you are rendering service to humanity in the name of GOD and feel that he is working through you to help others as he purifies your heart in the process. Eventually you will be lead, through a mystical process, toward an occupation which will be uplifting, fulfilling for you and beneficial to humanity. Along with this, practice meditation, prayer, study of the teachings and chanting as part of your spiritual disciplines. Chant thus: “The Higher Self manifesting as the Divine Principles of Love, Truth, Peace, Freedom and Justice, grant that I become purified and enlightened”.

This measure is dedicate to all my brothers and sisters who are in the so-called correctional institutions, who are ready to take the step in turning their life around and discovering the peace and strength of their Higher Self.

Ephesians 1:7- In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Ephesians 1:14- who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession, to the praise of His glory.

Psalm 130:7- O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion, and with Him is redemption in abundance.

Romans 3:24- and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30- It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

Psalm 130:7- Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.

Peace and love to you all!

11/09/2018

The Committee For Ex-Offenders Equality & Our Stand On Criminal Justice Reform!

The Committee For Ex-Offenders Equality stands firm on the issue of actually fixing the errors in the criminal justice system. The goals of the Committee For Ex-Offenders Equality, which is one of the most involved organizations within the movement for criminal justice reform include decreasing the United States' prison population, reducing prison sentences that are perceived to be too harsh and long, altering drug sentencing policy, policing reform, reducing overcriminalization, and juvenile justice reform. The Criminal justice reform of the Committee For Ex-Offenders Equality also targets reforming policies for those with criminal convictions that are receiving other consequences from food assistance programs, outside of serving their time in prison.

There are many organizations that advocate to reform the criminal justice system, but the Committee For Ex-Offenders Equality is the only one that is serving the full needs of the offender, ex-offenders, their family members, while restoring the core of victim(s) or communities empowerment and core values! Most states have a criminal justice reform act as well. The Committee For Ex-Offenders Equality uses legal disputes and public events to make the problems aware to the public, but mostly the state and federal governments.

The sentencing laws within the U.S. criminal justice system are both draconian and racially discriminatory. Additionally, the sentencing laws are the main contributor to the growing and excessive prison population known as mass incarceration. In 2016, according to the Sentencing Project's Fact Sheet on Trends in U.S. Corrections, 2.2 million individuals were in America's prisons or jails. This reflects a 500% increase since the mid 1980s, which has come to be known as mass incarceration. Those in support of criminal justice reform perceive the issue to be an increase in surveillance and the use of draconian sentencing laws, especially within communities of color. While some researches claim that racial sentencing disparities are a reflection of differences in criminal activity, crime seriousness, and recidivism between different communities, other researchers believe that racial minorities are punished more harshly than their white counterparts who commit similar crimes. In fact, an individual’s race and ethnicity play a role in sentencing outcomes. Young Black and Latino males (especially if unemployed), often receive longer and stricter sentences than whites. Additionally Black and Latin individuals with drug offenses, who commit crimes that affect white individuals, or refuse to plead guilty are often given harsher treatments. Individuals are sentenced more often and for longer with the average sentence in the U.S. being nearly twice as long as Australian and five times as long as German sentences. Truth in Sentencing laws and mandatory minimums are perceived to be two forms of draconian policies that contribute to prison overcrowding. Truth in sentencing law requires that offenders serve the majority of their sentences before being eligible for release, restricting or eliminating sentencing exceptions such as good-time, earned-time, and parole board release. The majority of truth in sentencing laws require offenders to complete at least 85% of their sentence. Due to the formation of the Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing Incentive Grants Program by Congress in 1994, states are given grants if they require violent offenders to serve at least 85% of their sentences. Mandatory minimum laws are those that require judges to sentence an individual to a specified minimum for the committed crime. This shifts power from the power of judges to prosecutors who have the ability to use the threat of an extremely long sentence in order to pressure defendants into accepting a plea bargain.

When it comes to drug policy reform, we point to the war on drugs, ma*****na law reform, and reducing drug harm as key issues. The CFEOE are advocates for policy change and we perceive that the War on Drugs was and is a policy failure that has led to wasted resources, human potential, and a violation of rights. We view the mass incarceration of drug users as a waste of taxpayer money. The United States spends over $51 million yearly on the war on drugs. The CFEOE can show proof that the likelihood of imprisonment for drug related charges is racially disparate. The CFEOE stands firm on its position that the War on Drugs is a new form of systematic oppression and social control that resembles Jim Crow laws that enforced racial segregation. The enactment of the War on Drugs in the 1980s is primarily responsible for the dramatic rise in incarceration rates in the U.S. In the 1980s, 40,900 individuals were incarcerated due to drug offenses, and by 2015 there were 469,545. In 2016, 1,572,579 individuals were arrested for drug law violations (84% of which were due to possession). Of this number, 643,249 were arrested due to marajuana violations (89% of which were due to possession). Approximately half of the individuals currently incarcerated in federal prisons are there due to a drug offense. Half of the individuals in federal prison are there due to a drug offense. Compared to 1980, there are ten times as many people in state prisons for drug offenses. The focus of the War on Drugs is misguided for stigmatizing drug users. Drug use is framed as a criminal rather than addiction and health issue. At the CFEOE, we point to countries that focus on the reduction of drug related harms such as overdose, addiction, and disease as metrics for drug policy success. Portugal is extremely successful for their drug policies since decriminalizing low level drug possession in 2001 and shifting towards a health-based approach to drug use. Since doing so Portugal has seen a decrease in violent crime, addiction, and the transmission of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.

Policing reform typically focuses on police brutality and the use of dangerous force against minority individuals. Police brutality refers to the "use of excessive physical force or verbal assault and psychological intimidation" by law enforcement against individuals. Police have killed 1,147 individuals in 2017. This shows an increase from previous years with 963 individuals killed by fatal force in 2016 and 995 killed in 2015. The distribution of these killings varies widely by state with the majority of incidences occurring in states such as California, Texas, Florida, and Arizona and the least in Rhode Island, Vermont and North Dakota. While the distribution of killings by state within the U.S. is not even, overall more individuals die due to police shootings and other acts of excessive force than in any other Western, developed nation. Additionally, there are racial disparities within statistics of police killings. Of the 1,147 individuals killed by the police in 2017, a quarter were Black, meaning Black individuals were three times as likely to be killed by the police than their White counterparts. 30% of the Black victims were unarmed, compared to 21% of White Victims that were. At the CFEOE, we point to recurring examples of discriminatory violence towards individuals such as the Watts Riots of 1965, the beating of Rodney King in 1991, the death of Amadou Diallo in the 1990s and recent stories of police brutality such as the cases of Trayvon Martin. Theories from various fields including sociology and psychology have attempted to explain the phenomena of police brutality. Sociological theories of brutality focus on the way in which interactions between police and individuals are influenced by the status of the individual. This means that differences race, gender, and socioeconomic status result in disparate treatment by law enforcement. Additionally, “situational factors” such as the character of the neighborhood also affect the interactions. Each of these factors are cues that push officers to make judgements about how to proceed. So, according to this theory minorities are over-represented in police killings simply due to perceptions of their race. Psychological theories of police brutality emphasizes that different outlooks and personalities result in differing behavior by the police. This follows behavioral psychology in suggesting that differences in gender, socioeconomic status, educational and experiences affect one’s responses. Organizational theory suggests that police brutality is a result of the organizational structure of law enforcement. The use of excessive force is seen as a response to disrespecting their authority. At the CFEOE, we perceive that White individuals and groups typically excuse police brutality due to a deep seated prejudice towards Blacks. Media representations of Black individuals and disparate sentencing contribute to the idea that Black individuals are inherently more criminal. Research reveals that Black males with features considered Afrocentric such as darker skin tone, broad noses, and full lips, receive longer sentences than their lighter skinned counterparts with Eurocentric features. Broken Windows policing, or quality of life policing, is based on a criminological theory known as broken windows theory. This theory suggests that repairing broken windows in buildings and other form of physical disorder within a city indicate whether or not there is crime. When translated to policing tactics, minor offenses are targeted as a way to deter greater, more serious crime. The CFEOE point to the ways that broken windows policing negatively impacts communities of color through criminalization and excessive force. Additionally, it is typically seen as responsible for over policing and the militarization of neighborhoods. Offenses such as drug possession, “suspicious” activities or mental health crises often lead to the characterization of a neighborhood as disorderly and in need of stronger policing. At the CFEOE, we suggest that this leads to the inherent criminalization of poor, minority and homeless individuals. It creates a stigma that reinforces the underlying problems that lead to the perception of crime within the neighborhood. Additionally, we suggest that these issues are improperly addressed by law enforcement and instead should be treated by social workers or healthcare professionals. Predictive Policing is an analytical technique used by law enforcement in order to predict where crime is likely to occur. It involves predicting both the potential time and place of crimes and individuals likely to commit them. It is used as an alternative to full reliance and trust in the “hunches” and instincts of law enforcement that are believed to come with training. Those who are not targeted by the police believe that it is a way to minimize bias and discriminatory practices within policing. At the CFEOE, we point to the fact that (1) the data used to isolate patterns of criminal behavior uses a privatized algorithm that only companies have access to and (2) its potential to reinforce existing biases against poor and minority communities. Because predictive policing algorithms use existing data to make predictions, it would follow that existing bias within the system is not eliminated but amplified. Additionally, we perceive that it is a way to “manufacture” crime; it reinforces the idea that crime in an area exists and just needs to be found by law enforcement. Stop-and-frisk stops refer to “a brief non-intrusive police stop of a suspect” warranted by “reasonable suspicion” that often involve a pat down of the suspect. Stop-and-frisk policies became a large part of criminal justice reform efforts following NYPD's use of the tactic. NYPD vowed to end its implementation of stop and frisk policies August 12, 2013 when ruled unconstitutional in Floyd v. City of New York. Although this is the case, similar policies are used in other cities throughout the U.S. At the CFEOE, we perceive that it is unconstitutional, ineffective, and racist. Most cases in which stop and frisk is used are a result of the War on Drugs. In line with this, the majority of those targeted are racial minorities, specifically African Americans. A report by the Public Advocate's office indicates that of the 532,911 stops made in 2012 in New York City, 53% of individuals were Black and 31% were Hispanic. Additionally, the New York Civil Liberties Union indicated that only 97,296 stops were made in 2002, or less than a fifth of those made in 2012. At the CFEOE, we point to the fact that stop-and-frisk is often unproductive and fails to fulfill its aim. Of the 2.3 million instances of police stopping Black males based on reasonable suspicion between 2004 and 2012, only 16,000 resulted in the seizure of illicit goods.

At the CFEOE, we express that re-entry programs need reform and we point to recidivism rates within the United States criminal justice system. While those against reform claim that recidivism rates are indicative of inherent criminality amongst certain groups, but at the CFEOE, we perceive it is indicative of the ineffectiveness of re-entry and parole programs. Different types of disenfranchisement exist that affect ex-offenders after their release. At the CFEOE, we push for the reform of restrictions on federal aid and societal participation. Federal restrictions that exist include bans on the use of welfare programs and federal financial aid for education. Restrictions on societal participation include felons not being allowed to hold public office, teach or work in child care, or vote. Voting restrictions are known as felony disenfranchisement. This refers to the regulations that prevent those with a felony conviction from voting in local, state, and federal elections on the basis of their conviction. 6.1 million individuals were unable to vote due to felony disenfranchisement in 2016. Former prisoners are incarcerated multiple times, increasing recidivism rates, because they are unable to follow strict rules and regulations. At the CFEOE, we perceive these regulations as not being focus on community well being, but instead on controlling parolees. A report for Columbia University’s Justice lab showed that in the four years since January 1, 2018, New York City’s jail population declined by 21%. However, during this time period, the population of individuals incarcerated due to parole violations increased by 15%. The Second Chance Act was passed with bipartisan support in an effort to reduce recidivism rates and improve outcomes for individuals following their released from juvenile facilities, jails and prisons. Second Chance Grant Programs include those that focus on substance use and mental disorders, mentoring and transitional services for adults, improvement for the outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system, and technology career training.

The push for reform within juvenile justice highlights the notion that Black and Latin individuals, especially males, are criminalized prior to adulthood. The juvenile justice system is viewed in the same light as the criminal justice system as a form of social control that incapacitates Black and Latin youth. Criminalization is also thought to occur in other social institutions such as school businesses, the streets and community centers. At the CFEOE, we criticize he juvenile justice system itself for perpetuating the notion that non-criminal individuals are criminal. The majority of individuals that enter the system have committed non-violent offenses, but still experience the effects of indirect punishment, direct punishment, and criminalization of their violent counterparts. Overall, this criminalization is thought to be harmful due to its impact on the perception and Black and Latin youth have of themselves and their capability to be successful within society. At the CFOEO, we perceive that the juvenile justice system is a part of the school to prison pipeline which funnels individuals from public school to the criminal and juvenile justice systems. Harsher disciplinary rules prevent individuals from re-entering schools following an offense, making it more likely for them to experience social pressures such as low income and unemployment that we at the CFEOE perceive to lead to criminal activity. Additionally, in school arrests contribute to the pipeline. At the CFEOE, we point to the fact that 70% of students arrested at school are Black, further contributing to the criminalization and mass incarceration of Black individuals.

One of the main goals of the CFEOE is to spread awareness about perceived injustices within the criminal justice system and to promote action against it through social and policy change. The CFEOE will soon announce its bipartisan resolution to reform the criminal justice system in the United States. The reforms of the CFEOE will improve rehabilitation and workforce opportunities for those who have served their sentences.

COMMITTEE FOR EX-OFFENDERS EQUALITY