In the midst of National Crime Victims Week, the public is rightfully reminded of the toll crime takes on our communities and families. But what is often overlooked in these observances are the hidden victims — the families of those convicted of crimes.
Many of us — and yes, I am one of this
My awakening from a coma in 2006 was both physical and metaphorical. My eyes opened, over time, to new perspectives on life, including the support survivors of crime need but too often don’t receive.
It started the night of August 24, 2006, while walking from my home in San Leandro to BART. A young
In the wake of the recent tragedy in Vallejo involving a long-ago paroled life term inmate we are again hearing calls for a reduction in the still small number of life-term prisoners who are granted parole. The usual unfounded accusations and unsubstantiated allegations of continuing danger from all released lifers are again making the rounds.
After decades of prison planning work in California and around the country, I’ve seen two prevailing assumptions about crime and punishment begin to finally begin to crack after years of real-world testing.
The first is that prisons are the primary way to reduce crime. The second is that law enforcement will not support changes