Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-02-28 February 28, 2010
- Water Street Cafe: most under-exposed restaurant downtown in #Harrisonburg – great breakfast! #
- @andyfluke Tickling cat? in reply to andyfluke #
- FOR Panel on Better Strategies Against Crime starts now at the library in #Harrisonburg – great panel, good attendance #
- Sheriff Farley says of 320 inmates, it's hard to find the 10 to put into the public for work detail at the recycling center in #Harrisonburg #
- Asst Commonwealth's Athorny Bailey recognizes punishment isn't the only answer to avoiding drug-use-related crimes, need rehab #
- Gene Hart, defense attorney, speaking – cites alternative sentencing programs have been cut by General Assembly. NOW is time to advocate! #
- Hart suggests Home Electronic Monitoring Program and drug treatment programs as two solutions. "There is a cost to the money saved today." #
- Judge McGrath says, "The real problem is not agreement about value of alternative sentencing and treatment – the problem is money." #
- Judge McGrath says we can lobby the General Assembly (good luck) , but there are small, local ideas we can work to make happen now. #
- Howard Zehr says what's really important is who is making the decisions about the programs and what is the accountability. #
- John Fairfield asks why the disconnect between the many obstacles (money, time, ongoing crime) and the savings Zehr cites are possible? #
- Bailey: If people want change, the people must advocate and vote to force it to happen. Politics & policy-makers shape the system. #
- Judge McGrath: You have to convince the people in Richmond to vote the way you want. All we know that's near impossible. Start small here. #
- Zehr: Victims have many needs that are not met in this offender-centric system.. Some are "justice needs", which are important to consider. #
- @hburgcook What would be a worthwhile next step after this discussion? in reply to hburgcook #
- Jennie Aimeson asks would we consider implementing in the jails re-entry and therapeutic community programs? She volunteers to set one up! #
- Sheriff says we have a logistics problem: time and space constraints. Many programs exist, there is no room available for such a program. #
- Audience member expresses outrage at lightened sentences for offenders, cites dramatic and local examples of light sentences #
- Sheriff empathizes and reiterates: It's the criminal justice system. It's not called the victim justice system. #
- Also makes you question quality of local news. RT @hburgcook When reporter is playing solitaire, you're talking too long. #
- Zehr: Statistics show the restitution payments are MUCH more likely after a restorative justice process (where victim and offender discuss) #
- @FairfieldCenter is currently reinvigorating its #RestorativeJustice program #
- Audience member thinks we're just scratching the surface. This is a multi-billion dollar industry that supports the fat cats. #
- Hart: Yes, we've have some gang problems. But there's a lot more talk about it since we got a grant to run an anti-gang task force. #
- Hart: We have the highest incarceration rate in the world. Do we really think we have the worst people in the world? #
- Next comment: I think if each community would itemize how much $ goes to keeping people in jail, people would choose to fund new programs. #
- So pleased #Harrisonburg City Council passes support of the DREAM Act with 5-0 vote. #dreamact #hburgnews #
- Your Business Summit Survey – http://eepurl.com/iz-y #
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