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Blog #5: Legislating Norms due January 16th @ midnight

1/16/2015

7 Comments

 
The American Legislative Exchange Council is an organization that crafts policies to push for a neo-conservative agenda. This organization is responsible for drafting pieces of legislation like SB 1070 in Arizona and a variety of state's dismissal of ObamaCare.
Issue Areas
  • Worker and Consumer Rights
  • Tort Reform and Injured Americans
  • Privatizing Schools and Higher Ed Policy
  • Health, Pharmaceuticals and Safety Net Programs
  • Environment, Energy and Agriculture
  • Democracy, Voter Rights and Federal Power
  • Taxes and Budgets
  • Guns, Prisons, Crime and Immigration
Choose one of the issue areas above. Find a piece of legislation that you want to write about and answer the following questions.
  1. How does the ALEC legislation push for change in their policy?
  2. What groups (communities, corporations, etc) benefit from this legislation? What groups of people do not? What do advocacy groups feel about this policy? Who do they believe it will benefit or how do they feel it will cause harm?
  • Requirements for your blog
  • You must write 250 words (minimum) for your original post with a 50-100 word response to another student.
  • Students must post on or before the due date.
  • 7 Comments

    Blog #4: LGBT equality, sanctioned discrimination, and the criminal justice system due January 14th @ midnight

    1/14/2015

    10 Comments

     
    After reading Corrupting Justice: A Primer for LGBT Communities on Racism, Violence, Human Degradation & the Prison Industrial Complex answer two of the following questions.
    • Describe one of the cases below. What themes from the Corrupting Justice reading relate to the case you chose?
    • What do these types of laws expose about our cultural norms and values?
    • In what ways do you see class, race, gender, and sexuality playing a role in the way these cases were decided? How could these forms of discrimination be prevented in the future?
    • In what ways did the State's that these people lived in, willfully violate the constitution.  What amendment was violated? Explain why.

    The U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down state sodomy laws (Lawrence and Garner v. Texas) did not erase the historic criminalization of LGBT sexuality in the United States.

    Anti-LGBT religious and political leaders often characterize all LGBT people as sexual predators and pedophiles, a politicization of homophobia and gender non-conformance that is both reprehensible and dangerous.

    Anti-queer discrimination and violence not only follow LGBT people into the criminal justice system, but also help to put us there. Incarcerated LGBT people — both youth and adults — are often subjected to verbal harassment, physical abuse other forms of mistreatment from other prisoners, guards, and other criminal justice staff.



    • Sexual assault and rape — by inmates and staff — are endemic in many correctional institutions. LGBT youth and adults are frequent targets. Trans youth and adults are often subjected to additional forms of harassment and abuse while incarcerated. This may include functional classification as sex offenders, denial of appropriate health care services, and prescription drugs, placement in gender inappropriate facilities, and the like.
      - LGBT people — especially youth — in correctional facilities are often segregated from the general population and placed in isolation — allegedly for their own “safety. In reality, isolation magnifies the harshness of incarceration.Poverty, homophobia, and transphobia funnel many young queers into the system.
      Research suggests that a dis-proportionate number of homeless youth are queer
    • Many, who have been abused, neglected, or kicked out of their homes,often engage in prostitution, petty theft, and drug dealing in order to survive on the streets.
      - Queer teens who are not separated by significant age differences and who engage in consensual sex can in some jurisdictions receive significantly harsher sentences than young heterosexual partners who engage in the same sexual activity.
      -Prosecutors in capital cases often use homophobic arguments to encourage juries to give death sentences to LGBT defendants or use a “gay panic” defense in cases involving violent assault against persons who are, or are thought to be, gay or transgender.
      • Supreme Court Lets Stand a Ruling that sides with Transgender Inmates

      Requirements for your blog
    • You must write 250 words (minimum) for your original post with a 50-100 word response to another student.
    • Students must post on or before the due date.
    10 Comments

    Blog #3: Exploring gender, race, and class bias due January 12th @ midnight

    1/12/2015

    9 Comments

     
    After reviewing our lecture notes - watch this video of author and activist Chriss Crass. Crass is a self described feminist and anti-racist scholar. He works to eradicate sexism and racism in our society. Along with that comes oppressive economic systems, like capitalism. According to Crass (and others), capitalism is a part of the larger problem that has framed and created the root causes and potential beneficiaries of our social divisions. In your blog respond to the questions below.
    1. What did you learn about collective liberation that relates to what you've learned about systemic racism and classism?
    2. How do the nuances of race and gender play out in real world scenarios?
    3. What cases below show the value of looking at social problems through an intersectional lens?
    4. Find three quotes from Crass to include in your original post.
    Write a short paragraph that highlights three themes from the Crass video and one of the cases below.
    • Black mother jailed for sending kids to a White school district
    • Racism in Schools: Unintentional But No Less Damaging
    • Minority Students Don't Only Get Less Experienced Teachers, They Also Get Less Effective Ones
    • Black Children Face The Most Barriers To Success In America, Asians The Least
    • School suspensions: Does racial bias feed the school-to-prison pipeline?
    • LGBT Students Know Your Rights
    Requirements for BLOG POSTS
    • You must write 250 words (minimum) for your original post with a 50-100 word response to another student.
    • Students must post on or before the due date.
    9 Comments

    Blog #2 Due Thursday, January 9th @ midnight.

    1/8/2015

    7 Comments

     
    In 1994, California voters enacted the “Three Strikes and You're Out” law in response to the tragic murders of Kimber Reynolds and Polly Klass. The law imposed a life sentence for almost any crime, no matter how minor, if the defendant had two prior convictions for crimes defined as serious or violent by the California Penal Code.

    According to official ballot materials promoting the original Three Strikes law, the sentencing scheme was intended to “keep murders, rapists, and child molesters behind bars, where they belong.” However, today, more than half of inmates sentenced under the law are serving sentences for nonviolent crimes. In 2012 - California voters made the decision to reduce the penalties for nonviolent criminals. Learn more below.

    Ballot Language
    Proposition 36, a Change in the "Three Strikes Law" Initiative, was on the November 6, 2012 ballot  as an initiated state statute , where it was approved.[1]
    Proposition 36 modifies elements of California's "Three Strikes" Law , which was approved by the state's voters in 1994. In 2004, voters rejected Proposition 66 , which like the 2012 measure was an attempt to change some aspects of the original "Three Strikes" Law

    Proposition 36:
    • Revises the three strikes law to impose life sentence only when the new felony conviction is "serious or violent."
    • Authorizes re-sentencing for offenders currently serving life sentences if their third strike conviction was not serious or violent and if the judge determines that the re-sentence does not pose unreasonable risk to public safety.
    • Continues to impose a life sentence penalty if the third strike conviction was for "certain non-serious, non-violent sex or drug offenses or involved firearm possession."
    • Maintains the life sentence penalty for felons with "non-serious, non-violent third strike if prior convictions were for rape, murder, or child molestation."
    One impact of the approval of Proposition 36 was that the approximately 3,000 convicted felons who were as of November 2012 serving life terms under the Three Strikes law, whose third strike conviction was for a nonviolent crime, became eligible to petition the court for a new, reduced, sentence.[2] Some estimates were that reducing the sentences of these current prisoners could result in saving the state somewhere between $150 to $200 million a year.[3]

    Altogether, about 8,800 prisoners are currently serving life terms in California prisons under the 1994 law.[4]  24 states have a "Three Strikes"-type law.[4]

    Three Strikes Law - The Basics
    November 2012 Ballot Initiative - Prop 36
    Cruel and Unusual Punishment
    Reform of the Three Strikes Law
    The Committee for Three Strikes Reform
    California Criminal Law Observer


    What cultural and social factors does Alexander describe that cause Americans to deny the fact of the biased nature of mass incarceration against people of color? How does this denial benefit or harm society?

    How do ballot initiatives like Prop 36 relate to the arguments made in The New Jim Crow.


    Requirements for BLOG POSTS
    • You must write 150-250 words for your original post with a 50-100 word response to another student.
    • Students must post on or before the due date.

    7 Comments

    Blog #1 - Due Tuesday, January 6 @ midnight.

    1/4/2015

    8 Comments

     
    Marissa Alexander - Mother in Florida who shot warning shots during a violent encounter with her abusive husband  was subsequently arrested with aggravated assault. She recently was not granted a new case on the basis of “Stand Your Ground,” a law provision that was used successfully in the George Zimmerman case after he murdered Trayvon Martin.
    1.
    http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/why-did-marissa-alexander-get-20-year-sente
    2. http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/marissa-alexander-denied-new-stand-your-ground-hearing
    Learn more about the case above. How does Marissa Alexanders case relate to what you learned in The New Jim Crow.

    Compare the “Old Jim Crow” system to the “New Jim Crow” system. What similarities? What differences? Purposes? Methods?

    Describe how we got here. American's history of racial caste systems has evolved from Slavery to Jim Crow to Mass Incarceration. This history reveals, at every transitional state, the tactics used to employ a racial hierarchy in the American political spectrum. What did you learn from Alexander that affirms or negates the statement above? How does this relate to the administration of the law?

    Requirements for BLOG POSTS
    • You must write 150-250 words for your original post with a 50-100 word response to another student.
    • Students must post on or before the due date.
    8 Comments

    Class Schedule with Readings & Activities

    8/25/2014

    0 Comments

     
    DATE
    Monday, January 5, 2015
    READING
    See email on pre-readings.
    *HANDOUTS ARE ON CLASS WEBSITE
    www.professorcrain.org
    *Ask about the extra credit community events!

    Student & Faculty Introductions
    Introduction to Course Themes, Terms, and Theories
    Group Discussion
    Cracking the Code - Video Clip(s)
    Overview of Class website

    Tuesday, January 6, 2015
    ALEXANDER - Introduction
    The Rebirth of Caste Audio Book Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUbYT9FR7O0

    READER
    Revisiting Race-Neutral Politics – The Nation – April 2011
    Nangwaya, A. (2014) Organization Is the Weapon of the Oppressed: Ferguson, Mobilization, and Organizing the Resistance! www.dissidentvoice.org.

    History of Policing in the United States
    Racial Caste in the U.S.
    Understanding Systems of Oppression
    Case Review – Blog Review
    Complete blog post and response.

    Community Event – (optional/extra credit)
    Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission
    12: 15 p.m.
    Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Lab, Conference #1
    250 W. Hedding St San Jose, CA 95110


    Wednesday, January 7, 2015
    Improving American Police Ethics Training: Focusing on Social Contract Theory and Constitutional Principles
    http://www.forumonpublicpolicy.com/archivesum07/moll.pdf

    READER
    "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack," Peggy McIntosh
    "Exploring the Depths of White Racist Socialization," Tim Wise
    "What Americans Want: The People’s Budget,” David Moberg, In These Times (June, 2011)
    LOPZ, GURIN, NAGDA. Education and Understanding Structural Causes for Group Inequalities

    Guest Speaker
    LICKS Screening and panel discussion.
    Group Activity

    Thursday, January 8, 2015
    ALEXANDER - The Lockdown Audio Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVcQEQj9mSc
    The Color of Justice Audio Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze2X8oZoYks

    READER
    Poor People’s Movement and the Structuring of Protest
    The High Budgetary Costs of Incarceration.
    Social Contract Theory & the role of the state vs citizen (person)
    What is State sanctioned violence?
    What is accountability – Who defines it?
    Group activity – reading review

    Short Essay #1 Due
    Sgt. Steve Donahue – Guest Speaker
    Sexual Assault Investigation Unit

    Complete blog post and response.

    Community Event – (optional/extra credit)
    Author and Professor William Armaline, Human Rights Director at San Jose State University
    Title: The Human Rights Enterprise: Political Sociology, State Power, and Social Movements
    7 – 9 p.m.
    48 S. 7th Street, San Jose, CA 95112
    $5-$10 donation

     

    Friday, January 9, 2015
    ALEXANDER - The Cruel Hand Audio Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irMdUx35hGo
    The New Jim Crow Audio Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0iFfD8BZXg

    READER
    Crain, C. Resistance Against Violence in Oakland
    Shah, S.  Healing from Harm and Unlearning Violence. Tikkun Magazine. Issue on Restorative Justice, Duke University Press, December 2011.
    Lost Youth: A County by County Analysis of 2009 California Homicide Victims Ages 10-24. Violence Policy Center.

    Case Review – Blog Review
    Complete blog post and response.
    Guest Speaker – Psychology & Political Science Professor, Robert Brem
    CSU –East Bay & College of Alameda
    -       Inequality, Forensic Psychology & Justice

    Monday, January 12, 2015
    CRASS-From Collective Refusal to Collective Liberation
    Towards Collective Liberation: What I believe

    READER
    Why US capitalism perpetuates gender inequality (online reading)
    READER - The Anti-Lady Laws Exposed
    Perry, T. Family Values, Race, Feminism and Public Policy.
    Hofrichter, R. Health Equity: Exploring the Social and Economic Dimensions. National Association of County and City Health Officials. www.americashealthrankings.org.
    Gender, Class, Sexuality – Intersectionality & Justice

    Case Review – Blog Review
    Complete blog post and response.
    Group Activity

    Tuesday, January 13, 2015
    CRASS- “By All Means, Keep Moving”: Towards Anti-Racist Politics and Practice
    READER
    Public Safety and The Oakland Police Department. Dan Siegel.
    The Basics of Organizing (online reading)
    Introduction: The Critical Intersections of Reproductive Justice and Climate Justice.  ACRJ, 2009.
    Agenda for Action: Building a Movement for Elder Women’s Advocacy.  (2009) The Women’s Foundation Report.
    198 Methods of Nonviolent Action. The Albert Einstein Institution.
    Women & Children in Prison
    California - New Laws /Protections for Incarcerated Women
    Ballot Initiative Overview - Prop 47 Reduced Penalties for Some Crimes Initiative (2014) - Ballotpedia website. &  Prop 36 - Changes to the “Three Strikes Law” - Ballotpedia website
    Short Essay #2 Due

    Wednesday, January 14, 2015
    CRASS- Against Patriarchy: Tools for Men to Further Feminist Revolution
    READER
    LGBT Student’s Negative School Experiences. Laws, Policy, Regulations.
    Corrupting Justice: A Primer for LGBT Communities on Racism, Violence, Human
    Degradation & the Prison Industrial Complex (online reading)

    Guest Speaker  - Debra Mendoza (Violence Prevention Specialist/ investigator/ Former Probation Officer)
    Complete blog post and response.
    Group Work – Finalize Worksheet components

    Thursday, January 15, 2015
    READER
    Chang, Momo. Immigrant Youth Activists Dare to DREAM. The Nation – April 2011.

    Prepare to finish your final paper.

    Friday, January 16, 2015
    Defining civic engagement. (online reading)

    Submit final paper on Canvas.
    Complete final blog post and response.

     
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      JS 132 Students

      This blog is for JS 132 students.

      Syllabus

      RaceReader Part 1
      RaceReader Part 2


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