Local task force honored

The Monroe County Racial Task Force has been recognized by the Justice Kennedy Commission of the American Bar Association for a recent study entitled "Race and Criminal Justice in Monroe County, Indiana." \nThe Commission also recommended the task force to be representative of a national model for similar organizations across the country, recognizing the task force study as a "model project implemented by a community that made a commitment to the elimination of racial disparity in its criminal justice system." \nThe task force study confronted issues of state and federal criminal justice systems to identify the causes and effects of racial disparity on the criminal justice system. \n"This study is laudable because it reports on the continuum of racial disparities and inequalities that exist in our criminal justice system," said Clarence Gilliam, president of the Monroe County National Association of Advancement for Colored People. "Our research was thoroughly comprehensive, utilizing analysis of court and police records, in addition to every other record available to us at the time." \nMarsha Bradford, director of the Mayor Kruzan's Safe and Civil City Program and editor of the 2003 Racial Task Force report, commented on the Justice Kennedy recognition.\n"The task force is honored to be recognized as a national model by the ABA Justice Kennedy Commission," she said. "We look forward to collaborating with community stakeholders in implementing the recommendations identified in our report."\nIn accordance with the task force report, the Justice Kennedy Commission has urged jurisdictions to invest in programs that help inmates return to communities, provide alternatives to incarceration for substance abusers and the mentally disabled and reduce the disproportionate effect that "tough on crime" laws have on minorities.\nThe report noted that the participation of high-level officials and the chief prosecutor's willingness to provide access to internal prosecution data were critical elements in the task force's determinations.\n"I was glad to do my part in making sure this important study was completed," said Carl Salzmann, Monroe County Prosecutor. "However, equal credit goes to our project consultant, Marc Mauer of the Sentencing Project and the dedicated and hardworking members of the Task Force Study Committee."\nThe ABA Justice Kennedy Commission's recommendations will be considered by the ABA House of Delegates for adoption as national policy August 9-10 at its annual meeting in Atlanta.\nThe report, "Race and Criminal Justice in Monroe County, Indiana: 2003 Report from the Monroe County Racial Justice Task Force," can be accessed online at www.city.bloomington.in.us/mayor/safeandcivilcity.html\nThe ABA Justice Kennedy Commission Recommendations can be viewed online at www.manningmedia.net/Clients/ABA/ABA288/index.htm\n-- Contact staff writer Soren Packer at spacker@indiana.edu.