Monday and Tuesday I’ll be at a symposium at USC that is taking a look at California’s 3-strikes law and whether or not it should be reformed.
It’s put on by The Center on Media, Crime and Justice out of John Jay College, and organized by my friend Joe Domanick who, quite literally, wrote the book on the history of California’s 3-strikes statute.
Judging by the panels scheduled and the various speakers, it looks as if it’s going to very, very intriguing two days. Guest’s include Steve Cooley, Jeannie Woodford (the former Director of the California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, former Warden, San Quentin Prison), and Matt Cate, who is now the head of the CDCR. Connie Rice, George Gascon, Gloria Romero, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck—and lots more.
Naturally, I’ll be doing some blogging from the symposium.
I’ll also be running a panel on Monday afternoon that features:
1. Isaac Ramirez, a formerly incarcerated three strikes prisoner.
2. Nina Germaine Salarno-Ashford, the Executive Director, Californians for Public Safety; Executive Board Member, Crime Victims United. (In other words, someone who is strongly pro 3-strikes)
3. Robert Brooks, the brother of a third strike prisoner and an activist in sentencing.
In any case, check back. I’ll have much to talk about soon.
LA TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
More too on the utterly wonderful LATFOB. Whenever C-SPAN gets its act together, the video of the panel I moderated on Sunday, called Democracy and Its Discontents, should be available. (It was broadcast on C-SPAN.)
Soon I’ll also have reports on the LA Times Book Awards, and the Homeboy Industry awards dinner—both grand and glorious events
When Susan Swain introduced the moderator as Celeste Fremon of the group (?!?) WitnessLA, I thought, yikes, The FBI is probably monitoring this site, and no doubt has it’s fastest computers diligently trying to to decipher the code phrase `wolf pup’.
Ha!