October9–10

Justice Should Matter Initiative

Sponsor:
Campaign Neighborhood - CFNBA
Moderator: Mary Glass, Chair/CEO

VERA INSTITUTE INTRODUCTION
October 9–10, 2007
Topic: Prosecution & Racial Justice National Pilot Project

Site Sponsor: Marquette University Law School
Sensenbrenner Hall

Justice Should Matter Series

COMING SOON - BY POPULAR DEMAND

October 9–10, 2007

VERA INSTITUTE, New York
Vera’s Prosecution and Racial Justice project (P&RJ)

Attorney Wayne McKenzie, Project Director of Vera’s Prosecution and Racial Justice Project, will be on hand for two (2) SPECIAL occasions to share information about the Vera Project and his national DA/District Attorney pilot project that includes Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office.

We feel this is an opportunity for the “citizenry” to voice-in leadership that will help improve “racial justice” in our prosecution system here in Milwaukee county.

For more about the VERA Project, visit: http://www.vera.org

Milwaukee County’s District Attorney, John Chisholm will provide Opening Remarks and introduce Attorney Wayne McKenzie, VERA Institute

Phone:(414) 278–4653

DA Chisholm is one of the three (3) district attorneys involved in VERA’s national study. The other two counties are in North Carolina and California.

Campaign Neighborhood - CFNBA is proud to partner with Marquette University - Law School, to bring these two forums to the public. It is an opportunity to learn and an opportunity for you to weigh in.

Free to the Public

  • Reception - Tuesday, Oct. 9, 5:00–7:00pm (Sensenbrenner Hall, Room 302)
  • Neighborhood Morning Briefing - Wednesday, Oct. 10, 8:00–10:00am (Sensenbrenner Hall, Room 325)

Mary Glass, Chair/CEO is the Moderator

Host Site: Marquette University - Law School

Sensenbrenner Hall, 1103 W. Wisconsin

Building Map

Both events are free and open to the public.

* Parking is available for $5 in Parking Structure 2 on Wells Street between 12th and 13th streets.

* To REGISTER, CLICK ON,
http://law.marquette.edu/cgi-bin/site.pl?8&template=veraInstitute.html

Registration Questions? Please contact –
Daniel Idzikowski, JD
Assistant Dean for Public Service

Marquette University Law School
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201–1881

Email: Daniel.Idzikowski@marquette.edu

(414) 288–8060

Seats are limited.

You do not want to miss these events - reception and breakfast briefing.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
VERA’s Prosecution and Racial Justice Project Overview’
4/6/2007

In a groundbreaking effort to enhance justice and guard against racially biased decision making, Vera’s Prosecution and Racial Justice project (P&RJ) is partnering with district attorneys in three jurisdictions across the United States to track and manage prosecutorial decision making at critical stages that influence or determine the outcome of criminal cases. The goal of these alliances is to help the district attorneys identify patterns that suggest race or ethnicity are inappropriately influencing prosecutors’ decisions and to create ongoing internal protocols that will promote racial fairness and justice.

Compared to other officials such as police officers or judges, prosecutors exercise significant discretion over defendants, with minimal external oversight. Their decision to charge a defendant and their prerogative to select the specific charges are constrained primarily by ethical considerations and internal policies and practices. A similar discretion is evident in their role in seeking plea bargains and making recommendations about bail and post-conviction disposition (such as seeking placement in alternatives to incarceration and diversionary programs). Improved internal monitoring of these decisions may reduce subconscious and institutional racial biases, particularly in regard to African Americans and Latinos, who are statistically overrepresented in U.S. jails and prisons.

Over the course of three years, P&RJ staff will work with the chief prosecutors and their staffs in Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office in North Carolina, the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office in Wisconsin, and the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office in California to track a variety of variables and race-based indicators by adapting internal case management systems to collect this data. After analyzing any emerging patterns indicating possible racial disparities or instances of dissimilar treatment, project staff will help the district attorneys to develop protocols for ongoing review of the data and to implement corrective policies and procedures. As part of this work, P&RJ staff and their partners will work together to build community and professional support for the partners’ efforts to reduce potential bias within the prosecutor’s office and the criminal justice system.

P&RJ staff and their partners will also engage in an ongoing effort to share their experiences and lessons with prosecutors and criminal justice representatives around the nation, encouraging them to undertake similar initiatives in their jurisdictions.

For more about the VERA Project, visit: http://www.vera.org

Free to the public.
Limited Seating

To Register online:
October 9 session
* Reception- 5 to 7:00pm

October 10 session
* Briefing - 8–10:00am

Site Sponsor:
Marquette University Law School
Sensenbrenner Hall
1130 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Last edited by Mary. Based on work by mary.  Page last modified on April 19, 2008

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