It is absolutely hideous to listen to Senate Republicans talking about public safety in committee hearings when it comes to sentencing guidelines while completely ignoring the fact they don't regulate guns. Wow.
I thought Senator Cornyn made a valuable contribution in noting prisoners released from Texas prisons do so with marketable skills.
Sorry, I have a very difficult time taking seriously those that want to continue to imprison people because it is a less costly alternative to crime in society. Also, the people calling for continued imprisonment as a means to making the American street safer, have no priority to gun control. Call me crazy but I do believe the two go together.
I realize the prisoner release is focused on non-violent offenders. I can't help but wonder what these former prisoners find interesting about the violent culture they now call home. Then there is the realization of the "Dead Black Man Culture" resulting in incarceration of police. I am fairly sure they are at confused by the juxtaposition of police and law in the year 2015.
What also comes to mind is the return of voting rights to those released. The current change in law does not change the reality these former prisoners will not have their voting rights returned to them necessarily.
October 16, 2015
By Mark Kennedy
New York (AP) — The New York City Police Department (click here) is turning to a new tool in its effort to teach its future officers about tolerance and understanding — drama.
The city's Police Academy has added the one-act play "Anne & Emmett" by Janet Langhart Cohen to its recruit training this fall. The play is an imaginary conversation between Anne Frank, who died in a Nazi concentration camp, and Emmett Till, who was killed by racists in Mississippi in 1955.
The play will be performed for some 1,100 recruits at their academy in Queens over two performances on Thursday, part of a push by the department to prepare future police officers to overcome community mistrust and their own bias.
"Sometimes you can't get it in a text book. Sometimes you can't get it in a lecture. But you can get it when human emotions are played live on the stage and that humanity can connect," Cohen said Friday.
"If the play can reach one man or woman with a badge and a gun, I'm happy. Their training can take them only so far. The body cams will only cover so much. At some point, I'm hoping their humanity will kick in and hopefully this play with revive that humanity."...
I thought Senator Cornyn made a valuable contribution in noting prisoners released from Texas prisons do so with marketable skills.
Sorry, I have a very difficult time taking seriously those that want to continue to imprison people because it is a less costly alternative to crime in society. Also, the people calling for continued imprisonment as a means to making the American street safer, have no priority to gun control. Call me crazy but I do believe the two go together.
I realize the prisoner release is focused on non-violent offenders. I can't help but wonder what these former prisoners find interesting about the violent culture they now call home. Then there is the realization of the "Dead Black Man Culture" resulting in incarceration of police. I am fairly sure they are at confused by the juxtaposition of police and law in the year 2015.
What also comes to mind is the return of voting rights to those released. The current change in law does not change the reality these former prisoners will not have their voting rights returned to them necessarily.
October 16, 2015
By Mark Kennedy
New York (AP) — The New York City Police Department (click here) is turning to a new tool in its effort to teach its future officers about tolerance and understanding — drama.
The city's Police Academy has added the one-act play "Anne & Emmett" by Janet Langhart Cohen to its recruit training this fall. The play is an imaginary conversation between Anne Frank, who died in a Nazi concentration camp, and Emmett Till, who was killed by racists in Mississippi in 1955.
The play will be performed for some 1,100 recruits at their academy in Queens over two performances on Thursday, part of a push by the department to prepare future police officers to overcome community mistrust and their own bias.
"Sometimes you can't get it in a text book. Sometimes you can't get it in a lecture. But you can get it when human emotions are played live on the stage and that humanity can connect," Cohen said Friday.
"If the play can reach one man or woman with a badge and a gun, I'm happy. Their training can take them only so far. The body cams will only cover so much. At some point, I'm hoping their humanity will kick in and hopefully this play with revive that humanity."...
Sensitivity training is part of the issues facing police today, but, it is not a 100 percent fix. I think there is a great deal of concern for the prisoner releases. We are asking a lot of our police who serve and protect the public. They are fair demands of the police and their unions should be looking to education as a way of supporting there members as the country moves forward with better sentencing laws.
In the case of New York City, I would expect police and even fire personnel union leadership to be in touch with Commissioner Bratton to find ways to serve the best interest of their members and the public. Unlawful deaths of citizens of any race does not make for a public willing to consider their police as vital members of the community. The unions need to move into a less confrontation profile to one concerned for the community as well.
