Page 348 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

Decriminalize minor drug offenses. This will keep young people out of the CJ System.

Felons who have served their time need to be allowed participation in our democracy – the vote.

They need to become accepted as full citizens with respect. Policing need to change. I am upset

that every time I drive in my community of Mequon I see POC pulled over but no POW! We need

to strengthen the public defender system so all have equal legal representation. My two children

were charged with underage drinking and because I had the resources their records were expunged.

Human trafficking in Milwaukee needs to be stopped.

The economics tell the story. The drop from an 85% employment rate in 1970 to 2010

low rates tells the story of no opportunity. Now we need to work for transitional jobs for those

coming back to society. We need a CCC or WPA for today’s needs. We need to offer a way to

the legal economy to keep people out of the illegal economy. We need policy and legislation that

allows a community that sends fewer people to the CJS to have three benefits: 1//3 of that saved

money is to go to services for mental health and trauma and job training; 1/3 to tax reduction for

taxpayers; and 1/3 to the rural communities where the prisons have been sited for re-training of

prison workers. We need to create social support for those returning to the community. There is a

program in Vermont that does this. Churches and Non-profits can form Circles of Support. We

need to emphasize restorative justice practices over adversarial and punitive practices.

I grew up in an era when POC were considered uncivilized. This was all done in a very

subtle way with the entertainment media. It was a subtle projection. Now racism is more overt.

“Thug” now brings up a racial connotation as does “gangbanger”. This makes people more

insecure and fosters punishment for crime rather than restorative justice. I also recommend the

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