Eau Claire will be one of three cities participating in a Wednesday event that will include discussion of a newly-released report on “Mass Supervision in Wisconsin” prepared by the Columbia University Justice Lab.
The Eau Claire program is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation building, 421 S. Farwell St. It will be hosted by JONAH (Joining Our Neighbors, Advancing Hope), a faith-based organization focused on social justice issues.
The event is free and open to the public. Similar events are planned for Milwaukee and Madison on Wednesday by WISDOM, a statewide umbrella organization that includes some 160 congregations from 19 different religious traditions.
JONAH is the local affiliate of WISDOM. David Liners, WISDOM’s state director, will introduce the evening’s schedule.
Report to be released Tuesday
The Justice Lab report, scheduled for release on Tuesday, will be discussed by Frank Davis, the organizer for WISDOM’s Madison affiliate. The Justice Lab, founded in 2017, combines original research with policy development and innovation plus community engagement, toward the goal of changing the justice system.
For an article that deals with the Justice Lab report in more detail, click here.
The Lab’s website says that it works for “community-centered justice, in which incarceration is no longer used as a solution to problems that are often rooted in poverty and racial inequality.” Its report focuses on Wisconsin’s system of mass supervision, concludes that it is being used excessively, and presents “safe, reasonable alternatives,” according to a JONAH press release.
“Mass supervision” refers to the large number of people who are out of prison but are on probation, parole or “extended supervision,” under the control of the state Corrections system. They do not have such basic rights as the opportunity to vote and the right to due process before being punished.
The first half of the evening will also include several local speakers who will describe their experiences while on mass supervision.
Second half programming
The second half of the evening will be devoted to discussions of WISDOM and JONAH issues for 2019, including regional transit authorities, drivers cards for immigrants and funding for alternative treatment options in the criminal justice system.
Members of the Chippewa Valley chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union will talk about the group’s upcoming training sessions for people planning to speak at the State Legislature’s budget hearings or attend the Madison Action Day on Mar. 26. There will also be small group discussions of the various topics, and informational handouts will be available.