October 30, 2015


News Clips For The Day


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/united-states-sends-special-forces-to-syria/

United States sending special forces to Syria
By STEPHANIE CONDON CBS NEWS
October 30, 2015

Play VIDEO -- John Kerry attempts to broker Syria ceasefire in Vienna talks
Play VIDEO -- Sec. of Defense: No timeline for defeating ISIS


The United States is sending a small number of special forces into Syria, expanding the United States' involvement in the fight against ISIS there from the air to the ground.

Less than 50 special operators will be based in Northern Syria, CBS News' Margaret Brennan confirmed Friday morning, to work with groups like Kurdish Peshmerga forces. While this puts boots on the ground, the U.S. does not consider this a combat deployment, the administration says.

"The mission hasn't changed," White House spokesman Josh Earnest insisted to reporters Friday afternoon. "The mission the president announced on September 10,2014 was the mission that the Department of Defense implemented... and that is the mission that remains in place today."

Rather, the addition of a few dozen ground troops in Syria will "further intensify" the elements of the United States' strategy that are working, Earnest said -- namely, assisting local fighters.

Aircraft continue to destroy ISIS targets every day in Iraq and Syria, but as CBS News' David Martin and Elizabeth Palmer reported on Thursday, the Obama administration is frustrated by the glacial rate of progress.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter earlier in the week told Congress about a revamped strategy to fight ISIS, which boils down to "the 'three R's' -- Raqqa, Ramadi and Raids." Specifically, the U.S. military will support Syrian opposition forces as they engage in more aggressive fighting in Raqqa, where ISIS has declared its capital in Syria. And the U.S.-led coalition is also supporting Iraq's security forces in Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province in western Iraq.

The revamped strategy also includes more robust air raids, at a time when Russia is also conducting airstrikes against ISIS in Syria. Carter also suggested stepped up "raids" could include supporting more on-the-ground missions.

"We won't hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against ISIL or conducting such missions directly," Carter told the Armed Services Committee. "Whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground."

Last week, Master Sergeant Joshua Wheeler became the first American killed in action when he was mortally wounded in a raid on an ISIS prison. The United States' stepped-up strategy could increase the risk of American combat casualties.

A White House official stressed to CBS news that the administration has no intention of changing its broader counter ISIS mission to train, advise and assist local partners in the fight. Furthermore, the official said there is no intention of engaging in long-term, large-scale combat operations.

When President Obama announced his counter-ISIS strategy in September 2014, he assured the nation it would not include combat troops on the ground in the region.

"I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan," Mr. Obama said. "It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This counter-terrorism campaign will be waged through a steady, relentless effort to take out ISIL wherever they exist using our air power and our support for partner forces on the ground."

Mr. Obama did not announce the addition of ground troops in Syria himself on Friday because, Earnest said, "The fact is, our strategy in Syria hasn't changed."

"This is an intensification of a strategy the president announced more than a year ago," he reiterated. "These forces do not have a combat mission... This is not in any way an attempt to diminish the risk they will face or the bravery they will need to summon to carry out this mission... They are at risk, and there's no denying that. At the same time, the responsibilities they have there are different."

Earnest said for security reasons he could not elaborate on what the special forces will be doing in Syria.

In addition to sending a few dozen ground forces into Syria, President Obama has authorized a number of additional steps to fight ISIS, a senior administration official says. Those include deploying A-10s and F-15s to the Incirlik airbase in Turkey, consulting with the Iraqi government on the establishment of a Special Operations Force (SOF) task force to target ISIS leaders, and enhancing the United States' counter-ISIS military assistance to Jordan and Lebanon.

The senior administration official said that the White House has "always been clear that this would be a multi-year campaign, and that continues to be the case."

Furthermore, the official stressed that the United States' is not just responding militarily. The U.S. continues to lead a 65-partner coalition that is working to halt the flow of foreign fighters, constrict ISIS's finances, stabilize liberated communities, and counter ISIS's messaging.

This new step was coordinated with Secretary of State John Kerry's trip to Vienna, where he made a diplomatic push for peace in Syria, Margaret Brennan reports. With leaders from nearly 20 nations gathered in Vienna, the Qataris, Saudis and others were informed of the United States' ground presence. However, the Russians have already objected to American troops on Syrian soil without authorization from the Syrian government.

Russia and Iran are two of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's biggest supporters, and the Obama administration reluctantly agreed to bring the Iranians into the discussions for the first time. Both Iran and Russia agreed to go to Vienna to at least talk about a political transition to replace Assad, but there are serious disagreements about when would leave power and whether it would work to the advantage of ISIS if he left too quickly.




“Less than 50 special operators will be based in Northern Syria, CBS News' Margaret Brennan confirmed Friday morning, to work with groups like Kurdish Peshmerga forces. While this puts boots on the ground, the U.S. does not consider this a combat deployment, the administration says. "The mission hasn't changed," White House spokesman Josh Earnest insisted to reporters Friday afternoon. "The mission the president announced on September 10,2014 was the mission that the Department of Defense implemented... and that is the mission that remains in place today." …. Aircraft continue to destroy ISIS targets every day in Iraq and Syria, but as CBS News' David Martin and Elizabeth Palmer reported on Thursday, the Obama administration is frustrated by the glacial rate of progress. Defense Secretary Ash Carter earlier in the week told Congress about a revamped strategy to fight ISIS, which boils down to "the 'three R's' -- Raqqa, Ramadi and Raids." Specifically, the U.S. military will support Syrian opposition forces as they engage in more aggressive fighting in Raqqa, where ISIS has declared its capital in Syria. And the U.S.-led coalition is also supporting Iraq's security forces in Ramadi, the capital of the Anbar province in western Iraq. …. "We won't hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against ISIL or conducting such missions directly," Carter told the Armed Services Committee. "Whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground." …. They are at risk, and there's no denying that. At the same time, the responsibilities they have there are different." Earnest said for security reasons he could not elaborate on what the special forces will be doing in Syria. In addition to sending a few dozen ground forces into Syria, President Obama has authorized a number of additional steps to fight ISIS, a senior administration official says. Those include deploying A-10s and F-15s to the Incirlik airbase in Turkey, consulting with the Iraqi government on the establishment of a Special Operations Force (SOF) task force to target ISIS leaders, and enhancing the United States' counter-ISIS military assistance to Jordan and Lebanon.”


“Mr. Obama did not announce the addition of ground troops in Syria himself on Friday because, Earnest said, "The fact is, our strategy in Syria hasn't changed." Yeah, Right! No, it clearly has changed, and it’s high time. Fighting ISIS is much more like fighting Hitler than like displacing Saddam Hussein just because G W Bush said that he had “tried to kill my Daddy.” Iraq imploded as a result, and ISIS exploded! That was bad strategy. Failing to get rid of ISIS will be worse strategy, however. That group will become a true danger to all Western areas, or at any rate it has stated that as their goal. Putin said he wants to kill them before they get to Russia, and we are all in the same situation. Failing to acknowledge it will merely make it worse. So this move to send in some specialized troops to assist the Kurds, and of course the anti-Assad forces as well, is much needed in my view; this is a matter of tit for tat in regard to the Russians, but they do seem to have settled in with an aim of establishing a permanent and more overt presence in the Middle East and Europe. We need to do some pushing back against Putin, because he just gets more aggressive if we don’t. In the ‘50s, and following, I got very tired of the Cold War, but there is a basic competition between “them and us,” which will not entirely go away just because we want it to. Same with China, also. It would be nice if we would set up an active network of positive relations between the various groups to counteract the building fear and hostility. We were cooperating very nicely for 20 or 30 years there, and I think we should make serious efforts toward that again. Who will we partner in the space programs, if not for Russia? We must remember that the Third World War may very possibly be a nuclear war, and mankind can literally be driven down to a lower cultural level or even exterminated. Are you ready for the New Dark Ages?





http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/10/30/453166981/rnc-suspends-nbc-debate-partnership-citing-cnbcs-gotcha-questions

RNC Suspends Debate With NBC, Citing CNBC 'Gotcha' Questions
Amita Kelly
OCTOBER 30, 2015

Photograph -- CNBC debate moderators (left-right) Carl Quintanilla, Becky Quick and John Harwood were widely panned for their questions. The RNC is the latest critic, calling them "inaccurate or downright offensive."
ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images

The Republican National Committee says it will suspend a debate partnership with NBC News, citing "inaccurate or downright offensive" questions during Wednesday night's debate on CNBC.

"We simply cannot continue with NBC without full consultation with our campaigns," RNC Chair Reince Priebus wrote in a letter to NBC Chairman Andrew Lack.

An NBC News debate was scheduled to take place on February 26, 2016 at the University of Houston, and was to be cosponsored by National Review and Telemundo. It's is the only GOP debate scheduled with a Spanish-language media cosponsor, which could invite backlash as the party has struggled to improve its relationship with Latinos. The RNC said it still plans to hold a debate on that day and will include National Review; it did not specifically address Telemundo, which is also owned by NBC Universal.

Priebus' letter continued:

"While debates are meant to include tough questions and contrast candidates' visions and policies for the future of America, CNBC's moderators engaged in a series of "gotcha" questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates. What took place Wednesday night was not an attempt to give the American people a greater understanding of our candidates' policies and ideas."

CNBC is owned by NBC Universal, as is NBC News, but the networks have separate editorial operations and are headquartered in separate locations. The RNC acknowledged that NBC News does not control CNBC, but said "the network is an arm of your organization, and we need to ensure there is not a repeat performance."

NBC News said it would work "in good faith" to resolve the situation:

"This is a disappointing development. However, along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party."

Priebus wrote the RNC will suspend the partnership "pending further discussion between the [RNC] and our presidential campaigns."

Several of those campaigns are scheduled to meet on Saturday, reportedly without the RNC, to discuss the debate process and how they could have more control over it. Politico reported that the meeting was organized by advisers to the Donald Trump, Ben Carson, Bobby Jindal and Lindsey Graham campaigns.




‘It's is the only GOP debate scheduled with a Spanish-language media cosponsor, which could invite backlash as the party has struggled to improve its relationship with Latinos. The RNC said it still plans to hold a debate on that day and will include National Review; it did not specifically address Telemundo, which is also owned by NBC Universal. …. "While debates are meant to include tough questions and contrast candidates' visions and policies for the future of America, CNBC's moderators engaged in a series of "gotcha" questions, petty and mean-spirited in tone, and designed to embarrass our candidates. …. NBC News said it would work "in good faith" to resolve the situation: "This is a disappointing development. However, along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party."


"We simply cannot continue with NBC without full consultation with our campaigns," RNC Chair Reince Priebus wrote in a letter to NBC Chairman Andrew Lack.” That sounds as if they don’t get to approve the questions ahead of time, they won’t play. I don’t know which questions they considered “offensive,” but some highly combative questions and statements are made every time politicians go head to head. That’s the nature of the game, and it is a game. They’ve pulled more “dirty tricks” in the game down through the years than the Democrats, just as a matter of course, so I can’t believe they are “whining” like this. I usually end up feeling that the Dems haven’t hit them hard enough rather than being “too rough.” Just listen to Donald Trump and some of the FOX crowd. See the article below on Carson’s view of “gotcha questions.”



http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/10/29/ben-carson-wants-format-changes-after-gotcha-debate/

Ben Carson Wants Debate Changes, Citing ‘Gotcha’ Questions
WASHINGTON WIRE
By Janet Hook
Oct 29, 2015

Video: GOP Debate Theme: Candidates Attack Media


LAKEWOOD, Colo. – Ben Carson, angered by the tone of Wednesday’s GOP presidential debate in Boulder, said Thursday he is reaching out to other candidates to seek a change of format in future debates.

Mr. Carson, the retired neurosurgeon who has risen to the top of many GOP polls in recent weeks, objected to what he called “gotcha” questions from moderators, echoing complaints made in the course of the debate by Sen. Ted Cruz and other candidates.

“Debates are supposed to be established to help the people know the candidates… what their philosophy is,” Mr. Carson told reporters before a morning appearance at Colorado Christian University. “What it’s turned into is a ‘gotcha’ opportunity to cast candidates in a negative light.

“That’s silly. That’s not really helpful.”

The debate at the University of Colorado, sponsored by CNBC, at times lapsed into a shouting match among candidates and between the candidates and the moderators. Responding to questions pressing candidates to respond to criticisms of them or inviting them to comment on their competitors, the candidates frequently bridled and sidestepped questions to deliver their stump speeches.

The GOP audience often reacted in support of candidates’ complaints, booing questions they considered unfairly laden with negative presuppositions. Mr. Cruz lashed out against the tone by saying, “The questions asked so far in this debate illustrate why Americans don’t trust the media… this is not a cage match.”

Responding to complaints about the debate, a CNBC spokesman responded Wednesday night, “People who want to be president of the United States should be able to answer tough questions.”

Candidates had already begun bridling at debate format after the second event last month. In advance of the CNBC debate Mr. Carson, Donald Trump and other candidates demanded that they be allowed to make opening statements and that the debate not run three hours, as the second debate in Simi Valley, Calif., had.

Mr. Carson said, in a press conference before addressing an audience of more than 1,500 on campus here, said he had asked his staff to contact all other candidates, saying he would rather have a format that gave candidates more of an “opportunity to be able to lay our your plan for something, then be questioned about it.”

He said he hoped the debate would turn into “a very important moment in American politics. It so clearly demonstrates the need for a change in format.”

He stopped short of threatening to boycott future debates if they are not changed to his liking.

“We will always have the conversation first,” he said. “I don’t see any reason whatever right now to be posturing.

The next GOP candidate debate is scheduled to be held Nov. 10 in Milwaukee, sponsored by The Wall Street Journal and Fox Business News.

More From the Debate

Noisy GOP Debate Leaves Republican Race Unsettled

Candidates Fight to Stand Out

Bush-Rubio Fight Breaks Into Open



http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/10/rnc-disinvites-nbc-from-future-debate.html

GOP Suspends NBC Debate Because Questions Might Be Too Hard
By Jaime Fuller
October 30, 2015


A few days after the CNBC presidential debate — which the GOP campaigns called "horrendous," "stupid," and "ridiculous" — the Republican National Committee has decided to suspend its plans to let NBC News host a debate on February 26.

"The CNBC network is one of your media properties, and its handling of the debate was conducted in bad faith," RNC chair Reince Priebus wrote in a letter to NBC and Telemundo. "We understand that NBC does not exercise full editorial control over CNBC’s journalistic approach. However, the network is an arm of your organization, and we need to ensure there is not a repeat performance." National Review was scheduled to co-host the debate; the RNC plans on continuing to work with the conservative magazine. NBC released a statement saying it would "work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party."

What took place Wednesday night was not an attempt to give the American people a greater understanding of our candidates’ policies and ideas."

He did not add that the American people would have also gained a fuller portrait of the candidates' ideas if they had not evaded, ignored, or lied in response to many of the actual policy questions they were asked, and he didn't note that the idea that a "gotcha" question includes the entire universe of queries that could point out the weaknesses of a campaign is a disputed one. He also did not explain whether the fact that his party's candidates were not able to correctly answer the first question of the debate — What is your biggest weakness? — disqualified them from being able to complain about debate etiquette.

This isn't the first time a party has broken up with a network before a debate; in 2007, the Nevada Democratic Party canceled a Fox News presidential debate after Roger Ailes made a joke about Obama and Osama bin Laden.

This is also not the first time that candidates have complained about moderators asking questions they'd rather not have to answer. When candidates feel like they did lousy, it's much easier to blame the media than yourself — and given the general public's feelings on the press, it's usually the easiest, "Hey, look over there!" con to get away with.

Ben Carson and Donald Trump, neither of whom have much policy experience, have bugged networks about having more time to give opening statements — or, rather, a chance to regurgitate the same positive promises to make everything great and beautiful without explaining the places where reality might limit their ambition. Helping voters learn where campaign promises don't make sense or how a candidate could fail is one of the responsibilities for a moderator — and since candidates have no interest in revealing these things, it leaves both at an impasse, complaining about each other until the end of time.

Even when candidates start to drop out at a quicker pace — getting rid of the complaints about speaking time and holding a separate forum for those low in the polls — candidates still aren't going to like answering hard questions or ones that don't make them look good, despite desperately wanting a job where they will have to answer a ridiculous number of difficult questions on a daily basis, and breaking up with certain news organizations isn't going to make them go away.




“The debate at the University of Colorado, sponsored by CNBC, at times lapsed into a shouting match among candidates and between the candidates and the moderators. Responding to questions pressing candidates to respond to criticisms of them or inviting them to comment on their competitors, the candidates frequently bridled and sidestepped questions to deliver their stump speeches. …. In advance of the CNBC debate Mr. Carson, Donald Trump and other candidates demanded that they be allowed to make opening statements and that the debate not run three hours, as the second debate in Simi Valley, Calif., had. …. saying he would rather have a format that gave candidates more of an “opportunity to be able to lay out your plan for something, then be questioned about it.” He said he hoped the debate would turn into “a very important moment in American politics. It so clearly demonstrates the need for a change in format.” He stopped short of threatening to boycott future debates if they are not changed to his liking.”

I had hoped that one of these articles would name some of the “offensive” questions. Personally, I have always considered “What is your greatest weakness,” to be highly offensive when I’ve had it on job interviews. I read an article on such matters, and the writer stated that his answer to that question is always, “I’m too honest.” It is true, of course that some honesty has to be sacrificed in getting along peacefully with others, especially bosses.

Several of the candidates wanted more time to make a straightforward statement; and after all, a lawyer always get an opening and closing statement. I think that is a reasonable desire, though they shouldn’t spend more than maybe 5 minutes on such statements. It gets boring fast, and takes up time that is assigned to other candidates. It’s not, after all, supposed to be a political speech. It’s a study in contrasts at its best, in my opinion.

I noted that some of the candidates are described as being “noisy” and entering into combative behavior – “more heat than light,” as some folks like to say. If that were really a fair criticism rather than a part of the human norm when comparing political viewpoints, there would be no debates at all for fear of being seen as overly aggressive, and I would miss them. Speeches are good, position papers are good, but a certain amount of disputation in important issues is necessary. That’s what I like about Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton. What the Republicans tend to criticize Obama for is being too gentle as he makes his comments. When he raises his voice slightly the press calls him “angry.” They just want to criticize him no matter what he does. I’ll bet he’s sitting back watching this upset among barnyard hens right now, enjoying the fact that he doesn’t have to run again.




CRIMINAL JUSTICE -- THREE ARTICLES


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/6000-prisoners-released-early-under-new-federal-rules/

6,000 prisoners being released early under new federal rules
CBS NEWS
October 30, 2015


More than 6,000 prisoners will be released into their communities over the next several days as part of the federal government's retroactive sentencing reductions for nonviolent drug offenders, CBS News correspondent Paula Reid reports.

Under the program, about 50,000 prisoners serving time for low-level offenses are eligible for a sentence reduction and early release. The federal sentencing reductions officially went into effect Friday.

Of the 6,122 inmates currently being released, 1,764 are non-citizens who will be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for possible deportation.

The average prison sentence of inmates getting a reduction is 10.5 years, Reid reports. The average sentence reduction is 2 years and 77 percent of the inmates being released into communities are already in half-way houses or home confinement.

Up to 40,000 more prisoners may be eligible for early release under this program.

Announcing the new rules last year, then-Attorney General Eric Holder said the Justice Department supported a "balanced approach" to reduce sentences for certain inmates.

"This is a milestone in the effort to make more efficient use of our law enforcement resources and to ease the burden on our overcrowded prison system," Holder said at the time.

In July, the White House announce that President Obama had commuted the prison sentences of 46 nonviolent drug offenders.



http://www.cbsnews.com/news/clinton-proposing-criminal-justice-system-reforms/

Clinton proposing criminal justice system reforms
By HANNAH FRASER-CHANPONG CBS NEWS
October 30, 2015

Photograph -- Hillary Clinton listening to question from audience at campaign town hall meeting in Keene, New Hampshire on October 16, 2015 REUTERS


BOSTON -- Hillary Clinton will roll out two proposals to reform the criminal justice system Friday in Atlanta, where she is set to launch "African Americans for Hillary" with two campaign events.

According to a campaign aide, Clinton will first propose setting equal sentencing rules for crack and powder cocaine offenses.

Under the Fair Sentencing Act, passed in 2010, the amounts of crack cocaine and powder cocaine that trigger the same mandatory minimum sentences are very different. According to the Justice Department, an offender trafficking 18 times as much powder cocaine as one trafficking crack cocaine would receive the same five- and 10-year mandatory minimum prison terms.

Clinton will say Friday the disparity is based on faulty assumptions about cocaine, and disproportionately affects the African American community.

Second, Clinton will say that, as president, she would support legislation to ban racial profiling by law enforcement officials at the federal, state and local levels.

Clinton laid out her broad agenda for criminal justice reform in one of the first major speeches of her campaign, in April at Columbia University in New York, where she promised to "end the era of mass incarceration." In her remarks, Clinton also called for nationwide use of body cameras by police departments.

She is often asked about her proposals on the campaign trail.

On Thursday, while campaigning in New Hampshire, Clinton said she wants to "revisit" sentencing rules for low-level offenders and offenders who face addiction.

"We need to figure out how to have more diversionary programs for those who deserve it," Clinton said, "and we have to have more supportive services."

Clinton will make additional criminal justice system reform proposals in coming days, according to the aide.



6000 – “More than 6,000 prisoners will be released into their communities over the next several days as part of the federal government's retroactive sentencing reductions for nonviolent drug offenders, CBS News correspondent Paula Reid reports. Under the program, about 50,000 prisoners serving time for low-level offenses are eligible for a sentence reduction and early release. The federal sentencing reductions officially went into effect Friday. …. The average prison sentence of inmates getting a reduction is 10.5 years, Reid reports. The average sentence reduction is 2 years and 77 percent of the inmates being released into communities are already in half-way houses or home confinement. Up to 40,000 more prisoners may be eligible for early release under this program. …. "This is a milestone in the effort to make more efficient use of our law enforcement resources and to ease the burden on our overcrowded prison system," Holder said at the time.”

Holder praises it for its’ “efficiency,” but to me it’s a sign that a true and ongoing situation of unfairness has been occurring for a long time in this country, and I feel fairly sure that many of those overcharged prisoners were black or Hispanic. It was during Bill Clinton’s presidency that the “three strikes” rule went through, and I wish that Clinton had refused to sign it. Some of the people caught in that one simply hadn’t committed a really severe crime, and yet even now rapists are getting out in a few years’ time as though they were all “just good old boys having fun.” Whatever the reason, I am glad that more people will get out and try to make a life for themselves again. I hope that they will all get some mental health support, job training, etc. It’s hard to start over when the community at large tends to judge them harshly, adding to their burdens. Thank goodness for halfway houses.

HILLARY – “According to a campaign aide, Clinton will first propose setting equal sentencing rules for crack and powder cocaine offenses. Under the Fair Sentencing Act, passed in 2010, the amounts of crack cocaine and powder cocaine that trigger the same mandatory minimum sentences are very different. …. Second, Clinton will say that, as president, she would support legislation to ban racial profiling by law enforcement officials at the federal, state and local levels. Clinton laid out her broad agenda for criminal justice reform in one of the first major speeches of her campaign, in April at Columbia University in New York, where she promised to "end the era of mass incarceration." In her remarks, Clinton also called for nationwide use of body cameras by police departments. …. "We need to figure out how to have more diversionary programs for those who deserve it," Clinton said, "and we have to have more supportive services." Clinton will make additional criminal justice system reform proposals in coming days, according to the aide.”

I’m glad to see Hillary coming out strongly on Justice issues, because we have gradually decreased the fairness of our treatment of criminals, with less and less emphasis on REHABILITATION rather than merely punishment. That was made policy under Richard Nixon’s Law and Order campaign, and has remained the hue and cry of the Rightist factors in our country. They have become worse and worse as time goes by. They know nothing but anger, or so it seems, and I hope Hillary can do some concrete things to improve the situation. It is especially a problem that the racial profiling has too often ended in policemen rounding up “the usual suspects” with the result that they are often black. As many white men are violent and dangerous as are blacks.

I understand that police are under pressure from the public to arrest somebody for heinous crimes, but they still shouldn’t take the intellectual shortcut of grabbing a convenient black man who looks like a tough guy without any real proof of his guilt. It’s laziness, as often as not. The same goes for browbeating them physically or mentally to force a “confession” that is nothing more than a lie made because the pressure from cops was too extreme. There is a certain kind of person who will simply cave in under pressure and will say anything to get the harassment over and done. The more people like that who can be kept out of the prison system, the better.





http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/10/30/452910812/what-if-every-high-school-had-a-justice-program-instead-of-a-cop

What If Every High School Had A 'Justice Program' Instead Of A Cop?
Eric Westervelt, Education Correspondent
OCTOBER 30, 2015

This week's viral videos of a Columbia, S.C., deputy's push-the-chair-over-and-drag-the-student arrest of a 16-year-old high school girl in her classroom has refocused attention on the expanding role of police in schools, "zero tolerance" discipline policies and the disproportionate punishment of minorities. The student in the case was African-American and the deputy, Ben Fields, is white.

The Richland County sheriff, Leon Lott, fired Fields on Wednesday. Witnesses say the student was disruptive and refused to leave the classroom. "What she did doesn't justify what our deputy did," Lott said. "He should not have thrown the student."

An attorney for Fields has said the deputy's actions were "justified and lawful."

NPR Ed has done lots of reporting on the racial gap in school discipline, including stories here, here and here. We've also written extensively about alternative discipline policies in schools. NPR's Code Switch team has also covered the topic.

We've also reported on the growing number of alternatives that seek to move school discipline away from approaches centered on punishment and law enforcement. As my earlier visit to an Oakland, Calif., middle school shows, district programs that bring students, teachers and parents together to talk through discipline problems offer one such alternative. These "restorative justice" programs — when done right — can often work wonders.



“This week's viral videos of a Columbia, S.C., deputy's push-the-chair-over-and-drag-the-student arrest of a 16-year-old high school girl in her classroom has refocused attention on the expanding role of police in schools, "zero tolerance" discipline policies and the disproportionate punishment of minorities. …. The Richland County sheriff, Leon Lott, fired Fields on Wednesday. Witnesses say the student was disruptive and refused to leave the classroom. "What she did doesn't justify what our deputy did," Lott said. "He should not have thrown the student." …. We've also reported on the growing number of alternatives that seek to move school discipline away from approaches centered on punishment and law enforcement. As my earlier visit to an Oakland, Calif., middle school shows, district programs that bring students, teachers and parents together to talk through discipline problems offer one such alternative. These "restorative justice" programs — when done right — can often work wonders.

In my opinion, there shouldn’t be police officers in schools at all, and above all they shouldn’t be administering “discipline.” That’s the job of the teacher and principal and perhaps some mental health counsellors. Why not employ them in the school system rather than police? Let’s face it, police very rarely have any of the qualifications needed for them to be effective in dealing with students. Throwing that girl around like he did was senseless and vicious. Maybe he is non compos mentis in addition.

The following article on the concept of “restorative justice” makes much more sense than an armed, bored and dangerous cop. It looks to me like another form of group therapy, and such things can produce real emotional and mental changes in students who have begun to “go astray.” Beating them up is a lot less effective than convincing them to try to do better. Group therapy is a very good tool. One of the problems those kids have is that they don’t stop and think about what their impulses are telling them to do, and they get involved in a negative way with school authorities. The 2014 article below by the same article is very impressive. I would like to see this employed in all schools, and why not in prisons and jails also, while we’re at it?



Westervelt’s 2014 Story On Restorative Justice:

An Alternative To Suspension And Expulsion: 'Circle Up!'

Photograph -- A restorative justice circle at Edna Brewer Middle School in Oakland, Calif., Sam Pasarow/Edna Brewer Middle School
Photograph -- The circle sessions are designed to resolve conflicts and build school community, Sam Pasarow, Edna Brewer Middle School

One by one, in a room just off the gym floor at Edna Brewer Middle School in Oakland, Calif., seventh-graders go on the interview hot seat.

Some 80 students have applied to be "peer leaders" in the school's new, alternative discipline program called "restorative justice."

Kyle McClerkins, the program's director, grills them on aspects of adolescent life: "What is the biggest challenge for middle school girls? What has changed about you from sixth grade to now?"

'Restorative Justice' A New Approach To Discipline At School

This school and the Oakland Unified School District are at the forefront of a new approach to school misconduct and discipline. Instead of suspending or expelling students who get into fights or act out, restorative justice seeks to resolve conflicts and build school community through talking and group dialogue.

Its proponents say it could be an answer to the cycle of disruption and suspension, especially in minority communities where expulsion rates are higher than in predominantly white schools.

Oakland Unified, one of California's largest districts, has been a national leader in expanding restorative justice. The district is one-third African-American and more than 70 percent low-income. The program was expanded after a federal civil rights agreement in 2012 to reduce school discipline inequity for African-American students.

At Edna Brewer Middle School, the fact that students are taking the lead — that so many want to be part of this effort — shows that it's starting to take root.

"Instead of throwing a punch, they're asking for a circle, they're backing off and asking to mediate it peacefully with words," says Ta-Biti Gibson, the school's restorative justice co-director. "And that's a great thing."

Last school year — the program's first year — Gibson says, kids weren't ready to talk things out. "Last year there was a lot of different conflicts, a lot of fights."

This year, he says, they're more willing to "circle up."

The school tried this alternative discipline approach a few years ago. But problems with teacher buy-in, training and turnover killed it before it got off the ground.

And it's still a big work in progress, says Principal Sam Pasarow. "I believe our staff is struggling with restorative justice because they might feel at times a consequence didn't come down on a student when it should have."

A jury of 9th-graders is sworn in at a "teen court" session in Michigan.
NPR ED
New Approaches To Discipline Strive To Keep Kids Out Of Jail

Education Secretary Arne Duncan, right, and Attorney General Eric Holder, appeared at a Washington, D.C., elementary school and said schools need to reduce "unnecessary and unfair school discipline practices and other barriers to equity and opportunity at all levels of education."
CODE SWITCH

Black Preschoolers Far More Likely To Be Suspended
Districtwide, Oakland says the approach is working. The district says new, as-yet unpublished research shows the percentage of students suspended at schools that have fully adopted the program has dropped by half, from 34 percent in 2011-12 to just 14 percent in the following two years.

They say the data show chronic absence is down dramatically and graduation rates are up at restorative-justice schools, and that at two sites last year the disproportionate discipline of African-American students was eliminated.

Several other urban districts are trying some version of the approach, among them: Chicago; Minneapolis; Palm Beach County, Fla.; and Denver.

But there is no real agreement, yet, on how best to implement these kinds of programs, says Trevor Fronius, who's researching the trend with WestEd, a national nonprofit education research and development agency.

Objects that represent concepts and ideas are placed on a mat in the middle of the circle.

Sam Pasarow, Edna Brewer Middle School:
"Most programs involve dialogue and some form of talking circle," he says. "But there are a wide variety of types, and there's no consensus yet on best practices."

Fronius adds that it's not clear that anyone is tracking just how many U.S. school districts are doing restorative justice "in a serious way."

Teacher Concerns

At Edna Brewer, Principal Pasarow says he's trying to work with the handful of remaining teachers who have yet to embrace the approach: those who think it's not their job to lead talking circles when kids misbehave.

Some teachers, he says, have told him, "I don't know how to teach circle, and I don't know how to have deep conversations about my feelings and emotions with students." Pasarow says he understands the concern and thinks it's a valid one, but he points out that the program "is not group therapy; it's community-building."

But some critics say it is pretty close to group therapy, and they worry that some kids might think they can rig the system and get away with behaving badly if they talk about their feelings.

Teachers "have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable" to make it work, McClerkins says.

Students here say the "harm circle" talks do come with consequences — that's the restorative part — including school community service, apologies, public acknowledgement of their bad behavior and more.

At lunchtime, I asked some students if they'd seen any difference this year in terms of school culture, discipline and community.

"They're not as judgmental," 13-year-old Kweko Power says of her classmates.

Her friend Eva Jones, 12, agrees. She says there have been fewer hurtful rumors and fights, and there has been less gossip. "It seems easier now to, like, make friends with people, because people are less angry and defensive. It's just way easier," she says.

Last year, "there was, like, a lot of fights — like, every other week there was a fight. And now there's, like, a fight once per year. "

Well ... not quite.

About a half-hour later, I hear some yelling. In the gym, pushing and verbal sparring has descended into a full-blown fistfight between a seventh-grade boy and an eighth-grade girl.

The program's director, McClerkins, has pinned the boy to the gym floor.

Students congregate outside at Edna Brewer Middle School. The hope of restorative justice is that dialogue builds trust and community and reduces the need for suspensions and expulsions.i
Students congregate outside at Edna Brewer Middle School. The hope of restorative justice is that dialogue builds trust and community and reduces the need for suspensions and expulsions.
Courtesy of Terri Phelan
After the students are pulled apart and people calm down, the restorative justice process kicks in.

Encouraging Dialogue

After a weekend "cooling off" time, the school schedules what they call a "harm circle." Both of the students — the eighth-grader, Briona, and the seventh-grader, Rodney — must attend. The school has asked us not to use their full names.

At first blush, the circle session looks a little California flaky: teachers, parents and the students sit in a circle of desks. On a small stand in the middle sit a rock, feather, candle and water jar — representing earth, air, fire and water.

Rodney's mom, Tozma, sets the tone early on.

"I be worried about Rodney," she tells the group. "He's tall for his age, and a lot of stuff happens to black boys. And I try to get that across to him."

Tozma is raising her son on her own, and tells the circle that she's deeply worried about where he's headed. He has an anger problem, she says, and she's tried to get him counseling.

"Talk to Rodney like he your own son," she says. "I'm not the kind of parent who's gonna argue with you about chastising my son, because I want him to be here. I don't want him to be in jail."

Then Briona's mom, Marshae, looks at Rodney and, with a mix of gentle reprimand and warning, talks about her own son.

"He used to go to counseling and they'd say, 'Oh, he's angry.' But he knew you don't hit a female." Her son was an athlete in track and football, but now, "he's in jail," she says. "He just turned 18 in jail. You don't want to go there," Marshae says.

This kind of communication is central to alternative discipline. Here are two mothers sharing fear and worry about raising kids through hard times in a tough neighborhood.

It's not a he said/she said breakdown of a fight. The hope is that dialogue builds trust and community and reduces the need for suspensions and expulsions.

McClerkins tells the students, who are both African-American, "you already have a lot against you and it has nothing to do with what you've done good or bad. There is wisdom in this circle that can help you navigate this. Stay close to it as you get older, and listen. Really listen."

Eventually, the circle does get around to the fight on Friday and who did what.

Rodney shows some remorse with a whispered apology. But his mom is not satisfied and wants to know what's going to change.

"What do you plan on doing to make sure these kinds of incidents don't happen again?" she asks.

Rodney pauses. He thinks for a moment and answers in a quiet voice. "Like, I don't play with people and stuff, I won't horseplay and stuff like that."

Then Briona admits she helped instigate by yanking his backpack and teasing.

The school's restorative justice co-director, Ta-Biti Gibson, reminds Briona, who runs track, how much she has improved this year in sports and in class. "I think about your future," he says, "I talk with you about college."

Her mother tells her to "really learn from this" and "pick your battles."

It's agreed as a group that the two students will have to write and post anti-bullying posters and do after-school service. And they'll have to do joint morning announcements offering tips on how students can get along better.

Rodney's mom ends the meeting by thanking the group. "He really don't have a man voice at home," she says, "so I appreciate everybody. And just keep working with my child."

Rodney responds, too. "I appreciate my mom for not giving up on me."

As the circle breaks up, Briona's father, Al, tells Rodney: "I can tell your mom will never give up on you."




“At lunchtime, I asked some students if they'd seen any difference this year in terms of school culture, discipline and community. "They're not as judgmental," 13-year-old Kweko Power says of her classmates. Her friend Eva Jones, 12, agrees. She says there have been fewer hurtful rumors and fights, and there has been less gossip. "It seems easier now to, like, make friends with people, because people are less angry and defensive. It's just way easier," she says.” It’s amazing how many of the school behavior problems are being “cured” by this rational and gentle approach, and the general hostility that too often occurs is being eased.

This is praise enough, to me, though it comes from a 13 year old and not from a college professor. I am impressed by this technique. It gives me hope for the schools. I hope it will be adopted as a technique across the country. Of course there were those hold outs mentioned by the principal who didn’t think it was “their job” to learn how to lead groups if they don’t already know how. I do believe it is very much “their job” to deal with these students as WELL as possible. If they need to learn some counselling skills, I think it’s time they be required to develop some interpersonal relations, which is what this technique actually is.