Date: August 25, 2006
To: The Board of Directors of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference
From: The Commission on Criminal Justice – Bertrand Griffin, Chairman
Re: Report on the Commission on Criminal Justice
The Commission held one of the most recent meetings at the Jetson Center for Youth. It was noted that this institution has become an all male facility and no longer serves female juveniles. As our commission toured the facility it was noted that Jetson still looks like a maximum security prison. We are hopeful of having some input into the further development of a less oppressive atmosphere in this institution and helping to replace helplessness with hopefulness.
The Commission is attempting to get a positive grip on the several set goals for the year. The Moratorium on the death penalty is a continuing challenge both in the legislature as well as in the several religious communities we serve. It is a never ending battle to keep focused on the need for support and passage of legislation that will deal with this most important moral issue.
Slowly but surely the courts and other government agencies are dealing with the void left in the criminal justice system by the lack of funds to support indigent defense of the accused. These along with other post Katrina issues will remain our focus in the coming months.
We the members of the commission on Criminal Justice continually thank the Board of Directors and the Louisiana Interchurch Conference for your unwavering support as we seek to bring the light of morality and justice to bear on some of the many troubled areas of our community. Thank you.
