Criminal Justice Careers Article -Detroit to Host National Criminal Justice Conference to Address Crisis in U.S. Prison System
The conference will address key issues plaguing the U.S. prison system that continue to produce cycles of mass incarceration, urban violence, and concentrated poverty in communities across the nation.
"This nation has the highest rate of incarceration and prison population in the world. More than two million Americans are locked up, resulting in social and economic costs that are unparallel in our history," said Dr. Curtis L. Ivery, WCCCD Chancellor. "The epidemic of incarceration will take invention and cooperation to solve. This issue affects not only the incarcerated but their families and their children in particular, who are left behind.
"As an educational institution, the Wayne County Community College District is taking a leading role by initiating a dialogue that will bring this dilemma to the forefront through open and candid discussion. We are pleased that Mayor Kilpatrick and the City of Detroit, The Detroit News and WDIV LOCAL-4 have joined us in developing and presenting this conference.
"The 'Rebuilding Lives' conference will include a special session on urban violence designed to develop and implement specific policies that will abate the causes of urban violence afflicting Detroit and related communities throughout the nation. While there are obviously no 'quick-fix' solutions to these problems, attempting to invest more in education and provide more opportunities that offer educational programs, is a crucial starting point," said Ivery.
Panel discussions throughout the day will focus on: Policy Responses to Urban Violence, Law Enforcement and Community Involvement, America: A Nation Imprisoned, An Untenable Economy, Education and Workforce Development and the Politics of Criminal Justice Reform.
The Rebuilding Lives summit is a part of WCCCD's Continuing Education and Workforce Development programs, and is a direct outgrowth of the national "Educational Summit: Responding to the Crisis in Urban America" convened by the College in Detroit in 2002.
Participation is by invitation only. For more information visit http://www.wcccd.edu or to request an invitation to this very important summit, call 313-496-2704.