PANEL ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE & RACIAL PROFILING - COLORADO REPRESENTATIVE DENNIS APUAN/SENATOR JOHN MORSE TOWN HALL MEETING

Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:27:25 -0500
From: dennis@dennisapuan.com
To: profbarber@msn.com
Subject: Town Hall: Criminal Justice and Racial Profiling

Please spread the word to others who may be interested in the information.

Dear neighbors,
We know the criminal justice system in Colorado is not effective when more money is spent on prisons than on higher education.
While walking door to door this summer listening to my constituents, I have heard many of my neighbors express concerns about our criminal justice system and police discrimination. I invite you to join me and State Senate Majority Leader John Morse and me this Saturday for a town hall meeting on this topic. Your opinion counts and I look forward to hearing from you.

Discussion on Colorado's Prison System and Racial Profiling- Saturday

Town Hall meeting with:
State Representative Dennis Apuan (D-Colorado Springs) and State Senate Majority Leader John Morse (D-Colorado Springs)

Criminal Justice and the Colorado Prison System including:
o Racial profiling and police discrimination
o Corrections and the state budget
o Sentencing reform
o An update on the policy recommendations of the Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice

ALL are welcome. There will be an opportunity for Q&A. Bring your questions, your friends, your family and co-workers to discuss issues affecting our community.

WHEN:
Saturday November 21, 2009
11:00 AM-1:00PM

WHERE:
Ruth Holley Public Library
685 North Murray Blvd.
Colorado Springs, 80915

PANEL SPEAKERS:
Ø A Representative from the El Paso County Sherrif's Office
Ø Christie Donner, Executive Director, Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition
Ø Mike Krause, Director of Operations--The Justice Policy Initiative, Independence Institute
Ø Art Way, Racial Profiling and Police Discrimination Hotline Coordinator, Colorado Progressive Coalition

WHY:
· Colorado's prison population has grown 604% since 1980, while the population of the state grew by only 59%.
· The odds of a male born in 2001 going to prison during his lifetime are: 1 in 3 for African Americans, 1 in 6 for Latinos, and 1 in 17 for Caucasians.
· The State of Colorado spends more on corrections than on higher education.
· Colorado is a Balanced Budget state so our state constitution requires that we balance our budget every year. As a result, every $1 spent on corrections is $1 we cannot spend elsewhere.

Tip: Think you may have experienced racial profiling or police discrimination?
The Profiling and Police Discrimination Hotline can assist you in filing a complaint: 1-866-329-0908

Sincerely,
State Representative Dennis Apuan
(303) 866-3069
dennis.apuan.house@state.co.us
www.dennisapuan.com