1.If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you propose programs and/or initiatives to limit the number of arrests for minor offenses in the city?
Walker:
Obsolutely, I am willing to support programs that support alternative sentences. For starters I would love to infuse this with my Adult Literacy Advocacy. I want to test lessor offendors to assess their reading and comprehension levels, and use that as a path to workforce development.
I am a member of Inward Journey, we addres trauma in individual, and we are affliated with a program called BAM (Becoming A Man) in Chicago. There are methods to address the whole person, and lower recidivisim. They methods are adaptable for females as well.
2.If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you support a pre-booking diversion program for drug-related offenses and for those suffering from mental health issues?
Walker:
I would meet with representatives from your organization and others to obtain data to find out the best solution for this. I support steakholders haveing a seat at the table.
3. If elected or re-elected to the city council, will you support a policy to require transparency and democratic accountability before city agencies acquire new surveillance tools?
Walker:
4. If elected or re-elected to the city council will you work to make stop and arrest data, including race and ethnicity data, available to the public quarterly?
Walker:
5. If elected or re-elected to the city council what will you do to ensure a timely, transparent and independent investigation whenever an officer uses deadly force?
Walker:
Meet with the Mayor and police director of be half of my constituients, and insist that they ensure a timely, transparent and independent investigation whenever an officer uses deadly force?
6. Name 3 steps you would take as a council member to make the Community Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) more effective.
Walker:
1) Study the city charter as it relates to CLERB and see what the options are to support my advocacy
2) Advoacte for and figure out how to equip CLERB subpoena power
3) Advocate for more police accountability
7. Would you support policies, programs or initiatives to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline?
Walker:
I along with the other council members should use the triage approach to determine the root cause(s) of the school-to-prison pipeline and implement solutions based on those findings.
I would lead the council in studying exsisting data surrounding this, and aquire the latest stats and proceed from there. I would bring in my cousin Memphian Dr. Byron Eugene Price, who has done considerable research on the school to prison pipeline. He currently works at Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York as a professor of public policy and administration, and has written three books on this subject. He would make a great consultant to help the council craft viable plans and solutions.
Books by Dr. Price..
Merchandizing Prisoners: Who Really Pays for Prison Privatization?
Prison Privatization: The Many Facets of a Controversial Industry
Prison Privatization: The Many Facets of a Controversial Industry [3 Volumes]: The Many Facets of a Controversial Industry
I am a proponent of stakeholders being at the table atleast to be heard. With that being said...I would reach out to your organiztion and others to come to the table and share feedback on what they judge are the causes, and solutions reagarding breaking the school to prison pipeline.
8. What does criminal justice reform mean to you?
Walker:
Reform (Latin: reformo) means the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc. So in the context of criminal justice reform it is making improvment on a number of fronts.
Really the best way to achieve this is...The whole system needs to be done away with and started over. In the meantime, I judge that the reform should be comphrehensive and target policies as well as the whole person. I support policies that offer more opportunities for alternative sentencing.
I want to colaborate with the city and county mayors to address the following...
Reducing harsh prison sentences
Changing the drug sentencing policy surrounding the war on drugs
Decriminalizing certain laws, including drug policies
Prioritizing rehabilitation of offenders, especially our juvenile offenders
Altering policies surrounding food assistance programs and voting rights for previous offenders. Changing minimum sentencing laws