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?
CALVO:
I will work with the Police Director to create a warning system for minor offenders. A centralized database of people falling into this category could be referred to case managers or social workers.
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
The vast majority of criminal cases are misdemeanors, minor offenses and they normally do not require time to be served behind bars.
I will propose a program to:
-No detainment while waiting the final disposition of the case
-Effectively re-routing a number of low-level violations from criminal to civil court
-Reduce court fees if the misdemeanant can provide documentation of a financial hardship
-Pre-Court Diversion: Where police and prosecutors, with the help of other nonprofits, can offer individuals arrested for selected misdemeanors, including shoplifting and trespassing, a chance to avoid going to court altogether. Participants who successfully complete a restorative-justice class with a local social service organization leave the process without a criminal record.
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?
CALVO:
I will advocate and directly work with the Sheriff and the County to have a strong pre-booking diversion program for people with mental illness, including homeless people, minor drug-related offenders, financially related traffic violations such as unpaid tickets. A major focused will be in significantly reducing the school-to-jail pipeline.
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
I will support Pre-booking diversion programs consist of both a law enforcement and social services component for low level drug related offenses. The Pre-booking programs must involve specialized training for police officers, and a crisis drop-off center with a no-refusal policy for persons brought in by the police with suspicions and/or suffering from mental health issues.
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?
CALVO:
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
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?
CALVO:
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
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?
CALVO:
One lost life is too many. I will work to form a task force that includes members from the following bodies: MPD internal affairs, TBI, the Sheriff's office, CLERB, and a City Council member.
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
I would advocate for investigations of deadly force to be reviewed and investigated by CLERB, an independent body that's not associated with the MPD and the District Attorney's office. CLERB would be better able to proceed and reach judgements that are impartial, fair, and equitable for all involved parties.
6. Name 3 steps you would take as a council member to make the Community Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) more effective.
CALVO:
1) Review the qualifications and level of commitment from current CLERB members. 2) Empower CLERB with the ability to subpoena 3)Have a member of the City Council to sit on CLERB.
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
Step 1: Power to issue subpoenas
Step 2: Binding decision making power
Step 3: Providing more resources/funding to allow 2-3 cases to be reviewed per month
7. Would you support policies, programs or initiatives to dismantle the school-to-prison pipeline?
CALVO:
It is imperative to establish an ongoing group of stakeholders who can develop recommendations: Shelby County Schools, parent, and student advocacy groups i.e. Stand for Children and Peace and Justice Center, Juvenile Court, County, and City representatives, MPD and Sheriff. A diverse group will create a constructive debate that can draw strong recommendations. I will be willing to lead or co-lead this effort.
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
I would support the creation of a specialized diverse task force of public officials, school educators/administrators, law enforcement, clergy, parents, local restorative justice non-profit
organizations and the community.
The task force role/responsibilities:
To educate the public on the evolution of the School to Prison Pipeline
Review the statewide school discipline trends and discuss best practices
Consider the impact of disciplinary actions and move to create a continuum of positive supports for all students
Problem solve to create an action plan to support all students
8.What does criminal justice reform mean to you?
CALVO:
The US arrests more people per-capita than any other developed country. The system disproportionally affects people of color and in poverty. Even more alarming is the fact that this approach is not working. In fact, it only makes the problem bigger for those facing the justice system, their families and the community at large. We have to create new ways of dealing with the root cause of the problems and also with alternatives to incarceration.
CANALE: DID NOT RESPOND
JONES:
Criminal justice reform is an effort to change existing errors and disparities in the current criminal justice system, so they operate fairly and equitably.
