RICHA'S CRIMINAL JUSTICE HOMEPAGE
Being homeless, against war and other violence, and for personal freedom has brought me into plenty of conflict with the criminal justice system. But also, like most, i've also had reason to want support from that system, having been robbed, raped, assaulted, etc. by people not part of the law enforcement system or the corporate/elite system it largely supports. With that perspective, i've done some research as well as taken various actions to try to influence the direction of the criminal justice system a little bit. To find out more, check out some of the links below.
The first six links are papers i did in 2000, while dealing with multiple arrests here in Grand Rapids essentially for being homeless.
Support Makes the Difference! Personal Experience with getting support and building solidarity while imprisoned, and how that has not just helped me, but contributed to positive change. An edited version was originally printed in Fortune News; this is the full version.
Criminal Record As Job Obstacle. Commentary on recent research on how perceived race and criminal records affect job prospects.
Jail Fees In Kent County. Critiques this controversial practice in my home county.
Criminal Status and Voting in Michigan. An overview, followed by some recommendations.
Some Solutions to Resident Violence in the Community. Taken mostly from several of the earlier papers above, for a forum on community violence in Grand Rapids in 2006 following a series of shootings.
Criminal Justice Quotes. A miscellany of interesting quotes from some of the literature.