Progressive justice in the twenty first century: Part One of a special NPI series
Disclaimer: All posts reflect my own personal views, and mine alone. In my regular job I am a supervising assistant city attorney (aka a prosecutor who is a manager) for the City of Seattle. I also serve as an adjunct professor of law at Seattle University School, teaching a course entitled "Law, Policy & Mental Health.
The views and conclusions expressed in the or any other post under my name reflects my own views and conclusions.
They should not be attributed to the City of Seattle, or any department, agency or division within the City of Seattle, or to Seattle University or any officials, schools, colleges or any other entity within the University.
That doesn't really leave much, other than my own musings, which is all I want to post anyway.
This is the first of a series of posts relating to progressive policy directions designed to ensure public safety proactively and respectfully, implemented by the police, prosecutors, public defenders, and the community.
If you want to see more about my background, so you can assess my credibility, my bio and CV are available from NPI's About section.
And now, let's get to the actual topic for this post.
I am a late-stage baby boomer. My 91-year-old father fought in World War II, and I was born closer in time to the end of that war than to the end of the Vietnam war. My earlier memories of law enforcement consisted of media coverage of the Watts riots in Los Angeles, where I was living, the infamous "Chicago 7" from the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and the tragic shooting during demonstrations at Kent State University. We had a sit-in at my junior high school in 1970, and a sit-in at my law school in 1978. I think I have the credentials to recognize turbulent times for the police and the public at large.
When I tell people what I do for a living, they are often surprised to learn that I am a progressive Democrat.
That amuses me more to no end; I find it deliciously ironic that people whose political beliefs decry pre-judging anyone based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation,etc., are perfectly willing to do so because of my profession.
I have historically been somewhat of an independent - a very liberal Republican or a rather conservative Democrat. Times have changed, and so have the party's platforms, but my progressive values haven't.
I will admit that I voted for Republican Dan Satterberg for County Prosecutor, but that's because I've known him professionally for about eighteen years, and believed (and still believe) that he is the best person for the job.
So what does a politically liberal prosecutor have to say in these posts that is worth your time to read?
For one thing, I've seen a large number of law enforcement agencies up close.
From my days as a Deputy City Attorney prosecuting cases in Los Angeles, I worked with Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the California State Police (a small agency not to be confused with the Highway Patrol in the Golden State), the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, the Los Angeles County Marshal's Office (since merged into the Los Angeles County Sheriff).
From my days up here in Seattle, I've worked with the Seattle Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Seattle Marshal's Office. I've even given a presentation to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I have a lot of experience with the criminal justice system.
What I plan to do over the next several days or weeks is explore some of the cutting edge policing techniques that are progressive, respectful and productive.
I'll introduce the concept of "therapeutic justice" and what that means for Seattle and King County, and I'll discuss the good and the bad.
I'll also describe some community/prosecutor/police programs that are designed to avoid litigation rather than engage in it.
I hope you will find future posts as interesting to read as they will be to write. I probably won't be able to write a new one every day. I'll write as time allows - my first responsibilities are my professional duties and family time, so the posts may come grouped together or spread apart.
Thanks for reading. Look for futur installments in this series in the month ahead.
The views and conclusions expressed in the or any other post under my name reflects my own views and conclusions.
They should not be attributed to the City of Seattle, or any department, agency or division within the City of Seattle, or to Seattle University or any officials, schools, colleges or any other entity within the University.
That doesn't really leave much, other than my own musings, which is all I want to post anyway.
This is the first of a series of posts relating to progressive policy directions designed to ensure public safety proactively and respectfully, implemented by the police, prosecutors, public defenders, and the community.
If you want to see more about my background, so you can assess my credibility, my bio and CV are available from NPI's About section.
And now, let's get to the actual topic for this post.
I am a late-stage baby boomer. My 91-year-old father fought in World War II, and I was born closer in time to the end of that war than to the end of the Vietnam war. My earlier memories of law enforcement consisted of media coverage of the Watts riots in Los Angeles, where I was living, the infamous "Chicago 7" from the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and the tragic shooting during demonstrations at Kent State University. We had a sit-in at my junior high school in 1970, and a sit-in at my law school in 1978. I think I have the credentials to recognize turbulent times for the police and the public at large.
When I tell people what I do for a living, they are often surprised to learn that I am a progressive Democrat.
That amuses me more to no end; I find it deliciously ironic that people whose political beliefs decry pre-judging anyone based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation,etc., are perfectly willing to do so because of my profession.
I have historically been somewhat of an independent - a very liberal Republican or a rather conservative Democrat. Times have changed, and so have the party's platforms, but my progressive values haven't.
I will admit that I voted for Republican Dan Satterberg for County Prosecutor, but that's because I've known him professionally for about eighteen years, and believed (and still believe) that he is the best person for the job.
So what does a politically liberal prosecutor have to say in these posts that is worth your time to read?
For one thing, I've seen a large number of law enforcement agencies up close.
From my days as a Deputy City Attorney prosecuting cases in Los Angeles, I worked with Los Angeles Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the California State Police (a small agency not to be confused with the Highway Patrol in the Golden State), the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office, the Los Angeles County Marshal's Office (since merged into the Los Angeles County Sheriff).
From my days up here in Seattle, I've worked with the Seattle Police Department, the Washington State Patrol, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Seattle Marshal's Office. I've even given a presentation to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I have a lot of experience with the criminal justice system.
What I plan to do over the next several days or weeks is explore some of the cutting edge policing techniques that are progressive, respectful and productive.
I'll introduce the concept of "therapeutic justice" and what that means for Seattle and King County, and I'll discuss the good and the bad.
I'll also describe some community/prosecutor/police programs that are designed to avoid litigation rather than engage in it.
I hope you will find future posts as interesting to read as they will be to write. I probably won't be able to write a new one every day. I'll write as time allows - my first responsibilities are my professional duties and family time, so the posts may come grouped together or spread apart.
Thanks for reading. Look for futur installments in this series in the month ahead.
# Posted by Michael : 12:07 PM
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