Insanity Defense: Psychopaths

I wanted to share this before we discussed the prison side of the criminal justice system. It's only tangentially related, so I didn't post it as additional reading. I think the article is a good read regardless.

How to spot a psychopath:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/may/21/jon-ronson-how-to-spot-a-psychopath

"I wondered if sometimes the difference between a psychopath in Broadmoor and a psychopath on Wall Street was the luck of being born into a stable, rich family."

7/5 Prisons

Tuesday July 5th, 6:30pm
MU Student Center 2200

Workings of the U.S. Prison System:

The United States Prison System

http://library.thinkquest.org/06aug/00342/The%20Prison%20System.html

Summary of the Findings by the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America’s Prisons

http://prisoncommission.org/pdfs/prison_commission_summary.pdf

Solitary Confinement and its Effects

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/03/30/090330fa_fact_gawande

Masked Racism

http://colorlines.com/archives/1998/09/masked_racism_reflections_on_the_prison_industrial_complex.html

Disproportionate Incarceration of Young Black Women

http://ethnoblog.newamericamedia.org/2011/03/in-post-racial-america-prisons-feast-on-black-girls-1.php

SCOTUS Ruling on Overcrowding in CA Prisons

http://abovethelaw.com/2011/05/supreme-court-upholds-order-requiring-release-of-thousands-of-prisoners/

America’s Addiction to Incarceration

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sam-slovick/addicted-to-incarceration_b_868473.html

Conditions Vary between Lifers and Death Row Inmates

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11179/1156707-53.stm

Alternatives:

Problem-Solving Courts:

http://www.nadcp.org/learn/what-are-drug-courts/models/problem-solving-courts

Drug Courts:

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/campaign/166311-drug-courts-save-lives-tax-dollars

10 Alternatives:

http://www.forbes.com/2006/04/15/prison-justice-alternatives_cx_rd_06slate_0418alter.html

Norwegian Prison System

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1986002,00.html

Flogging?

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/06/20/flogging_interview

Prison Vouchers

http://volokh.com/2011/05/31/prison-vouchers/

10/15 US v. John Brown

United States v. John Brown
October 15th, 7pm, Missouri Theater
Meet outside at 6:45, followed by discussion at Kaldi's coffee

John Brown, renowned 19th Century Abolitionist, led a raid on the pro-slavery settlement of Pottawatomie Creek in the Kansas Territory on May 24, 1856. Five men were dragged from their homes and murdered during the raid. Brown was never tried for these crimes. Until now. Please join us as a jury of your peers decides: was John Brown a freedom loving patriot who wanted equality for all men or was he full of hatred and desire to strike terror in the hearts of his countrymen?
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=168233997328&index=1

John Brown Background

John Brown's Body Hymn

Discussion Questions
1. Can the impact of acts of terror justify their usage in pursuit of higher goals?
2. How do we historicize activism?
3. What are the connections between this and current violent movements? Is the use of violence contextualized by situation?
4. In circumstances of extremely violent oppression, is the use of force permissible? Laudable? Effectual? Can conditions of extremely violent oppression only be effectively undermined by the use of force?
5. If violence is ever appropriate, how do you negotiate such a question of propriety? Is the use of force a concession to the inherently flawed 'ends justify the means' methodology?
6. Is abhorrence of violent activism a product of privilege?

5/28 Legal Justice for Rape Survivors

Meeting: Thursday 5/28, 7pm, Kaldi's Cafe on 9th St

Topic: Legal Justice for Rape Survivors
Please read the first two articles and one article from each category.

Rape Reporting Rates

Is Rape Serious?

Evidence Collection

Missouri State Funding for Rape Evidence Collection

MS Magazine Rape Kit Backlog

Texas: Rape Victims Billed for Evidence Costs

Law Enforcement

CoMO's DOVE unit

Rape Victim Jailed for False Report
Curvature commentary

NYPD Officers Accused of Rape

Legal

California: Rape victims can be forced to take witness stand

False Reports (PDF)
Other Voice Publications

Secondary Victimization of Rape Victims