Report on the Town Hall Meeting
Citizens for a Safe and Fair Cleveland hosted their first Town Hall Meeting at Trinity Cathedral Commons on September 25, 2008.
With nearly 200 community members in attendance, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the sentencing disparities of drug paraphernalia cases between the city of Cleveland and its neighboring suburbs.
Judge C. Ellen Connally and CSFC Chair James Hardiman provided the opening remarks, which included a summary of the coalition’s origin and the importance of just enforcement practices.
A panel of experts expanded on the impact of these practices. Criminal Justice Consultant Edward Little described the hardships on an individual who is charged with a felony, as opposed to a misdemeanor.
Anne Sowell, of the Center for Community Health at Metro Health Broadway Center, discussed the benefits of substance abuse treatment as an alternative to incarceration.
For the many who are incarcerated on drug paraphernalia cases, there are an equal numbers of family members affected. Cleveland State University Professor Ronnie Dunn talked about the serious issues faced by children of incarcerated parents.
Numerous community members provided solutions to the disparities and showed a deep concern regarding these issues, especially as they affect upcoming generations.
Citizens for a Safe and Fair Cleveland includes the following organizations, as
well as a number of community leaders and stakeholders:
100 Black Men of Greater Cleveland
Cleveland Chapter, NAACP
Cleveland Job Corp Academy
ACLU of Ohio Foundation