Campaign Update February, 2009

Reducing the Disproportionate Number of Minority Youth in Detention, Strengthening Working Relationships across the County, and Keeping Our Kids in School

Hello,

I hope you’re well and enjoying these winter months… and, like me, looking forward to spring!

I thank you for your continued interest in the important work of the office of the St. Louis County Attorney. As I head well into my third year in this position, I’d like to share with you my current undertakings.

I’ve recently received approval from the St. Louis County Board to apply for and accept funding for our JDAI (Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative) project for juvenile justice reform. The goal of this endeavor is to reduce the disproportionate number of minority youth who are incarcerated, in the face of research that shows troubled kids only have greater problems if they are in detention. We expect to receive funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Office of Justice Programs to determine how we can keep those youth who are involved in the justice system in their own community and out of detention. The money will help us analyze data, determine needs, and organize stakeholders to find alternatives to detention.

In addition, because of my persistence in finding ways to improve the justice system for people of color, the Annie E. Casey Foundation has invited me to be part of a panel discussion at its national JDAI conference next summer in Washington D.C. I will share information on our project and be part of the panel discussion on how juvenile justice professionals across the country can help reverse the injustice of the unequal incarceration of minority youth.

On other fronts, in my ongoing effort to reach out across St. Louis County I’ve continued to attend many local events, including the recent Arrowhead Peace Officers’ wild game feed in Gilbert. It offered a great opportunity to speak with law enforcement members in our region with whom my office often works.

I’ve also completed my annual rounds of meetings with city police chiefs across the county, in an effort to strengthen our working relationship and make sure we’re meeting those communities’ needs. In addition, I continue to attend the monthly neighborhood crime prevention meetings organized by Neighborhood Housing Services in Duluth.

We’ve also launched our grade school poster project, which is designed to help young children and their families understand the importance of staying in school and attending every day. Research shows a distinct link between truancy and crime, and I believe ensuring that students remain in school is one of the best investments we could make in our children and our communities. In January, I spoke at Cotton Elementary School to fifth and sixth graders on why kids do better when they go to school, and it was great to hear what the students had to say on the subject. The thank you notes I received from the students were heartwarming. Many of them said they would never end up in my office! Sixteen elementary schools from all parts of the county are participating in this project. The students will create posters, and we’ll use twelve of them to create a calendar that will be distributed to families around the county. All children who participate in the project, regardless of whether their posters are selected, will be recognized for their contribution.

Earlier this month, in conjunction with Royal D. Alworth, Jr. Institute for International Studies, my office hosted a reception for three Humphrey Institute International Fellows. The community was invited to take part in conversations on human rights with Elizabeth da Cunha Sussekind, professor of criminology and human rights in Rio de Janeiro; Dr. Maria del Rocio Bermeo Sevilla, past Legal Department Coordinator for Fundacion Familia Integral in Quito, Ecuador; and Juan Carlos Arjona Estevez, Coordinator of the Human Rights Program at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico. They are all legal professionals studying the effects of governmental policies on the indigenous people of the world. As you can imagine, it was a fascinating discussion!

I also attended the Hibbing Area Chamber of Commerce’s recent 104th Annual Dinner, where I was pleased to touch base with legislators on the importance of fully funding the courts in this time of economic uncertainty. And I have just attended a community forum on drugs in Tower, talking with concerned people about the drug problem, particularly prescription drug abuse. I continue, as well, to attend the three to four St. Louis County Board meetings and workshops that take place each month in town halls, council chambers, courthouses, and community centers across St. Louis County.

On a more personal note, my husband Dan and I are about to become host parents to an exchange student from Mexico, as part of the Duluth Rotary Club’s student hosting program. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a teenager in the house!

As you can see, the County Attorney’s office is a busy place. Despite the challenges, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to bring improvement to people and communities across St. Louis County. I look forward to your continued support for these efforts in the coming months and years ahead. And I’ll keep in touch with periodic Updates like this one to give you a view into what’s happening in our office and to ask for your suggestions.

Thank you,

Melanie Ford
St. Louis County Attorney

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