Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity
for Criminal Legal System Reform

What We Believe

 

  • MONTHLY MEETINGS
  • Meetings are every first Sunday at 2:30 pm unless otherwise noted. Cookies and coffee at 2:00 pm. See the calendar for the next meeting location!
  • SUPPORT US
  • Click on Give Volunteer & Donate above for more information about giving.

We believe:

  • Racial equity should be achieved across the entire criminal justice system.
  • The criminal justice system should be guided by the use of publicly available data and information for understanding what is happening, for accountability, and for measuring outcomes.
  • Solitary confinement should be eliminated or greatly reduced.
  • Arrests and incarceration should be reduced by having a coordinated system of community treatment for substance abuse, mental health treatment and for people with developmental disabilities.
  • The number of arrests should be reduced along with people initially apprehended by police, but diverted prior to booking.
  • Efforts should be made within the criminal justice system to reduce sentences in ways that do not compromise public safety, but which emphasize rehabilitation, reduce incarceration and include wide ranging systemic reforms such as access to drug treatment, training, and employment to support personal accountability.
  • Dane County should provide resources to those incarcerated to reduce recidivism.
  • The criminal justice system, including the Dane County Jail, should not be used to generate excess revenue source.
  • People charged with crimes or sentenced should be placed in the least restrictive setting possible, while still ensuring reasonable public safety and restorative justice for victims and former offenders.
  • People leaving jail should have supports so that they can change their lives in positive directions.
  • Increased resources will be sought for community treatment for substance abuse, and for people with mental illness, and developmental disabilities.
  • Dane County should build off of its own successful efforts at improving the criminal justice system and should seek out the best evidence-based practices from around the country.
  • Dane County should identify and encourage the implementation of immediate actions that can be taken as well as long-term solutions.
  • Dane County should have a safe and secure environment for those incarcerated.