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

News and Commentary

This page displays timely announcements, news reports, and articles written by MOSES members previously published in our newsletters, yearbook, or venues. Signed articles offer information and interpretations to support advocacy, but are not official MOSES positions. Links to official MOSES position statements may be found on this page.  The main display shows all items with the most recent first. You can select particular topics, working groups, or types of information to see the articles of one type, with the most recent first. Also see the Publications & Resources page for links to whole newsletters and yearbooks as well as other resources for research.

“FROM ASHES TO BEAUTY” TELLS STORIES WE NEED TO KNOW

by | Oct 9, 2023 | ,

"FROM ASHES TO BEAUTY" TELLS STORIES WE NEED TO KNOW   By Sherry Reames     On Oct. 12, Madison's First Congregational UCC hosted the showing of a short documentary that deserves a much wider audience than the few dozen people who showed up on that rainy evening. This locally made film, "From Ashes to Beauty: Stories after Incarceration," is narrated in part by Deb Mejchar, whose prison experience inspired her subsequent career as a chaplain ministering to prisoners and former prisoners....

Racially Coded Political Ads

by | Mar 18, 2023 |

The racial equity topic for March  takes us back several months ago, during the political campaign between Senator Ron Johnson and then Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes. If you saw any of the TV ads or heard any of the radio ads from Ron Johnson, you already know they became increasingly focused around Barnes wanting to “defund the police and release violent felons without bail”.  These statements, of course, were not true and instead were pulled out of context and reassembled for Johnson’s...

Critical Race Theory Explainer

by | Jul 21, 2021 | , , ,

  This was written in July 2021 by  Pam Oliver MOSES members have expressed concern about the current controversy around critical race theory. Some people have heard things that sound quite upsetting, such as children being required to identify with a particular race or being told that they have to announce/denounce their privilege. Right-wing media, politicians, and clergy are claiming that "critical race theory" is a moral threat to the nation, and there have been bills introduced in...

Lunch and Learn with Myra McNair May 2021

by | May 14, 2021 | , , ,

Myra McNair is a Marriage and Family Therapist, and Trauma Specialist and owner of Anesis Therapy. She discusses trauma as a root cause of incarceration, therapy for traumatized children, and Anesis Therapy's Mission.    Carmela Glenn hosts and asks questions. This was a Zoom event. Helping people navigate the mental health and wellness aspects of their life in a way that honors culture, family, community, and faith. YouTube video

Sentencing VIolence: How Society Deals with Violent Harm

by | May 11, 2021 | , , , ,

This video is an excerpt of the first Sentencing Forum specifically dealing with the importance of coming to terms with the sentences given to people who are violent offenders. It also talks about the widespread existence of violence in our society, what happens when we label people as violent offenders and the violence we inflict on people who have caused harm in our society. This video is 26 minutes long. It includes Michael O'Hear, Professor of Law at Marquette University, and Cecelia...

MOSES Sentencing Forum April 2021

by | Apr 15, 2021 | , , , ,

This Zoom event includes many speakers about sentencing in Dane County. It includes informative presentations followed by a Q&A with judicial candidates. Part 1 is two hours. Speakers include Marquette Law Professor Michael O'Hear, UW Madison Law Professor Cecelia Klingele, Dane County District Attorney Ishmael Ozanne, State Public Defender Catherine Dorl , Judge Nicholas McNamara, people who have been incarcerated, and MOSES members. YouTube Link Part 2 continues the discussion. It is...

Lunch and Learn with Justice Janine Geske

by | Dec 15, 2020 | , , ,

Judge Geske has been an long time advocate for restorative justice and an advocate for creating a human oriented justice system. She joined us for our first virtual Lunch and Learn on October 21, 2020. (Note that this recording begins with the introduction to Justice Geske.) The video is 1:11 long.  Justice Geske begins at 14:21.  The first 14 minutes include other members of MOSES making announcements. Note that this was an early Zoom meeting during COVID and unfortunately was not recorded to...