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.

Farewell and THANKS to the Executive Committee

by | Dec 10, 2014 |

At the December monthly meeting, a new MOSES executive committee was elected. We would like to extend our gratitude to the members of MOSES founding executive committee. Those members include: Carol Rubin (President), Caliph Muab-El (Vice President), Nancy Kosseff (Secretary), Ann Lacy (Treasurer), and Sister Joan Duerst (Chair of the Religious Leaders Caucus).  [Erika Bach (MOSES Organizer), and David Liners (Executive Director of WISDOM) also attend meetings, and are ex officio members, with...

11×15 Blueprint to End Mass Incarceration Announced Wednesday, December 10, 2014!

by | Dec 2, 2014 |

Wisconsin can cut its prison population in half.  Actions taken in 2015 can make it happen.  Learn how action by people of faith and good will can be the decisive factor. 11x15 Blueprint to End Mass Incarceration Wednesday, December 10 10:00 am State Capitol, Room 411S Following the presentation, anyone interested in being part of the solution is invited to nearby First United Methodist Church for lunch and to meet in groups to work on strategies to continue to demand: Increased resources for...

Experience Solitary Confinement in Madison

by | Nov 14, 2014 | ,

A replica of a solitary confinement cell will be installed for one week at the Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, beginning this weekend. As part of the installation, there will be a forum held on Tuesday evening, November 18th. Reverend Jerry Hancock will be leading the forum, which will include speakers and a talking circle. The cell will be available for a few hours during the week for viewing and/or for spending some time sitting inside of it, in meditation or prayer or...

Join us Monday, Oct 27 to talk about alternative to jail

by | Oct 24, 2014 |

A panel and participatory dialogue will explore successful outcomes across the state that divert and reduce jail populations and the ways these are, and can be, offered in Dane County. To hear opinions from residents and Subject Matter Experts, there will be breakout sessions to brainstorm issue and impact areas. Working from within our communities, we will explore how we are all affected by the jail, confinement and incarceration... and what we have the ability to do about it. Please join...

MOSES and WISDOM Rally to End Solitary Confinement #ReformNow #ReformWisDOCNow

by | Oct 1, 2014 |

A passionate group of WISDOM's 11X15 supporters from around the state gathered at the Capitol Wednesday to protest the inhumane practice of solitary confinement. Along with pleas from MOSES' own Rev. Jerry Hancock, Rev. Kate Edwards and President Carol Rubin, the crowd of nearly 200 people heard appalling testimony from parents whose children have endured dehumanizing torture for years at a time. The organizers and public were moved to then march on to deliver the Reform Now! brief to Governor...

End Solitary Confinement! Join us on Capitol Steps at Noon today (10.01.14)

by | Oct 1, 2014 |

Join WISDOM’S 11x15 Campaign on Wednesday, October 1, 2014 12:00 Noon The State Street Capitol Steps Madison, Wisconsin The international community considers any more than 15 days in Solitary Confinement to be torture. Wisconsin regularly keeps people isolated for months, and even years. WISDOM and other supporters of the 11x15 Campaign for Safer, Healthier Communities will call on Wisconsin to join other states that are finding safe, humane, effective alternatives to solitary confinement, by...

Learn more about Old Law Parole #ReformNow #ReformWisDOCNow @Wisdom4Justice

by | Sep 19, 2014 |

http://vimeo.com/106200266 In Wisconsin, more than 2,800 men and women remain incarcerated, even though they are legally eligible for parole under the terms of their original sentences. Their continued incarceration costs the state more than 96 million each year. All of these inmates were sentenced prior to the enactment of the Truth In Sentencing legislation. Consequently, many were given longer sentences with the expectation that they could be released after 25 percent of their time had been...