Floridians for Criminal Justice Reform (FCJR), a Broward County based grassroots group concerned with issues negatively affecting our criminal justice system in Florida, is hold a âCandlelight Vigilâ in front of the Broward County Main Jail.
FCJR planned this event in response to the article published by the Miami Herald on February 14, 2007 titled âAuditors to Study Broward Jail Overcrowdingâ by Nikki Waller.
FCJR has invited ordinary citizens, members of religious organizations, as well as members of local and national non-profit groups to join together âas one voiceâ to demonstrate our shared concern about the dire state of Floridaâs criminal justice system.
Reforming Floridaâs criminal justice system into a system that is truly just, humane, cost-effective and free of racial bias will not be an easy task. The numerous problems with our current system involve complex issues. Current laws, policies, and procedures need to be reformed. There is entrenched resistance to criminal justice reform. There are people and organizations that have a vested interest in keeping the status quo and continuing to grow the prison population in Florida.
We are joining together in peaceful assembly to communicate to our Lawmakers (and the other branches of our Government) that we demand real reform in Florida. We ask that Governor Crist order the creation of a non-partisan, independent âCriminal Justice Reform Committeeâ that will examine our current criminal justice system (in its entirety) and make recommendations. And further, we ask the Governor to ensure that the Committeeâs recommendations are actually implemented and not ignored.
The two main messages of this Vigil will be:
1) Why are our Prisons so FULL? Bad People or Bad Policies?
2) A Broken Justice System Cannot Be Fixed By More Prisons
For more information, contact Chrystal Weaver at [email protected] or (954) 483-1972.
Location
555 SE 1st Ave.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
United States
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