Nov. 17 - Noon to 2:00 pm
A Virtual Community Forum--Public Safety: Beyond Police and Prisons
Does putting people in prison make our community safer? Can our jails return residents who are healthy, housed, and able to get jobs?
How can we rebuild our criminal justice system to transform a punitive system into a humane, restorative justice system?
How might our public safety agencies and non-profits create “good neighbors”?
Santa Barbara County will be opening its new jail in Santa Maria in December. Should the main jail in South County be rehabilitated?
The speakers discussed what our Public Defender and Probation Department are doing to dismantle racism, provide “holistic defense,” and provide safe alternatives to life behind bars.
Speakersd:
Tanja Heitman - Chief Probation Officer
Tracy Macuga - Public Defender
La Mer Kyle-Griffiths - Assistant Public Defender
Jerry Menchaca - Pastor, New Beginnings Community Church
Laura Piña - MACP, Academic Counselor
Moderator – Retired Superior Court Judge George Eskin
Go to the YouTube link at the bottom of this page to view the recording of this Forum.