The Sentencing Foundation and Resource-Based Sentencing and Supervision

The Sentencing Foundation recently had an event where it launched its website and took the opportunity to provide more awareness about the program and raised funds for the organization. The Neoliberal Corporation was present for the event and took some footage, interviewed some of the organizers and board members, benefactors, ex-offenders, judges, attorneys and others on The Neoliberal Round Podcast. We explored the benefits but ask if it also makes crime look attractive when certain people in community may now get better and more access to resources and opportunity that they think they do not have otherwise and went as further to consider the victims who are still reeling from the crime and the political will to do anything to stem mass incarceration based on votes-since ex-offenders can vote in Philadelphia.

?Nevertheless, when we hear the stories from past offenders who have made significant gains in society and are also making an impact from having resources after they have served their time, it still justifies the need for a Sentencing Foundation that provides support and logistics to The Resource-Based Sentencing and Supervision that provides the resources and skills to the offenders. In fact, the event featured several of these individuals whose personal testimony at the event was carried in audio and video on the podcast episode season 5 episodes 1 - 4, entitled, The Sentencing Foundation. The episodes/series features this powerful story from Suave Gonzales, an ex-offender on life-time parole. who is now a Pulitzer Prize Winner and several other case workers and Re-entry professionals and Probation Officers.

Question, how many ex-offenders are there in Philadelphia alone? You may visit our twitter page and view the poll results.

If truth be told, most ex-offenders are Black/Brown peoples from communities ravished by poverty, low incomes and rising crime and violence. In retrospect, we did a podcast series on What's Life Like in Philadelphia, where many people suggested a fathers' movement as younger men are beset by crime/violence and are lacking responsible fathers. However, many fathers are incarcerated and the lack of resources for ex-offenders create further challenges in rehabilitation. Thus, the cycle of incarcerations from lack of fathers continues. However, judges are coming together to help with not just locking up offenders but creating a way that rehabilitates offenders; so, that they can re-enter society with resources to provide for themselves, their families and communities.

Example, Suave, a former in-mate who is now on Parole, shares his powerful story, how his parole/re-entry in society was not easy, yet was able to access resources despite uncertainty/lack that has helped him to become an empowering figure to other parolees, a ghost-writer of several books and a Pulitzer Prize Winner of a successful podcast with a successful career at a college. Suave was at the web launch and made a vital comment about the importance of the foundation that without opportunities then those coming back into society or people on a whole can't live responsible and effective lives advancing society. Therefore, the foundation plays a pivotal role in raising awareness about mass incarcerations and provide resources that help the Resource-Based Sentencing and Supervision to provide resources to in-mates, ex-offenders and parolees.?

It is important to point out here, in relation to Suave's statement about providing opportunity and its lack in society, Equal opportunity is an affront to inequality and advantage that some have and want to maintain. So, if providing opportunities means others will come up, then those who are ahead, which is the case in society, may be suspicious of the competition from the uprising based in opportunity and equal access, and may be slow to provide any opportunity and or may prefer to limit opportunity. So, it will be interesting to follow how this effort will take shape and whether it will find support in other communities/nationwide.?

?Moreover, there is the argument that while this program is vital and provide benefits to reducing mass incarceration and recidivism in society, it also creates another problem in that those who lack access and opportunity, may now see crime and incarceration differently. It may no longer be a deterrent to want to commit crime if you may find accessing resources through resources-based sentencing and supervision that you cannot get normally and without committing any crime.

The Executive Director pointed out that she had gotten a job for an ex-convict paying $30/h while social workers with college degrees were getting 17 – 21/hr. Moreover, those who have been victimized by those who have served their time and or got their times cut short on good behavior and are now or can now get access to opportunity and resources, may still be reeling from that victimization, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or some setbacks caused by the victimization of the crime and lack access and opportunity or worthwhile recovery of their loss. What actions are there to also improve or assist those who have suffer setbacks from crime and violence and how do we reconcile these detractions from the program?

Nevertheless, every crime or violent act cannot and must not be viewed in the general and must be taken on the merits of the particular crime. Therefore, the program towards restoring an individual through the provision of resources requires a deeper understanding of incarcerations, victimization, relative deprivation, poverty, racism and discrimination, bad policing and new discoveries in legal matters and the law, rehabilitation, and also the preservation of society.

--------------------------------------Ad-Break------------------------------------------Ad-Break--------

--------------------------------------------Ad-Break--------------------------Ad-Break----------------

The last point is important as incarcerations also creates the lack of fathers in the home that has led to lack of parenting and more crime and violence among younger men. However, it would seem that we are working backwards, or spreading our resources too widely as opportunities and resources are limited within communities which has also led to crime and violence. We will continue to discuss and follow this program and provide more coverage and interviews on The Foundation’s recent event launching their website, providing more awareness and raising funds for the organization.?

However, we are reminded in scriptures, that all have sinned and have fallen short and that there is no not one that is righteous sot that we are all in need of restoration and forgiveness. Lest we forget the golden rule, do unto others what we want others to do unto us, and so we must be able to move beyond ourselves and situation in order to see the bigger picture then we can truly move to social action. Importantly, justice is not just about finding fault, but also restoring both the victim and the perpetrator and so both goes hand in hand. Therefore, we cannot be selfish in our pity and victimization, but must move to forgiveness as we are reminded that judge not lest ye be judge and no man is so pure that at any point he may find himself somewhere he was not before and requires the same mercy that he had once with-held when he was the hand that held the handle.

So, the question: "Do you believe that Resource-Based Sentencing & Supervision dilutes punishment as a deterrence to crime, since opportunities are limited or lacking in communities where some may still gain from turning to illegality," must be understood within a proper understanding of the rationale of criminality, for, not all crimes stem from lack of opportunities, some are a result of poor or sudden decision-making to gain advantage or from having adrenaline-rush leading to actions devoid of conscience a critical thinking in the moment; and that could be any of us. Therefore, the answer cannot be lopsided, but the opening question is. However, in the final episode we featured Rosalind Blackwell, an ex-offender who is now running her own re-entry program in Philadelphia. She makes a powerful point saying: “we can keep spending $45,000.00 per year to house in-mates or we can let Judge Sawyer not re-sentence them and send them to her re-entry program and will pay them 15/hr. in wages… I’m a testimony of what can be done [and needs to be done]," Rosalind B. And there’s no denying that. Nevertheless, there are those who still argue that those who have been victimized, by their offenders who have served their time and or got their times cut short on good behavior and are now or can now get access to opportunity and resources, may still be reeling from that victimization, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or some setbacks caused by the victimization of the crime and lack access and opportunity or worthwhile recovery of their loss. What actions are there to also improve or assist those who have suffer setbacks from crime/violence & how do we reconcile these detractions from the program?

Renaldo McKenzie is Creator and Host of The Neoliberal Round Podcast, which is available anywhere you get your stream, including Anchor.fm. Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Radio Public, Google Podcast, Podvine, the Audible, I-Heart Radio, the Alexa App, renaldocmckenzie.com, theneoliberal.com etc. Renaldo is also author of Neoliberalism, Globalization, Income Inequality, Poverty and Resistance available in all platforms, worldwide and was number one on Amazon in Deconstructivist History and Philosophy. Renaldo has a new book which will be released early next year entitled: Neoliberal Globalization Reconsidered. Renaldo is also a Doctoral Candidate at Georgetown University and a graduate of The University of Pennsylvania and Jamaica Theological Seminary, where he is a Lecturer in Caribbean Thought. Renaldo is the President of The Neoliberal Corporation, a think tank, research, publishing, academic and digital creation company that provides writing, web services, search engine optimization, & other digital services.?