Barry Krisberg writes for Los Angeles Times, June 4, 2012
We need the political will to pursue these proven measures and to counter fear-based rhetoric. The stakes are huge: a world-class system of higher education that ensures opportunities for all youth and is the key to recharging the California economy, providing for the compassionate care of our most vulnerable families, and maintaining our system of laws and justice.
Barry Krisberg quoted on WVEC-TV, May 22, 2012
Krisberg says there are better options like probation or electronic bracelets and that expensive jail cells should be saved for more violent offenders. “We want them punished, but we want them punished in a smart way.”
Barry Krisberg quoted in San Jose Mercury News, May 16, 2012
Most of the ongoing problems continue to plague Southern California’s Ventura facility, according to Barry Krisberg, a juvenile justice expert and state consultant. But, overall, “they’ve dramatically improved the education system, medical care is way better, and the use of solitary confinement and use of force have been cut down,” he said.
Barry Krisberg quoted in San Diego CityBeat, May 2, 2012
“The key is you should not be using this as a routine behavior-management tool,” says Barry Krisberg….”Those numbers look way too high.”
Barry Krisberg interviewed on KQED-FM News May 2, 2012
“I take it as a given that most police officers are trying to be good public citizens, but if the expectations are vague and there’s not a clear culture of lawfulness, than we can see how this might drift. For too long, this police department, maybe going back 25 or 30 years, has been unaccountable to the public.”
Barry Krisberg quoted in East Bay Express, April 11, 2012
In the 1990s, the legislature went so far as to officially change the penal code to say that the purpose of prison was punishment — period. “They took rehabilitation out of it entirely,” noted UC Berkeley law professor Barry Krisberg. “So for the past three decades the system has been guided entirely by retribution.”
Barry Krisberg quoted in Wired, April 11, 2012
“In 2004, it was reported that over one thousand youth had been sexually assaulted by staff in the Texas juvenile justice system,” says Krisberg. “It was the emergence of legislation and scandals simultaneously that had people realizing these systems were unfixable.”
Barry Krisberg quoted in The Huffington Post, Youth Radio, March 29, 2012
My concern is that we’ve worked hard, we’ve developed policy and procedure, we’ve improved education and medical care, we’ve cut down on the use of force and isolation but at the county level they’ve done nothing. So it’d be going back to where we were eight years ago, very harsh conditions, very harsh practices, and having to start all over again.
Barry Krisberg writes for The Sentencing Project, March 2012
The highest priority must be given to reducing the shocking disparities of how children of color are treated by the juvenile justice, child welfare, and education systems. The horrible treatment of youth is wrapped up with issues of poverty and race.
Barry Krisberg quoted in Oakland Local, March 7, 2012
One eye-opening moment for many in attendance came when Krisberg noted that while crime is a bread-and-butter political topic, frequently referenced by conservative candidates, in actuality, “crime rates in California are lower than when Eisenhower was president.”