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<H2>Green Party Activist Emily Good, arrested for recording Rochester police, to
run for Monroe County Sheriff</H2>
<H4>June 27th, 2013 · written by <A title="Posts by Krzysztof Lesiak"
href="http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/author/krzysztof-lesiak/"
rel=author>Krzysztof Lesiak</A> · <A
title="Comment on Green Party Activist Emily Good, arrested for recording Rochester police, to run for Monroe County Sheriff"
href="http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2013/06/green-party-activist-emily-good-arrested-for-recording-rochester-police-to-run-for-monroe-county-sheriff/#respond">No
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<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><EM>From <A
href="http://www.greenpartywatch.org/2013/06/25/emily-good-arrested-for-recording-rochester-police-to-run-for-monroe-county-sheriff/">Green
Party Watch</A>, June 25, 2013:</EM></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><A
href="http://www.greenpartywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/p-emily-good.jpg"><IMG
alt="p emily good"
src="http://www.greenpartywatch.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/p-emily-good-150x150.jpg"
width=150 height=150></A></P>
<P>From the <A
href="http://rochesteraccent.com/post/50985296133/emily-good-announces-candidacy-for-monroe-county"
target=_blank>Rochester Accent</A> (New York State -KL) on May 21,
2013:</P>
<P>Emily Good announced her candidacy for Monroe County Sheriff on Monday. The
release also invited media to a press conference to be held this morning at
10:30 a.m. in front of the Monroe County Jail on S. Plymouth Ave.</P>
<P>Good’s <A href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7ZkFZkejv8"
target=_blank>unlawful arrest</A> for recording an on-duty Rochester police
officer in 2011 hit international news and became part of a heated debate about
the civic right and responsibility to police the police. We spoke with the
activist to learn more about her platform and goals as the <A
href="http://www.greenrochester.org/emilygood" target=_blank>Green Party
candidate</A> for Sheriff.</P>
<P><STRONG>Rochester Accent: What led you to run for Monroe County
Sheriff?</STRONG></P>
<P>Emily Good: In the fall of last year I began visiting a political prisoner in
Attica. The process of entering the prison often includes bearing heartbreaking
witness to families being denied visitation for petty, irregular reasons that
are also frequently racist and sexist. The prison brought up deep feelings of
injustice and suffering that I felt called to explore further, so I started
reading more about the criminal justice system and alternative models.</P>
<P>Michelle Alexander’s <EM>The New Jim Crow</EM> really spurred me to
take action, as did the letters I received from prisoners across the state
responding to my unlawful arrest two years ago. The more I learned about the
so-called correctional system, the more I saw its shattering impacts around
me.</P>
<P>I spend some time at the local Catholic Worker house, part of a movement
founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin, whose mission to build a society in
which it is easier for people to be good to each other resonates strongly with
me. Visits to our county jail and state prison clearly demonstrate that we are
not doing the best we can to build that society, so I decided to make an effort
to change the way we approach law enforcement and incarceration.<BR><STRONG>You
have chosen to run for Sheriff as the Green Party candidate. What does Green
Party philosophy specifically bring to the table with regards to law enforcement
and the criminal justice system?</STRONG></P>
<P>I have been a Green Party member since I first registered to vote, which
probably makes it easier for me to embrace the idea of becoming a candidate.
Grassroots democracy is one of the party’s key values, and it works best when
“regular folks” from across the community get involved in creating the policies
that affect them. Law enforcement affects all of us, though its visible presence
in our lives varies greatly, depending on where we live, what we look like, and
other factors. A commitment to equal opportunity coupled with respect for
diversity leads Green policymakers towards a system that tracks race and
ethnicity for all interactions with law enforcement officers. Collecting these
data will draw our attention to patterns of disproportionate engagement that we
can then work on changing.</P>
<P>The core Green concept of sustainability has relevance far beyond
maintaining our physical land base. When we look at the long-term reality of
imprisoning people, we see that most of these people will sooner or later return
to our communities, and we will reap what we have sown through our investments
in their lives. Using restorative justice models along with therapy, training,
and education programs will help bring people back to our community who are able
to contribute meaningfully to society as they rebuild their lives and futures.
The system that is currently in place neglects this long-term perspective,
reflecting a poor use of resources that too often results in persistent crises
for those impacted by the system.</P>
<P>The Green party condemns the practice of racial profiling by law enforcement
agencies, which are guilty of stopping motorists, harassing individuals, or
using unwarranted violence against suspects with no other justification than
race or ethnic background. They also strongly support the strengthening of legal
services for the poor.</P>
<P>The Greens are also committed to increasing participation of women in
politics, government and leadership so they can change laws, make decisions, and
create policy solutions that will affect and improve women’s lives. Since men
dominate the field of law enforcement, I would work for gender equity in
department staffing to improve services and expand capacity, particularly in
reducing gender violence and other issues that negatively affect women.</P>
<P><STRONG>What do you see as the most important duties of the Sheriff, and how
are you qualified to fulfill these duties?</STRONG></P>
<P>The Sheriff manages a large number of workers, many of whom interact with
the public under very stressful circumstances. Training patrol officers, court
security and jail workers, and administrative support staff to serve the public
in a respectful manner and in accordance with their legal rights is a tremendous
task. I will take it on with deep concern for every human being involved.
Nonviolent communication skills have helped me maintain and improve challenging
relationships, and I will ensure that all employees will be instructed and
proficient in these techniques. Recurring patterns of disrespect or violence
will not be tolerated.</P>
<P>Of utmost significance to the approximately 1500 inmates who dwell in jail
on any given day is their own care. The Sheriff is charged with providing
nutrition, medical care, and religious services to those in custody. Having
worked as a caregiver in many different settings, including serving the elderly,
the very young, and people with disabilities, I am acquainted with the diversity
of needs that may be present in such a large population. I would oversee these
responsibilities carefully, taking time to work alongside the direct providers
of meals and basic services.</P>
<P>The provision of medical services is too important to be outsourced. The
current contractor, Correctional Medical Care, has been judged “grossly
negligent” by the state Commission of Correction. The contract should be
terminated and care for jailed inmates should return to the County. Unlike my
opponent, I do not accept campaign contributions from corporations—particularly
not corporations that provide inadequate health care to our jailed
population—and that independence enables me to objectively arrange for the best
medical services possible.</P>
<P><STRONG>What do you see as the most pressing civic issues that Monroe County
faces with regards to the justice system and law enforcement?</STRONG></P>
<P>Drug crimes are overwhelming the system. Simple possession of an illegal drug
can ensnare a person in the system, having rippling negative effects on their
life and their community. Sending so many people to jail for drug offenses
actually increases the likelihood of crime in our neighborhoods. It tears apart
families and takes away opportunities for employment, education, and
housing.</P>
<P>The majority of crime is nonviolent and much of it can be linked to poverty.
More than one in five Monroe County residents live in poverty, and until we
address the underlying needs of housing, food, education, and employment, we can
expect to see the cycle of hardship and suffering continue to impact the most
vulnerable members of our society, eventually leading many to incarceration and
early death.</P>
<P><STRONG>What are the necessary shifts in policy that the Monroe County
Sheriff seat needs to address?</STRONG></P>
<P>Justice is not being served for an individual or for our community when a
person’s drug possession or addiction results in a long jail term. With
widespread public support, the Sheriff should direct deputies to prioritize
issues of safety, not innocuous drug use. We must grow to understand drug abuse
and addiction as a public health issue, not a crime.</P>
<P>Decarceration is imperative for a just society. Before the Drug War tainted
our common sense with financial incentives for caging users, most mainstream
criminology scholars agreed on this point. In 1973 the National Advisory
Commission on Criminal Justice Standards and goals found that “the prison, the
reformatory, and the jail have achieved only a shocking record of failure. There
is overwhelming evidence that these institutions create crime rather than
prevent it.”</P>
<P>Law enforcement policy must become more proactive, adopting a compassionate
approach to engagement that promotes trust and genuine partnership. We must aim
to successfully build people up, not just lock them up, while the greater
community works on long term solutions to the problem of crime with policies
that address the underlying causes of disparity and unemployment.<BR><STRONG>How
will you go about initiating these shifts?</STRONG></P>
<P>Our department would stop accepting financial incentives for drug arrests.
Forfeiture laws encourage departments to steer more of their energy and
resources towards the pursuit of drugs because police can seize drug-related
assets and keep the money to benefit their department. Refusing the bait is one
clear way to say no to the drug war.</P>
<P>I will advocate for drug treatment to be made available on demand to anyone
who needs it. This up front investment in health care will save money and lives
down the road.</P>
<P>I pledge to stop the D.A.R.E. program, which does not work, and instead bring
Restorative Justice oriented conflict resolution programs to schools. Deputies
will model and teach nonviolent methods of dealing with conflict.</P>
<P><STRONG>What resources and support from the government and the populace are
required to shape more effective policy?</STRONG></P>
<P>The Public Defender’s office needs to be funded at the same level as the
District Attorney’s office. There are people languishing in jail for no other
reason than because they lacked suitable defense. Public defenders in the city
have absurd caseloads that frequently prevent them from representing their
clients effectively. We must find ways to support those who can successfully
work within the current legal system to avoid jail.</P>
<P>Additionally, we must restore funding to pretrial services that have recently
been slashed and restore the Alternatives to Incarceration program, which help
direct some people in the system for nonviolent offenses to places other than
jail.</P>
<P>We need a willingness on the part of the government and the public to invest
in prisoners’ lives. Cognitive behavioral therapy has proven successful in
reducing recidivism among people convicted of nonviolent and violent crimes. We
should make this therapy universally available to prisoners and those on
probation and parole. Providing real opportunities for stability and employment
outside of jail requires investment in job training and education on the
inside.</P>
<P><STRONG>Do you perceive roadblocks to enacting these shifts, and if so, what
are they?</STRONG></P>
<P>Unfortunately, there are several damaging prejudices held by a large sector
of the public. Many people feel unconcerned about the experiences of poor people
and people of color. Conversations about race and class tend to be
uncomfortable, so we avoid talking about it and even segregate ourselves to make
it easier. We must learn the racial and class history of mass incarceration. Our
deeply socialized biases have influenced policies regarding crime—especially
drug crime.</P>
<P>Similarly, we have a tendency to recoil from advocacy for those who are
labeled criminals. The Restorative Justice process helps expand our awareness of
the adverse impacts on the whole community when we isolate and label the people
who most need connection and hope if they are to improve their lives.</P>
<P>Many rural communities must confront the cruel challenge of financial
dependence on the prison system in order to take action for justice. Retraining
ought to be available to any prison worker willing to switch to a career that
provides more benefit to the community, and the public should work collectively
to decide the fate of shuttered facilities.<BR><STRONG>How will you address
these roadblocks?</STRONG></P>
<P>I will give voice to new ideas and visions that give people hope for change,
helping our community to understand that no one wins in this current system. For
example when we put prisons in communities as a means of employment these
communities show increased patterns of domestic violence and addictions. We are
all suffering from a punitive system that pits disenfranchised groups against
each other.<BR><STRONG>You have long been interested in and involved in
exercising your civic duty regarding social justice and law enforcement. Why is
it important for the average person to become more involved in this branch of
our government?</STRONG></P>
<P>We are theoretically members of a democracy, yet I see very little enthusiasm
for the effort it takes to stay informed and contribute to the ever-changing
dialogue about what we value and where we want to go. People feel hopeless about
how to make change despite knowing that something is not working.</P>
<P>Law enforcement policy can define what we are able to do with our lives. I
know many people genuinely concerned about human rights, liberties, and
suffering who are trapped in prisons for reasons that most of the rest of
society would find unbelievable. Anyone can end up in jail, even without
violating a law, and we need mass participation in crafting policies that best
serve us all. We also need the community to witness problematic interactions
with the system and then raise questions if we are to improve our efforts to
make peace.<BR><STRONG>Why do you think many people don’t become involved in
shaping and tweaking law enforcement and social justice policy
specifically?</STRONG></P>
<P>Common wisdom says don’t talk to cops. Few people desire any interaction
with law enforcement. I believe that the people who the system is failing most
dramatically may feel a sense of trauma when in the vicinity of an officer of
the law. There are also many examples of abusive officers harassing and
retaliating against those who take on difficult efforts to change the way law
enforcement agencies operate.</P>
<P>On the other side of the spectrum, people who have virtually no exposure to
the criminal justice system because they live in neighborhoods with little crime
or police presence have a distorted view of the system, probably informed by
dramatic television shows that sensationalize violent criminals and the heroic
efforts of law enforcement to save the day. Those people may be unaware that the
majority of so-called criminals are nonviolent offenders with few resources to
overcome the lifelong impacts of a poor choice.</P>
<P><STRONG>Besides increasing personal awareness of the systems we have in
place, and turning up to vote, in what ways can the common citizen exercise
his/her civic duty with regards to law enforcement and the justice
system?</STRONG></P>
<P>We can take responsibility for making important choices that are available
to us, like taking the keys away from a drunk driver. Such actions do not
necessarily have to result in legal fees and repeated court visits. A clear and
honest directive from the community can guide a rational person to change
behavior. When we work together—and it really does take work—I believe that we
can create a safe and supportive society.</P></DIV></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>