The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has petitioned the United Nations (U.N.) alleging human rights violations in the U.S. in connection with more than a dozen states passage of Republican partisan-led voting access legislation. A recent NAACP report shows a pattern of concerted effort to disenfranchise African American, Latino, elderly and youth voters ahead of 2012′s presidential election. Read full essay “Poll Taxes By Another Name? The Proliferation of State Voter Access Laws Across the United States” by international lawyer Vanessa Cross.

Photo: Office of the Curator, U.S. Supreme Court (CC)

 In March 2011, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder discussed the state of the juvenile justice system at the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference (NACLC), describing it as a system “that — all too often — does not work.”  In a commentary titled The National Challenge to Break the Pipeline to Prison, attorney Vanessa Cross discusses black youth’s disproportionate representation in the juvenile justice system, the federal Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act, problems related to access to counsel in juvenile proceedings, and community partnership efforts to reduce disparities. (Commentary: The National Challenge to Break the Pipeline to Prison).

Location: First Baptist Church Broad Avenue, 2835 Broad Avenue Memphis, TN 38112
Date & Time: May 5, 2011. Dinner registration and seating begins at 5:30 p.m. Program runs from 6:00 p.m to 7:30 p.m.
Individual tickets: $25.00
For more information: (901) 292-5817

Mothers of the NILE works on behalf of children through advocacy and program activities, such as our Back to Basics Luncheons and Parent Partner Program. Our Parent Partner Program focuses on raising children’s school attendance by educating their parents on compulsory education rules, health issues, educational opportunities and communication skills.

This year’s mothers day dinner will feature the winner of our 2nd Annual Essay Contest. The contestants are children who attend Hope Academy while they are in the Shelby County Juvenile Court detention center in Memphis, Tennessee. We hope they are inspired by accepting the challenge of scholarship.

Mothers of the NILE’s (MOTN) mission is to reduce the numbers of children entering into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. It is a program of the National Institute for Law & Equity, a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization.

On Friday, February 18, 2011, Mark A. Ciavarella, Jr., Pennsylvania’s former Luzerne County Common Pleas juvenile court judge, was convicted by a federal jury on 12 of 39 counts of racketeering. This judicial corruption case has galvanized national attention regarding for-profit incentives under privatization of juvenile detention centers.  Attorney Vanessa Cross reports and comments on the Ciavarella case, citing  nationwide statistics related to the detention of U.S. juveniles. (Commentary: Private Juvenile Detention Centers and the Ciavarella Case).

Tracy Benson, CJNY Regional Manager. Benson has over 14 years of community organizing experience. This includes her work with organizing the “Stop the Rail to Jail” youth program developed in the State of Wisconsin to address school policing, racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system, as well as immigration/deportation issues that impact youth.

Malachi Garza, CJNY Training and Technical Assistant Director. Garza has also served as the Advanced Political Education Coordinator at the School of Unity and Libertion (SOUL), directing international training and internship programs focused on curriculum development, facilitation, political analysis and community organizing.

Katina Castillo, CJNY Regional Manager. Castillo has also been active as a Students for Hip-Hop (SFHH) Outreach Coordinator where she has faciliated workshops in local schools that focuse on hip-hop cultural activities as a vehicle for social change and an empowering tool for youth.

Bring a friend to the Mothers of the NILE Meet and Greet! Light refreshments and cash bar will be available. RSVP to mothersofthenile@aol.com or call (901) 229-7998.

State Law Statutes Regarding Voter Rights after a Felony Conviction (Creative Commons)

Criminal disenfranchisement laws across the United States are governed by the states. The ability to have the right to vote restored after a felony conviction and the completion of a sentence varies widely from state to state. A couple of states, Maine and Vermont, have no disenfranchisement of voting rights upon a criminal conviction. Currently, 14 states have automatic restoration of voting rights after release from prison. Other states may require a release from prison and/or discharge from parole. A few states allow probationers to vote. The language of several states provide for a permanent disenfranchisement for all or at lest some people with felony convictions unless the state government approves restoration. (Click Here to review the Brennan Center’s report on criminal disenfranchisement laws across the United States).

The National Bar Association (NBA) will host its 85th Annual Convention & Exhibits in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Canal Street Marriott New Orleans from August 9 – 13, 2010.  The NBA will also host a national Black Law Students Association pre-convention on August 8, which opens at 7:00 a.m. with Prayer Breakfast and continues with National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) trial basics training (direct, cross, and closing arguments). From 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. national BLSA chapter members will reconvene for a series of board meetings on topics of national interest.

 The NBA was founded in 1925. It is the oldest and largest national association of African American lawyers and judges in the USA. For more information about costs, schedules, and brochures for the annual convention visit the NBA website.

Winning essays from the contest co-sponsored by Mothers of the NILE and Hope Academy at Juvenile Court Detention Center will be shared during the evening banquet. Winners of the contest among the children in juvenile court detention will present their winning essays. Their essay subject: “Listen to Me: My Advice in Avoiding the Juvenile Justice System.”