Pubdate: Sun, 19 Mar 2006 Source: Dayton Daily News (OH) Copyright: 2006 Dayton Daily News Contact: http://www.daytondailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/120 Author: Bob Batz Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?247 (Crime Policy - United States) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/prison.htm (Incarceration) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?199 (Mandatory Minimum Sentencing) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/racial.htm (Racial Issues) PROGRAM ASKS: 'JUSTICE FOR ALL? Discussion About Sentencing, Prison System, More DAYTON - When staffers at ThinkTV Channel 16 and 14 joined members of the legal community to put together a public affairs program on tough-on-crime policies, they weren't quite sure what to expect. But they found out in a hurry. "I think viewers will be surprised that in the past 30 years the U.S. prison population has increased 500 percent, Ohio prison budgets have gone from $50 million to $1.7 billion and increased incarceration rates have disproportionately affected blacks, who are imprisoned in Ohio at a rate eight times higher than whites," said Gloria Skurski, executive producer of the hour-long Justice for All? Skurski -- ThinkTV's director of broadcast services -- said the idea for the program was born during conversations with U.S. District Judge Walter Rice, Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Froelich and Dayton Daily News Managing Editor Steve Sidlo. "They were particularly concerned about the effect of tough-on-crime sentencing mandates, particularly on minorities, and they hoped to help the public understand a little more about our current situation," Skurski said, adding, "I hope Justice for All? takes a small step in that direction." During the show, host Ray Suarez -- senior correspondent for NewsHour with Jim Lehrer moderates a panel discussion about the effects of the war on drugs and zero tolerance policies, focusing on policing, sentencing and prisoner reentry. The panel also discusses the effects of mass incarceration on communities of color, and the long-term financial and public safety implications of a growing prison population. "The hardest part was trying to limit our topic, because there is so much to explore and discuss," Skurski said. "In many way, we hope this is an introduction to the issues and a conversation starter." [sidebar] HOW TO WATCH What: 'Justice for All?' a 60-minute TV public affairs program exploring the impact of tough-on-crime policies in the past 30 years that have resulted in an explosion of prison populations. When: Premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday on ThinkTV WPTD (Channel 16) and 10 p.m. Wednesday on ThinkTV WPTO (Channel 14). More info: 220-1657. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake