Senator Chip Shields (D-North and Northeast Portland) and Rep. Wayne Ford (D-Des Moines, Iowa) available to discuss Racial Impact Statement legislation Monday, November 16 and Tuesday, November 17
Rep. Ford and Iowa pioneered a common sense approach to reducing minority overrepresentation in the criminal-justice system.
Sen. Shields wants Oregon to follow.
SALEM and PORTLAND, Ore. - State Senator Chip Shields (D-North and Northeast Portland) and Rep. Wayne Ford (D-Des Moines, Iowa) will be participating in several local events to discuss racial impact statement legislation for Oregon.
Racial impact statements are a new tool developed to estimate the disparate racial impacts of criminal justice policies in the same way that fiscal or environmental impact statements describe the budgetary and ecological effects of other policies. This allows legislators to make an informed consideration of the racial impacts when crafting solutions to crime and delinquency, and helps ensure that racial justice costs are included in the public dialogue regarding criminal justice choices.
This morning's Oregonian editorial Still Blind to Sentencing Disparities said:
There is a relatively simple, straightforward policy that could help: Racial impact statements for proposed criminal justice legislation. As it stands, Oregon legislators, like those in most other states, have no idea of the racial impact of bills that affect sentencing, probation or parole policies...But at least lawmakers would know whether the criminal justice bills before them would disproportionately affect minorities, and would make worse the problems that the governor and juvenile justice workers have struggled with for more than a decade. That's worth knowing. Oregon lawmakers should approve racial impact statements at their first opportunity.
To view a link to Oregon's Racial Impact Statement Legislation, click here
Public Media Availability, Monday, November 16
10:30 am to Noon
2:15 pm - 4pm
Sen. Chip Shields and Rep. Wayne Ford presenting to social work students at Portland State University - Smith Center - rm. 228. Portland, Ore.
Public Media Availability, Tuesday, November 17
Noon to 1pm
Sen. Jackie Winters (R-Salem) and Sen. Chip Shields (D-Portland) host legislative welcoming reception and luncheon in Rep. Ford's honor. Willamette University, Goudy Commons, Jason Lee Conference Room. Salem, Ore.
1:30-2:00pm
Media availability - Sen. Shields and Rep. Ford at Sen. Shields Salem senate office (S-209). State capitol. Salem, Ore.
5:30 - 7:00pm
Rep. Ford and Rep. Lew Frederick (D-North and Northeast Portland)
Urban League State of Black Oregon Town Hall Meeting
Portland Community College, Cascade Campus
Terrell Hall, Room 122
705 N. Killingsworth. Portland, Ore.
For questions, please contact Mary Alecia Briggs in Sen. Shields' district office at 503-231-2564, or by email at sen.chipshields@state.or.us.
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Senator Chip Shields