JUVENILE LIFERS GET A SECOND CHANCE, AND COMMUNITY LAW DAY EXPLAINS EVERYDAY LEGAL ISSUES AND CITIZEN RIGHTS

Contact: Linda Wallace, 215-751-8082, liswallace@ccp.edu


PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 23, 2017) —The 18th Annual Law and Society Week (February 27 – March 3) at Community College of Philadelphia offers workshops, screenings and lectures that will examine some of society’s most pressing – and, sometimes, controversial issues, through a legal lens. This year, the College is shining a light on the issue of juvenile justice, which has taken on a new sense of urgency in Pennsylvania.

In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end the practice of life without parole, juvenile lifers must have their cases resentenced. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has 500 juvenile lifers, 300 of whom are from Philadelphia. To explore, both the legalities and the human impact, Adjunct Professor Don Haldeman will hold a community workshop in a traditional peacemaking circle. The session, called “Perspectives on Healing in the Aftermath of Violence: A Restorative Justice Peace Circle,” will explore the aftermath of violence and what to do about healing. Among the participants will be families who have lost loved ones to violent crimes, as well as relatives of offenders. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, 1-2:30 p.m. at the Center for Business Industry in room C2-5.

This year, the week includes a very special event “Community Law School Day,” which spotlights the everyday legal issues faced by Philadelphians. Participants will learn about child custody; rental housing law and their rights as a tenant; representing themselves in court; dealing with the police and understanding their rights; cutting through red tape when interacting with bureaucracies to get public benefits and services; finding legal help and more. Legal clinics will offer assistance with child support issues, criminal record expungement assessment, tax preparation; and Individualized Education Program review and development. Pre-registration is sold out, but walk-ins will be accepted as space allows. Co-sponsored by Community Legal Services and Philadelphia Legal Assistance, with contributions from the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Clarifi, PathWays PA and the PEAL Center.

“When people see how law relates to the technology they use, the food they eat, and just about

every topic imaginable, that’s a real light bulb moment for them,” explains Kathleen M. Smith, J.D., director of the Fox Rothschild Center for Law and Society, who launched Law and Society Week with husband David Freeman J.D., an associate professor of Social Science at the College.

Law and Society Week is a series of lectures, panel discussions, workshops and interactive activities designed to inform students and the general public of emerging legal issues and trends; while providing practical advice from experts. More than two dozen workshops, lectures, panel discussions, and demonstrations during the week are free and open to the public and attorneys.

Some of the Law and Society Week lectures qualify for Continuing Legal Education credits for legal professionals. To learn how to receive continuing education credits, contact LawCenter@ccp.edu

Among the newsworthy sessions this year:

➢ Youth, Punishment and Crime: Sentencing and Reentry: This panel focuses on ways to transform the experiences of children prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system; and to ensure fair and thoughtful resentencing and reentry for juvenile lifers, or individuals who were sentenced to life without parole as children. Joanna Visser Adjoian, director, Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project (YSRP) will present. *1.5 hours Substantive CLE. Thursday, March 2, 9:40 a.m. to 11:10 a.m., Center for Business and Industry, Room C2-28

➢ Opiate Addiction: Why the Increase, and What Can We Do About It?: An estimated 2.1 million people in the United States suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid pain relievers. This addiction can affect the health, social, and economic welfare of all involved, with unintentional overdose deaths soaring since 1999. This panel will discuss the science of addiction, explain the rapid increase we have seen in recent years and offer suggestions to reduce death rates. Learn how guidelines for prescriptions have changed, and what the DEA is doing about this epidemic. *1 hour Substantive CLE. Wednesday, March 1, 10:20 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. Great Hall, Room S2-19, Winnet Student Life Building

➢ Domestic Violence: Do You Hear Me? A Symphony of Hope: A multimedia presentation including a song, panel and a skit will tackle the many facets of domestic violence. This session will also include a presentation by William Love, Esq. on protection from abuse standards and provide an opportunity for discussion. *1.5 hours Substantive CLE. Tuesday, February 28, 11:20 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. Bonnell Auditorium, Room BG-20

➢ International Human Trafficking: Human trafficking is considered one of the fastest growing criminal industries in the world. Where most people think that this activity does not impact them personally, different forms of forced labor have been uncovered throughout the United States and abroad. The efforts to stop and understand the networks of Human Trafficking at home and abroad are immense -- using everyday individuals to help authorities pursue trafficking situations with simple apps has become commonplace. CCP Assistant Professor Deirdre Garrity-Benjamin will delve into how GIS and law professional are exposing human trafficking at home and abroad. On the surface, chocolate is a readily available and delicious

treat, but there is a dark side to chocolate-one that involves the trafficking of children, especially in West Africa. Join us for an eye-opening discussion, with anthropologist Donna Gottardi, on the world of human trafficking- specifically the trafficking of children, in our quest for cheap chocolate. Donna was first exposed to these problems during her world travels and has made it a passion to educate the public about this “dark world”, but also to provide a solution through the selling of fair trade chocolates. This powerful discussion will leave you educated on one of our favorite treats. Presenters: Donna Gottardi, Owner of My Fair Trade Lady, Haddon Height NJ; Deirdre Garrity-Benjamin- Assistant Professor Environmental Conservation, Geography and GIS. Moderators: Nicole Vadino and Faye Allard, Ph.D., assistant professors, Sociology. *1 hour Substantive CLE. Monday, February 27, 10:20 a.m. to 11:20 a.m., Center for Business and Industry, Room C2-28

➢ Life and Death with Dignity: A Conversation with Barbara Mancini: Barbara Mancini is a registered nurse whose yearlong prosecution by former Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane for allegedly aiding the attempted suicide of her father by handing him pain medication made national news. Ms. Mancini became an activist for Death with Dignity as a result, and her story has been told on “60 Minutes” and CNN. This session features a discussion of her story and a consideration of important end-of-life issues. *1.5 hours Substantive CLE. Monday, February 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Great Hall, Room S2-19, Winnet Student Life Building

A number of free activities are also planned: A demonstration of a youth court, featuring Philadelphia school students on Wednesday, March 1, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and a performance of a collection of monologues and scenes written by students from the REACH Program of the College’s Reentry Support Project on Monday, February 27, 1:40 to 2:40 p.m. Bonnell Auditorium, Room BG-20

This year, Law and Society week will close with the screening of the documentary 13th, followed by an expert panel discussion led by Keir Bradford-Grey of the Defender’s Office of Philadelphia on Friday, March 3, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bonnell Auditorium, Room BG-20. *1 hour Substantive CLE.

For a full schedule of events, visit: www.ccp.edu/law-week

 

###

Community College of Philadelphia is the largest public institution of higher education in Philadelphia and the sixth largest in Pennsylvania. The College enrolls approximately 34,000 students annually and offers day, evening, and weekend classes, as well as classes online. Visit the College at www.ccp.edu. Follow us on Twitter. Like us on Facebook.