Moody’s ideas to make neighborhoods safer include pink jumpsuits…
In today’s Blade there was an article about the press conference held yesterday by Mayoral candidate Jim Moody, where he made several suggestions, including the title of this post in Neighborhood’s help key to battle against crime, mayor hopeful says.
I agree that neighborhoods are key, especially when it comes to neighbors being more aware of what is happening in their own areas and taking steps where possible to reduce the possibility of crime. Simple steps such as lighting, especially when it comes to street lighting and creating or participating in your local block watch (if you can find out if you have one) do help. From the article it states:
•Calling upon judges to impose sentences on nonviolent criminals that require community service, in uniform, in the neighborhoods where they live or where they committed the crime.
•Having criminals in those work-release programs wear pink jumpsuits “as a scarlet letter.”
•Begin putting on patrol duty police officers “from behind desks, from the tow lot businesses, from construction project oversight, from nonemergency traffic incidents, from juvenile monitoring.”•Arrange for Toledo police to give neighborhood residents access to the department’s Web site so they could record any suspected crime on a cell phone and upload it to the police Web site.
•Call upon the media, city government, and neighbors to use neighborhood names “in referencing both positive and negative incidents, names like Old Orchard, Hampton Park, the Birmingham District.”
There are a variety of sentences that reference the term “Community Control”:
Community Control Sanctions
While often called “probation,” community control sanctions cover a wide variety of residential, non-residential, and financial options that judges use in criminal sentencing, including traditional probation supervision and numerous other restrictions administered by the local court. Community control is used for felons when a prison term is not imposed. It is imposed on misdemeanants when a jail term is not warranted. Residential community control sanctions include community-based correctional facilities, halfway houses, and others. Non-residential options include community supervision, drug and alcohol treatment, house arrest, electronic monitoring, community service, and the like.
What’s not clear is who would oversee this program of pink jumpsuit offenders, currently the probation department has a list where they make assignments for those required to perform community service. This can range from working at a local food bank to a variety of other non-profit organizations who have programs where these hours can be served. Something would have to be created that would organize these assignments in the neighborhoods where the crimes were committed, as well as determine what tasks were required as well as issue the uniforms since most of those who are required to do community service are typically not in a residential program. Funding would have to be obtained for staff to run this program and it would have to be created before Judges could even consider it.
The idea of using the color pink to try to humiliate people is not a new one, from the Arizona Sheriff who makes inmates wear pink underwear to a South Carolina prison that punishes inmates caught having sex while in prison to wear pink jumpsuits for several months. Considering women are also offenders, it would appear that the humiliation factor is only being aimed at men, or women who hate pink.
I’m curious though as to why the Blade reporter didn’t ask any of the other Mayoral candidates for their response to these ideas, typically that’s what is done or as we’ve seen here, a flurry of releases from the others in response. It appears the only person quoted was Jon Stainbrook, and a no comment from Chief Navarre and no releases yet from any of the other candidates…
Having people have to perform community service in the neighborhoods where they committed a crime is not a bad idea, but it’s going to take more than just calling upon judges to sentence people and buying some pink jumpsuits, I’d be interested in the actual cost estimates as well as how this was going to be funded and ran…Public humiliation has it’s historical roots embed in our culture and there are those today who still believe it works as well as those who feel it has limited benefit if any at all; the never ending discussion of punishment versus rehabilitation.
I don’t think Toledo Police officers are doing construction project oversight, I don’t think they should stop monitoring juveniles, since curfew violations, gang tagging and a variety of other crimes are committed by juveniles. Many of the problems some neighborhoods face are directly related to problems with juveniles. I also don’t think police are reporting to non-injury traffic accidents on a regular basis. It does not appear there are a large number officers at desk positions, perhaps the tow lot could be a valid issue, but I don’t think there are a large number of officers assigned there.
The idea of uploading cell phone videos might not be helpful, considering the type of quality one typically gets and how close a person would have to be to the actual crime taking place to be able to have the video be useful and I’m not even sure of the legality of video taken by a cell phone being used far as criminal prosecution. It could also easily be done now if someone had a crime video taped on their cell phone it could be shared via email or downloaded to their computer and shared a variety of ways. Realistically this could be done by having the police develop an email or text message system for videos to be sent to as opposed to having to create a specific website for uploading. Though Moody might want to consider suggesting a different technology streaming video cell phone as the University of Maryland is using. That would of course take additional funding, but other candidates have suggested e-surveillance and there are cities that are doing it.
Doesn’t it strike anyone else that this “pink jumpsuit” idea is entirely homophobic? I mean, seriously, men have been wearing pink for like the last thirty years in one form or another. It’s not particularly new or controversial to most people.
I wish that crime were this simplistic, but frankly, I expect more than offensive suggestions from a mayoral candidate.
May 17th, 2009 at 10:21 pmDavid, yes, I would agree the whole concept of using the color pink as being considered a humiliating experience or as punishment to be questionable, for a variety of reasons including bordering on homophobia.
It also appears to be done only to target men, and I don’t disagree that many men have worn pink for decades now…
May 17th, 2009 at 10:23 pmI’m in favor of everything except the pink jumpsuits. It serves no purpose other than to humiliate offenders, which ends up infuriating them rather than rehabilitating them. I don’t really understand the point of it other than to unleash some strange, “pink vindication” upon these people. I strongly feel that a society engaging in the humiliation of its citizens, criminal or not, only serves to humiliate itself.
May 18th, 2009 at 8:29 amHow about fuchsia or that tacky neon pink of the 90s? The possibility of going blind from the shock to the eyes may be a deterrent.
At least Moody is thinking outside the box and is looking for ways to keep Toledo neighborhoods safer!
May 18th, 2009 at 8:31 amI would associate the color pink with the female gender long before associating it with the gay community. It’s a feminine, passive color. Many of these bad guys are way too aggressive, which in many cases probably help set them on the path of crime. Maybe a feminine-colored jumpsuit will help take the edge off these guys while they’re working toward restitution. Don’t forget that all of these criminals had victims or potential victims. Let’s show our sensitivity toward them, and not toward how the convicted criminals “feel” about their work clothes.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:43 amI for one moment don’t believe Jim Moody is homophobic. Isn’t “assuming pink = gay” somewhat homo-egotistical?
However, if one realy wanted to be punishing…I would suggest the fat girls wear black and white horizontal stripes, the wide ones….eeewwww…makes me shudder just thinking about it.
Heaven knows I would avoid a punishable offenses not to have to be seen publicaly in that combination.
Enjoy the AM!
mj
May 18th, 2009 at 10:10 amActually the discussion of using the color pink as a way to humiliate has been attached to homophobia more than a few times. One very public example was the University of Iowa who painted the visitor locker rooms pink.
Pink has also been worn purposely to show support:
And realistically, the bright orange jumpsuits worn by many of this areas prison population is a definitely an eye catching color if the concern is for people to be able to immediately identify that those doing community service are doing so as part of a community service sentence.
Then there was some fallout when Brian McFadden stated:
Which he later apologized for, but that is the reality — there are people out there that do think that way and using this color confirms it for them…
May 18th, 2009 at 10:25 amHow nice…
A guy gets caught breaking and entering in my neighborhood, so now he gets to come back in a pink jump suit and repair my streets or something? Giving him plenty of time to case the houses and children?
No thanks, my kids and I don’t need these low lifes spending any more time in my neighbor hood then possible.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:29 amMoody’s ideas have merit and should be considered and discussed here at face value for the good they can do for our community. Unfortunately this thread seems to be hung up on the color of his proposed work uniform.
There are very good people in these United States of America – on a good day I’m one of them – who spend every day trying to do the right thing for our families and our communities. Many of us and are sick and tired of walking on eggshells for fear of offending someone somewhere who may have adopted a particular color, phrase or gesture to symbolize their personal disposition or cause.
Pink is pink. It’s a color. It’s traditionally associated with being pretty and feminine. If you’ve attached some hypersensitive meaning to pink, that’s your business. Pink has not evolved for me, it remains the same innocuous pleasant-looking color it has been since I learned my colors 40 years ago. When exercising my God given right to recommend utilizing the color pink in any application, I am not obligated to consider the sensitivites of your cause or its symbols.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:39 amVoR, it’s the connotation some in society have placed on the color pink, which is why it was selected that is one of the issues raised.
It involves a variety of themes, related to the color and related to the attempt to humiliate as a form of punishment, which our culture has followed in history, many of the things done to humiliate as a form of punishment ended up being declared unconstitutional.
It’s hard to not believe that the color pink was chosen to make this become more of an attention getting idea, which it’s clear that it has.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:47 am“I for one moment don’t believe Jim Moody is homophobic. Isn’t “assuming pink = gay” somewhat homo-egotistical?”
I agree. Enough of the politically correct stuff. Let them wear pink.
I would argue that being seen in public in a chain gang cutting the grass or picking up trash by your community is more humilating to a man than the color of his garb.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:56 amThat still doesn’t address the logistics, there has to be an actual program created, funded and staffed. None of which has been detailed. We can’t just say judges should sentence people to do work in neighborhoods wearing pink without an actual program designed to make that happen.
May 18th, 2009 at 11:58 amI believe the logistics would be easily worked out, as well as the funding and administration of the program. It appears to simply be a reallocation of workforce.
We already have the criminals and they are currently either being monitored by some type of parole officers or they are jailed. In which case the expenses (allocated to housing, feeding, securing) are even larger.
I think Moody gave a lot of details, as he normally does. Definitely more ideas and details than any other candidate.
May 18th, 2009 at 1:04 pmDavid wrote:
Only if you are a homophobe already…
May 18th, 2009 at 1:15 pmLisa said:
“That still doesn’t address the logistics, there has to be an actual program created, funded and staffed. None of which has been detailed. We can’t just say judges should sentence people to do work in neighborhoods wearing pink without an actual program designed to make that happen.”
Moody is a politician making plans/promises to better the community to which he seeks to be elected mayor. You can’t criticize his ideas as being incomplete if you are not prepared to criticize others like Obama for promising healthcare for all, college education for all, or the myriad of other lofty promises he made to get elected. I would have loved some details on how to pay for and implement these unbelieveably complex issues, but got very little from that candidate. We just voted for the guy with the best promises and hoped he can find a way to make them happen. Why not extend the same courtesy to Jim Moody? Anyway, by comparison it should be a cakewalk to get our bad guys into pink jumpers.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:45 pmhenri, I agree.
The “homophobe” label was run out pretty darn quickly, on this one.
Makes me afraid to wear my favorite lacies, for fear I’m not donning the “right” shade of pink
.
Carry on…
May 18th, 2009 at 2:46 pmrogue wrote:
Touché… and TMI, thank you.
May 18th, 2009 at 2:58 pmNot really Tax Time, as I pointed out in the post, community service assignments are primarily dealt with through the probation department, and there are community organizations that do allow people to complete community service hours through them. Funding is not quite that simple considering the current budget within the Court system, that is a valid issue to raise. The probation department does not have the staff or the time to be able to determine what each neighborhood needs, where the crime was committed and then address the whole pink jumpsuit assignment aspect. If those who are incarcerated are only going to be the ones used, then there is the whole security aspect, you’d have to have law enforcement with each group in each neighborhood. Even if they were not incarcerated, there would still have to be some type of supervisory presence.
So I beg to differ that complete details were provided or that this is such an easy thing to accomplish.
Rogue, that’s what happens when a candidate tries to use a controversial idea, it creates controversy…which I’m sure was the intent…
May 18th, 2009 at 3:14 pmVoice of Reason wrote:
Oh, we do that here, too! Obviously you were not reading this blog during the last election. I remember the pitchforks and torches all too well…
Special jumpsuits and new programs cost taxpayer dollars, which are already stretched. I’m not a fan.
May 18th, 2009 at 4:34 pmI’d also point out I don’t focus on national issues often here, but on my other blogs? I do a fair amount of criticism directed at elected officials, including Obama.
In this situation, none of the other candidate provided their input, which in most cases starts the discussion, since that was not done? I did it. The purpose of this site is to raise issues or to point out issues that have been raised.
May 18th, 2009 at 5:08 pmBack in the day “60 Minutes” ran a segment about a jail wherein all of the cells were painted pink.
“Experts” said the color would cause the prisoners to be less bellicose…..
I have never heard of a connection between pink and homophobe…but I don’t get out much…can’t afford it.
May 18th, 2009 at 6:10 pmSeveral have, one, pink with teddy bears, and even in Ohio.
Though it’s clear there is a difference between the use of colors on the wall and making inmates wear the pink jumpsuits…
May 18th, 2009 at 6:19 pmI would not want to get into a fight wearing pink clothes…. s/off
May 18th, 2009 at 6:51 pmLisa, I think your discouragement is part of the primary issue with government today. A good business shifts resources and allocations to where needs are and benefits arise.
Far too many times, especially in Toledo, we are very quick to exit an idea because it may alter the way things are already done.
You may be correct that every detail has not been explored or documented, but you MUST agree that Moody gives more details of every idea than any other candidate.
May 18th, 2009 at 7:53 pmTax Time, if you consider asking how is something going to be funded in this current economic climate and who is going to be responsible for performing the ideas “discouraging” then I think we have a larger fundamental difference of what should happen when candidates run for office. If you want a rah rah cheerleader who doesn’t ask questions? That’s not me…
I also can’t say that Moody has come up with the most details because almost every plan he comes up with is short on details. He has presented the most ideas, but without knowing where funding will come from or how these ideas will actually be put in place? That doesn’t translate into demonstrating there is a real business action plan to actually take these ideas from promises to reality.
If I went to ask for a loan and I had no real business plan just an idea, how many places do you think would take me seriously? To gain the support of voters he’s already up against the challenge of being the only Republican in a town that votes Democrat facing three Democrats. He’s going to have to not only provide ideas but demonstrate how they will actually be funded and work. If anything the discussion on this blog helps more than it hurts, because he’s being talked about, his ideas are being discussed and vetted. What’s considered valid is pointed out, what’s not is as well.
May 18th, 2009 at 9:40 pmYea, I’m guessing there is about six different ways of funding this without costing the taxpayer.
Hell, I’ll kick in (if I get my shade of pink); it strikes me as the last argument of the losing side of the debate to throw up, “how do we pay for this?”
My quesion is, how do we pay for the jumpsuits they wear now? And can we get a catalogue to look for different colors? Maybe a nice chartreuse?
Carry on….
May 19th, 2009 at 8:02 amIf it were just a matter of running out and buying pink jumpsuits this would be a short conversation.
It’s been stated several times, this is more involved than just buying pink jumpsuits and telling Judges you want them to sentence people in neighborhoods.
Nice try though Rogue.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:19 amSo you don’t think there is enough opportunity out there for community service?
I’m sure there is a way to run a database by sorting where offenses were committed, type of crime, person involved, etc… Then, when action is needed, ie: removing gang graffiti, gather up those who have been convicted of destruction of public/private property do the work!
Gee- I thought of that and typed it out in less than two minutes. Just think what Jim Moody could accomplish, as he seems to already have an action plan started…
May 19th, 2009 at 10:57 amI already wrote what would be needed Henri, so if the Moody campaign is looking for details? They have them. You’d still have to have someone to create the database, find the data, enter and track the data, assign the community service assignments, deal with the uniform scenario, and have someone assigned to accompany each work unit since you couldn’t just send them out into the community. If you were using offenders that were in residential treatment you’d have to have law enforcement present as well.
Then there are a variety of scenarios that we never even got into, what if there were no work assignments in that neighborhood? What about people with sexual offenses in their case history? You wouldn’t want to send them into neighborhoods near elementary schools. Who’s going to purchase the equipment needed and the supplies? Where would this be located? How would offenders be transported to these work assignments? Who would pay for that?
May 19th, 2009 at 11:07 amHey…let’s ask Wilkowski, Bell, or Konop what they think…!!
Is Bell back from vacation, yet? Has anyone seen Keith since he set out on his bike ride?
May 19th, 2009 at 5:19 pmI seen Konop at the bar the other day. Next time I’ll ask him.
May 19th, 2009 at 10:18 pm