JOIN US FOR IOWA'S GROUND BREAKING
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM EVENT
IOWA SUMMIT ON
JUSTICE & DISPARITIES
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2022 | 8 AM-5 PM
FFA Enrichment Center | 1055 Prairie Trail Parkway, Ankeny, Iowa, 50023
BAM PRESENTS THE 10TH ANNUAL
OVER 40 KEYNOTE, WORKSHOP & PANEL SPEAKERS
2022 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
KEMBA SMITH
Author of Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story
Growing up as an only child in Richmond, Virginia, Kemba Smith graduated high school and continued her education at the prestigious Hampton University. What happened to Kemba in her new campus environment was a nightmare, and led to a 24.5-year sentence in a federal prison. In December 2000, after serving 6.5 years, President Clinton commuted her sentence to time served. Kemba shares her traumatic real life experience in her book, “Poster Child: The Kemba Smith Story.”
LOUIS L. REED
Author & Reentry Activist
Louis L. Reed served as the Sr. Director of Membership and Partnerships for the REFORM Alliance. In this, role he utilized years of experience in government, criminal justice reform, and policy advocacy along with his personal history of serving nearly 14 years in federal prison to successfully advance justice. His policy reform experience includes leading advocacy for the historic First Step Act (A bipartisan federal criminal justice bill passed in to law in 2018.) Read more here
RICHARD MENDEL
Senior Research Fellow, The Sentencing Project
Richard “Dick” Mendel is the author of the new report, "Diversion: A Hidden Key to Combating Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Juvenile Justice." He is a Senior Research Fellow for Youth Justice, where he conducts research and writes reports to promote reform of our nation’s youth justice systems. (Appears virtually) Read more here
Engaging Citizens, State Decision Makers, National Experts, Politicians, Judges, Lawmakers, Law Enforcement, & Advocates Around Justice Reform and Minority Disproportionality.
10 years ago, the Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities was founded to address Iowa’s notorious distinction of ranking number one in the nation for disproportionately incarcerating African Americans and other minorities. Over the years, through the work of dedicated advocates, engaged officials and keen practitioners we have seen slight improvement and Iowa now ranks number 6 in the nation for disproportionality.
We are far from done. Iowa’s disproportionality is still double that of the national average, and while our numbers have improved in the adult system, In the juvenal system they remain abysmal.
WE MUST WORK TOGETHER TO CHANGE THIS!
WHY WE GATHER
-
African Americans in Iowa are only 4% of the population, yet they are 25% of the prison population. They are 9.1 times more likely than their Caucasian counterparts to be incarcerated, ranking Iowa as number 1 in the nation for this statistic. Other minority groups are also disproportionately represented.
-
According to the Sentencing Project, Iowa African American youth are more likely than any other state in the nation to be detained in the juvenile Justice System at a rate of 721 per 100,000 compared to 83 for White youth.
-
A 2020 Report from The Iowa Department of Human Rights Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning Division identifies areas of racial and ethnic disparities in Iowa’s juvenile justice system and recommends systemic changes that are necessary to eliminate these disparities
SUMMIT OBJECTIVES
Information! Action! Solutions! The Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities serves as a vehicle to connect stakeholders with resources to work together for significant reduction in the startling rates of minority contact in the criminal justice system in Iowa
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
The justice system is in reality a myriad of systems. If everyone works to better their piece of the puzzle we can transform the justice system. Here are just a few of the groups that will benefit:
Activists • Advocates • Citizens • Civil Rights • Community Leaders • Corporate Executives • Corrections Staff • Counselors • Clergy Diversity & Inclusion Staff • Educators • Students • Employers • Formerly Incarcerated • Government Officials • Human Resources Human Services • Judges • Justice & Juvenile Justice Employees • Law Enforcement • Lawyers • Legislators • Nonprofit Staff • Parole & Probation Officers • People of Faith • Prosecutors • Social Workers • Volunteers
2022 SPONSORS
PAST SUMMIT KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
STAY UPDATED
CONTACT US
office@bettyandrewsmedia.com | 515.288.7171