We Should Not Have Policies We Are Afraid to Talk About

A Symposium on Public Crime Registries

April 21, 2017

Description
This symposium considered state responses to sexual abuse and violence. People subject to registration on the sex offense registry and housing banishment laws had the rare chance to speak directly to their lawmakers and other state officials about how these policies play out in their lives after incarceration or probation, and how they have impacted their family and children. The panelists were then asked to respond to the very surprising testimony, comment on the efficacy of these laws and policies, and answer tough questions about their role as public officials. Speakers and panelists included people who have experienced sexual assault and other forms of violent crime.

Commissioned by
Open Engagement 2017, the socially-engaged art convening and What is An Artistic Practice of Human Rights? a summit at the University of Chicago.

Credits
Organized by Laurie Jo Reynolds, University of Illinois at Chicago, with Lynne Johnson, victim advocate and former policy director at Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation.

Program
Program introduction: Laurie Jo Reynolds, artist and criminal justice advocate
Comments: Lynne Johnson, victim advocate
Introduction of testimony: Laurie Jo Reynolds, artist and criminal justice advocate
Speakers and testimony:
Adrian Brown, DeMel Hannah, Tammy Lewis, Clifton McFowler, Carol Nesteikis, Tom Ramon, Angel Torres
Panel Responses:
• Elena Quintana, Executive Director, Institute on Public Safety & Social Justice, Adler University (moderator)
• Rep. LaShawn Ford, Illinois State Representative, 8th Legislative District
• Rep. Will Guzzardi, Illinois State Representative, 39th Legislative District
• Rachel Caidor, Survivor Advocate, Just Practice Collaborative
• Mark Heyrman, Clinical Professor of Law, University of Chicago
• John Maki, Executive Director, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority; Chair, Sex Offenses & Sex Offender Registration Task Force
• Beth Tarzia, Attorney Supervisor, Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
Questions for Panel and Speakers

Co-sponsors
Cabrini Green Legal Aid
Child and Family Justice Center, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Illinois Voices for Reform
Institute for Research on Race & Public Policy, University of Illinois at Chicago
Institute on Public Safety & Social Justice, Adler University
John Howard Association of Illinois
Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
Mental Health America of Illinois
Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities

VIDEO EXCERPTS

EVENT STILLS