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OP-ED: The Misapplication of Jurisprudence

Published

10 years ago

July 4, 2015

By Richard Wembe Johnson, Folsom Prison

There have been some new positions taken with regard to changing the laws that would allow some prisoners the opportunity to be released according to the “time fitting the crime.”

These positions are opposed to someone being given an essential life sentence if the person’s crime doesn’t warrant it.

At the same time, just the opposite is happening. This is not representative of the entire criminal justice system, but rather in certain courts and among prison boards that have the power to release people from prison.

Since new changes are taking place to release only those who are qualified, some courts and board members have taken it upon themselves to impose new language and stratagems that makes it harder for prisoners to be released, even though they may meet all the necessary criteria for release.

The two most prominent roadblocks to a release are: first, the so-called “Release Risk Assessment,” which determines that you are a potential risk to society if you are released even though your case isn’t violent, or if there is no history of violence in the record, and even if all indicators point to you not being violent.

Secondly, they can deny you freedom if they don’t think you have “insight” into your life, your crime, or your predictive future.

This is just as dubious as the first one because now they have their own views on “insight” and what it means. If your view does not comport to theirs, denial of release becomes the expected recourse.

Both of these excuses are a mere pretext, cloaked in deception as preventative measures.

This is so very important because these practices undermine the essential premise of jurisprudence, and it denies justice to all who not only deserve it, but it certainly questions the fairness of law, justice and any sense of equality as it is articulated and practiced.

Unfortunately, there are some instances in releasing certain prisoners that would pose an unreasonable risk. This, however, should be assessed purely on a tightly monitored individual basis, and not used as a working instrument to be employed on everyone.

The same should apply to the so-called “Risk Assessment” to society. It’s like saying the holders of power have a magical crystal ball that shows them the future, and they can predict whether a person would pose a risk. This is utterly ridiculous.

This is important to everyone because if you believe in the idea of justice for all, you should take a stand when it’s abused and misapplied, especially for the most vulnerable in society.

When someone is convicted and is duly punished for their wrong doing, then their debt to society is satisfied, any additional extensions of time is an injustice. Regardless of your personal views on the merits of the criminal justice system, as a society of laws, everybody should be safeguarded by the rule of law, not by the political applications of it.

Prisoners should be afforded the same expectations of eventual freedom after they’ve completed their sentences, and not held in bondage solely based on unscrupulous, questionable antics amounting to “abuse of power” and the discretionary application of it.

And, as we reflect on the roots of Independence Day, I ask you also to remember that slavery too was outlawed. Or, was it?

You can reach Mr. Johnson by letter: Richard Johnson K-53293, CSP-SAC c7-106, P.O. Box 290066, Represa, CA 95671.

Oakland Post

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Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

6 months ago

June 17, 2025

Oakland Post

Special to The Post

The City of Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department (Oakland HCD) announced its awardees for the 2024-2025 New Construction of Multifamily Affordable Housing Notice of Funding Availability (New Construction NOFA) today Five permanently affordable housing developments received awards out of 24 applications received by the Department, with award amounts ranging from $7 million to $28 million.

In a statement released on Jan. 16, Oakland’s HCD stated, “Five New Construction Multifamily Affordable Housing Development projects awarded a total of $80.5 million to develop 583 affordable rental homes throughout Oakland. Awardees will leverage the City’s investments to apply for funding from the state and private entities.”

In December, the office of Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 City Councilmember, worked with HCD to allocate an additional $10 Million from Measure U to the funding pool. The legislation also readopted various capital improvement projects including street paving and upgrades to public facilities.

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is the media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

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Activism

Oakland Housing and Community Development Department Awards $80.5 Million to Affordable Housing Developments

Published

11 months ago

January 30, 2025

Oakland Post

Rebecca Kaplan, interim District 2 city councilmember. File photo.

Special to The Post

The following Oakland affordable housing developments have been awarded in the current round:

Mandela Station Affordable

238 Affordable Units including 60 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $15 million + previously awarded $18 million
Developer: Mandela Station LP (Pacific West Communities, Inc. and Strategic Urban Development Alliance, LLC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 1451 7th St.

Liberation Park Residences

118 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $28 million
Developer: Eden Housing and Black Cultural Zone
City Council District: 6
Address: 7101 Foothill Blvd.

34th & San Pablo

59 Affordable Units including 30 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $7 million
Developer: 34SP Development LP (EBALDC)
City Council District: 3
Address: 3419-3431 San Pablo Ave.

The Eliza

96 Affordable Units, including 20 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $20 million
Developer: Mercy Housing California
City Council District: 3
Address: 2125 Telegraph Ave.

3135 San Pablo

72 Affordable Units including 36 dedicated for Homeless/Special Needs
Award: $10.5 million
Developer: SAHA and St. Mary’s Center
City Council District: 3
Address: 3515 San Pablo Ave.

The source of this story is media reltations office of District 2 City Councilmember Rebecca Kaplan.

Oakland Post

Posts by Oakland Post

Alameda County

Oakland Acquisition Company’s Acquisition of County’s Interest in Coliseum Property on the Verge of Completion

The Board of Supervisors is committed to closing the deal expeditiously, and County staff have worked tirelessly to move the deal forward on mutually agreeable terms. The parties are down to the final details and, with the cooperation of OAC and Coliseum Way Partners, LLC, the Board will take a public vote at an upcoming meeting to seal this transaction.

Published

11 months ago

January 11, 2025

Oakland Post

Alameda County Board of Supervisors Chairman David Haubert. Official photo.

Special to The Post

The County of Alameda announced this week that a deal allowing the Oakland Acquisition Company, LLC, (“OAC”) to acquire the County’s 50% undivided interest in the Oakland- Alameda County Coliseum complex is in the final stages of completion.

Oakland has already finalized a purchase and sale agreement with OAC for its interest in the property. OAC’s acquisition of the County’s property interest will achieve two longstanding goals of the County:

The Oakland-Alameda Coliseum complex will finally be under the control of a sole owner with capacity to make unilateral decisions regarding the property; and
The County will be out of the sports and entertainment business, free to focus and rededicate resources to its core safety net

In an October 2024 press release from the City of Oakland, the former Oakland mayor described the sale of its 50% interest in the property as an “historic achievement” stating that the transaction will “continue to pay dividends for generations to come.”

The Board of Supervisors is pleased to facilitate single-entity ownership of this property uniquely centered in a corridor of East Oakland that has amazing potential.

“The County is committed to bringing its negotiations with OAC to a close,” said Board President David Haubert.