American Cities: Law, Survival and the Administration of Justice Final Session, 1971 December 8
Scope and Contents
Four reels from an unadvertised, special session, which concluded the symposium. The only speakers are moderators Gallent and Lobenthal, summarizing discussions and allowing for additional audience comments and questions.
The first reel contains the introduction to a special session at the conclusion of the symposium to summarize the event and allow for additional audience comments and questions. Attorney Joseph Lobenthal summarizes the questions raised over the course of the symposium, discussing the problems of the prison system, including prison riots and overcrowding, racial disparities in the justice system, and corruption in the judicial and law enforcement system. The recording ends abruptly during Lobenthal's comments.
The second reel contains the second part of the introduction. Lobenthal concludes his comments, reiterating the importance of allocating resources intelligently to reform the justice system. Attorney Martin Gallent begins his comments at 6:36 and discusses the ongoing economic and social growth of cities and the central nature of the justice system, the overcrowding of detention facilities and the overburdening of the court system, the importance of treating addiction, and the issues of funding the justice system. At the end of the recording Gallent invites questions from the audience.
The third reel contains audience comments and questions. Topics include: ways for citizens to lobby officials on the matter of criminal justice reform, access to jobs for ex-convicts, the Rosenberg trial, the problems of narcotic use and gang violence in cities, racial and class inequities, and criminalization of drug use.
The fourth reel concludes audience comments and questions, which include: the problem of funding the lower court system, the legislation for the elimination of voix dire, and prospects for future reform.
Dates
- 1971 December 8
Extent
4 1/4 inch Audio Tape