Restorative Justice and Awards at Southern Oregon Membership Meeting

In October, the Southern Oregon Chapter of the ACLU of Oregon began its annual membership meeting with a panel discussion on progressive approaches to criminal justice practices in Oregon. Arwen Bird, director of SAFES (Survivors Advocating For an Effective System) led the panel.

Arwen Bird serves on the boards of the Oregon ACLU, the McKenzie River Gathering Foundation, and the Western Prison Project. Judge Rebecca Orf who discussed the innovative Jackson County Family Court, and Joanne Lescher of Mediation Works who coordinates the Jackson County juvenile justice victim-offender mediation program joined her.

The goal of Restorative Justice is to go beyond retribution through measures that respond to the needs of survivors, offenders, and the community, while seeking to prevent the conditions that lead to crime.

At the meeting Bill Mansfield and Wes Brain received Oregon ACLU Commendation awards for actions advancing and protecting civil liberties.  Journalist Wes Brain was arrested in connection with actions that occurred while he was videotaping an Ashland political demonstration. Attorney Bill Mansfield represented Brain in this case, and when the charges were dropped, Mansfield went on to advocate with the City of Ashland for revised arrest policies.

For information on the activities of the Southern Oregon Chapter call the ACLU Help line at 541-858-3349. Join us; we’re a busy chapter.

Benton-Linn 2003 Successes

This has been a busy year for our chapter.

• We successfully petitioned the Benton County Commission to pass a resolution opposing key elements of the USA-PATRIOT Act.

• We supported the Benton County Bill of Rights Committee’s request that the Corvallis City Council also pass such a resolution (which they did).

• We put on a public informational forum, "Civil Liberties Since 9/11," which was attended by over 300 people. Panelists included representatives of the FBI, the state ACLU, OSU international student programs, a librarian, and a law professor specializing in civil liberties. OSU’s student KBVR-TV covered the event and videotapes were made available for circulation in the local library. The Corvallis-Benton County Library, the Benton County Commission, the Corvallis City Council, and the local League of Women Voters joined us as co-sponsors.

• We published a newsletter for our local members and held board elections.

• We hosted an informational booth at the annual Corvallis Fall Festival.

• Throughout the year, local members have been invited to give talks to various community organizations.

-We are now planning for a new round of educational activities that will build on the community awareness achieved thus far.

Lane County Plans March, 2004 Forum

As the first goal to reenergize the Lane County Chapter, a committee is planning a public education event for March. More events will be planned based on community interest in the March meeting. Another committee is exploring how to increase student understanding of the Bill of Rights.

Following a chapter membership meeting this fall, the committee formed to develop programs that would interest our membership and increase our visibility in the county. The group’s current goals are: (1) Get youth involved, (2) Reactivate membership, (3)

Become stronger in the community and work with other groups and (4) Volunteer in the Eugene office. Call the Eugene office if you would like to help the chapter reach its goals.