WSLR Radio spoke with Mark Schlakman, senior program director for Florida State University's Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, board chair for the Innocence Project of Florida, and one of eight individuals who served on the ABA's Florida Death Penalty Assessment Team. The team issued recommendations for reforms in the death penalty process three years ago and little action has been taken on their recommendations. This year a concerted effort is being made to get the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government to take action on the recommendations.

Sam Walker, Professor Emeritus at University of Nebraska at Omaha - Department of Criminal Justice - airs his views on the effectiveness of Civilian Review Boards versus Police Auditor Models of Accountability, coming down solidly on the side of Police Auditors.

Joe Hendricks speaks to attorney Jim Delgado about the treatment of his client Juan Perez by the Sarasota Police Department.

WSLR reporter Ishmael Katz brings us the final installment of his interview with Major Jim Lilly, the division commander for Courts and Corrections Services at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

Wayne Applebee, the Criminal Justice Policy Coordinator for Sarasota County, has been working aggressively to actualize dreams of new corrections facilities here in Sarasota County. The list of grievances with the current criminal justice system is long, but the layout and structure for the new facilities strive to address some of the current problems: The return of many ex-offenders to jail, over-crowding, lack of rehabilitation services, among others.

Today Wayne weighs in on the plans and current track for the new jail and corrections facility.

If you would like to find out more about Community Corrections, visit
http//www.scgov.net/HumanServices/CommunityCorrections.asp.

To voice your comments about the new facilities, direct questions and comments to communitycorrections@scgov.net.

Thanks for listening! WSLR is an innovative, listener-supported, non-profit, non-commercial FM radio station dedicated to serving the Sarasota community. Tune in at 96.5 LP-FM.

Talking with a former inmate who stayed at the Sarasota County Jail.

Sarasota City Manager Bob Bartolotta outlined a number of concerns in his July 20th press conference. He promised to address 'major mistakes' and hold employees accountable.

Issues of Concern expressed by Bartolotta:
1. SPD failure to promptly initiate investigation after being nofified by Sheriff's office.
2. Absence of properly documented events.
3. Failure to involve outside investigators at initiation of investigation.
4. Involvement of SPD in risk management activities and the absence of separation of the two activities.
5. Risk manager's failure to notify supervisor, City Attorney and City Manager of proposed settlement and payment
6. Investigator's references to charges against victim, involvement in personal activities of victim and interaction with victim's attorney

Sarasota Police Chief Peter Abbott apologized to the city at a press conference on Monday for a series of "missteps" in the handling of an excessive force case against Officer Childers.

The criminal investigation of Childers actions has been completed and turned over to the State Attorney's office for review.

Listen to the press conference here.

On Wednesday, July 15th WSLR Interns Anna Hamilton(21), Isaiah Beaton (14) and Ben Lemli (14) toured the Sarasota County Jail with Station Manager Arlene Sweeting and Captain George Scott. The tour has been broken into three segments - housing, intake and pretrial services. Come along and join the tour.

Deputy Henderson takes Isaiah through the intake process at the Sarasota County Jail.

Maria Roles explains how Pre-Trial Services works at the County Jail.

This week for Justice Matters WSLR reporter Ishmael Katz explores the alcohol rehabilitation program at the Sarasota county jail. Major Jim Lilly, the division commander for Courts and Corrections Services at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office discusses the county's approach to addiction recovery inside the jail. Recently, the Sheriff's office partnered with the Salvation Army to provide improved recovery services to inmates by focusing on factors such as peer support, increased education and conducive environments. These steps were taken in hopes of reducing the numbers of returning inmates with substance abuse problems.

Have a listen! And, as always, we'd love to hear what you think--leave us a comment!

WSLR reporter Ishmael Katz brings us segment number two of his interview with Major Jim Lilly, the division commander for Courts and Corrections Services at the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office. Their conversation focuses on the inmates in the addiction rehabilitation pod at the Sarasota County jail. The new program encourages inmates to explore their personal relationships with addiction, and provides them with resources to become less substance-dependent. Lilly hopes that the service might be an answer to overcrowding in the jail by reducing the number of returning inmates.

Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Drop us a note, or tune into WSLR on the web at www.wslr.org or on your dial at 96.5 FM. WSLR is an innovative, listener-supported, non-profit, non-commercial FM radio station dedicated to serving the Sarasota community.

Ever wonder what it's like to be on the inside of the Sarasota County Jail? WSLR has a few answers...

Station manager Arelene Sweeting sat down with volunteer Cool Breeze to learn more about his recent experience in the "Twilight Zone." Cool Breeze was held for 50 days in the county jail and recounts his time for us: thermal torture, hunger strikes and basic survival.

What do you think? Leave a comment to voice your thoughts! To find out more about WSLR, visit us online at wslr.org, or if you're in the Sarasota area tune in to 96.5 FM on your dial.

Hello and welcome to the first installment of the Justice Matters series, a project of WSLR 96.5 LP-FM in Sarasota, FL. My name is Anna and I'll be bringing you many of the stories in this series, but expect to hear a range of talented and concerned voices throughout the summer! We here at WSLR are taking a step back and a look inward into the Sarasota and Florida area criminal justice system. Though the pieces, conversations, and clips we'll bring you will cover a range of topics, they'll each be guided by the question, "What should we try to accomplish with our justice system?"

Today for Justice Matters comes a conversation with the Assistant Public Information Officer in Manatee County, Randy Warren. I spoke with Randy after an article appeared in the Bradenton Herald announcing a new mail policy at the Manatee County jail, affective June 1st, 2009. According to the report, inmates may now only receive postcards and money orders. Envelopes stuffed with multiple pages will no longer be permitted. Here's Randy Warren for the Manatee County Jail to tell us more.

If you have any questions, thoughts, or comments, feel free to leave us a post! Join us next time on the Justice Matters podcast for another voice on the criminal justice system here in Sarasota, FL, or tune in to WSLR 96.5 LP-FM to find out more. WSLR is an innovative, listener-supported, non-profit, non-commercial FM radio station dedicated to serving the Sarasota community. Check us out on the web at wslr.org. Thanks for listening!