The Dayroom Club - An Award Winning Play By Patty Prewitt; and A Plea For Clemency Today we reair The Day Room Club by Patty Prewitt, a play that gives you a look into the day to day routine at the Women’s Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Vandalia, MO also gives us a lesson in the humanity of those that are incarcerated. Although their lives are regulated 24 hours a day these women still try to find a way to be a part of the important events, sorrowful and joyful occasions of their family and loved ones on the outside. It is in part being deprived of that involvement that brings them together as a family behind bars, their bonds of love and friendship built over time. The Dayroom Club is a production of Prison Performing Arts out of St Louis and you can find out more information about them below. JoJR Premiered the play on radio in November of 2018, a two hour broadcast that included interviews with Patty, Christopher Limber of PPA and Katie Leemon the prisoner that created the recording of the play. You can hear those interviews on the original podcast at - https://kkfi.org/program-episodes/dayroom-club-patty-prewitt-broadcast-premiere-award-winning-play/ Patty…

Why They Come and American Prisons in Honduras In the first half of our program, we will replay "Why They Come and American Prisons in Honduras" from 7/29/19 Jaws of Justice Radio.  Host Margot Patterson gets a first hand view of what is happening in Honduras from Judy Ancel and Karen Spring.  Karen Spring, a Canadian Human Rights activist, is married to Edwin Espinal who is a political prisoner in a US designed and built prison in Honduras.  Judy Ancel, who has traveled numerous times to Honduras, is a representative of The Cross Border Network, a Kansas City grassroots organization. Have you recently heard someone in the coffeeshop ask “if their country is so great why do they want to come here?”  Honduras, like other countries in Central America, are not such great places to live today. The corruption, repression and violence has many fleeing for their lives and many more standing up and fighting back. The United States plays a role in the conditions by supporting regimes that oppress, with our drug habit and our imperialist designs on their resources. Our guests will explain how US policy supports the corruption with the very programs meant to fight against it…

Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense And Their Be SMART Gun Safety Program Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America launched the Be SMART campaign to raise awareness that responsible gun storage – storing guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition – can save children’s lives. Be SMART emphasizes that it’s an adult responsibility to keep kids from accessing guns, and that every adult can play a role in keeping kids and communities safer. Be SMART volunteers are in your communities and neighborhoods, and nearly 3,000 trained volunteers are delivering the Be SMART message across the country. The BeSmart Anthem is testimony from gun owners about being responsible with your guns. https://youtu.be/_TbK66RSvp8 Host Teresa Wilke talks with Jen Hodge of Moms Demand Action about their Be SMART gun Safety Program and how you can get involved. They will talk about the 5 steps you should take to make sure your household is safe when a gun is present. To find out more or get signed up go to- http://besmartforkids.org/ Ricky Kidd, A Story of Reaching Within - Replay from 2018 We replay an interview with Ricky Kidd from 2018 while he was still fighting his wrongful conviction from behind…

Clark-Fox Family Foundation on Mass Incarceration Host Pat Bartholome interviews Samantha Stangl, Programs Manager for the Clark-Fox Family Foundation.  The Clark-Fox Family Foundation was founded in St. Louis in 2004 by husband and wife team Maxine Clark and Bob Fox.  The Clark-Fox Family Foundation supports the growth and prosperity of the St. Louis metropolitan region through research, program development and investments in education, public health, immigration, social justice and racial equity, community leadership, and entrepreneurship.  The Foundation is a unique organization, one that focuses on research, program development and investments that empower the end user and leverage one another for broader access and greater impact for our children and community.  Today Samantha and Pat will discuss the Clark-Fox Family Foundation’s in-depth research project on the impact of mass incarceration. https://clarkfoxstl.com/ Determination, Inc. - Entrepreneurship For Those Returning From Prison Host Melvin Merritt will then have a live interview with Mr. Johnny Waller, Jr., one of the co-founders of Determination Incorporated and with him will be Ms. Leslie Walton,  Entrepreneur Success Manager with Determination Inc.  Determination, Incorporated is a Kansas City-based 501c3 nonprofit that hosts business basics workshops and entrepreneurship competitions for currently and formerly incarcerated people.  Their mission is to…

Death Penalty Update Gregory Joseph, Program Director at National Coalition Against the Death Penalty, joins host Craig Lubow to discuss trends in the death penalty. This will include new moratoriums, Trump's attempt to resume the death penalty at the federal level, and exonerations. Bipartisan attempts to repeal the death penalty in some states. One phone line will be open for calls. National Coalition Against the Death Penalty http://www.ncadp.org/ Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty https://www.ksabolition.org/ Missourians For the Alternative to the Death Penalty https://www.madpmo.org/ From newsletter from Sister Helen Prejean: A dying punishment "Partisan divide" has surely become the phrase of the last half decade or so, but there's one area where the partisan divide, although it still exists, is showing distinct signs of fraying. That area is public attitudes towards the death penalty. For the first time a majority of Americans say they prefer life imprisonment over death. Gallup last surveyed this question in 2014. Since then, Democrats have shifted from death to life by 19 points, independents by 16 points, and Republicans by 10 points. While Republicans still favor death overall (58% to 38% for life imprisonment), this is a whopping shift in five years, especially given the…

Who Was Angie Schroer and Why Did Indepence Police Say She Committed Suicide? Today's broadcast is two parts of the story of Angie Schroer. In the first half host Jeff Humfeld talks to Angie's Mother, Jackie Schroer about her daughter, as a child and on up to adulthood until she was killed, as well as Angie's hopes and dreams for the future. We want help people understand what Angie's family lost with her death and how we as a community are diminished by her absence. The memories of Angie will be of the life she lived but none of us will know what she may have accomplished or the lives she may have touched and changed. In the second half of our broadcast host Keith Brown El continues the conversation with Angie's mother Jackie Schroer about the investigation she claims the Independence Police botched when they ruled her death a suicide instead of a murder. Jackie brought the evidence to forensic and investigative experts outside the IPD and they came to a very different conclusion. You can find out more about Angie's case at - Face Book - https://www.facebook.com/groups/135225747123129/ The JoJR Calendar for the week of November 18th More Squared…

Finding Amy McGowan......Unethical Amy McGowan has retired from the Douglass County Prosecutor's office under pressure from the claims of prosecutorial misconduct. The ruling that set Ricky Kidd free has given those who want to hold Amy McGowan accountable for her long history of unethical behaviour the language they needed to get the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel to act. KC Freedom Project, Free Ma People, Mothers of Incarcerated Sons and Daughters, Consolidated Social Work Services and more have come together to gather and deliver dozens of complaints in an effort to have OCDC revoke her licence to practice law. To that end these groups have traveled from KCMO to Lawrence, KS, Topeka, KS and Jefferson City, MO to hold protests and deliver official complaints. Host Latahra Smith will be telling us what is next in the fight for justice for the victims of Amy McGowan's misconduct. She will be asking the question who else has a duty to step up and take responsibility for enabling this behaviour? How do we keep the pressure on the OCDC to actually take action? What other cases should have complaints filed against her? We will have a short period to take calls from you,…

The Fines and Fees Justice Center The Fines and Fees Justice Center (FFJC), located in New York City, seeks to catalyze a movement to eliminate the fines and fees that distort justice. Their goal is to eliminate fees in the justice system and to ensure that fines are equitably imposed and enforced. The FFJC’s national campaign is to abolish driver’s license suspensions for unpaid court fees and fees. This is allowed by statute in 44 of our 50 states, including KS and MO. These Fines and fees devastate the lives of millions of Americans who get trapped in the justice system simply because they cannot afford to pay them. People who cannot immediately pay face additional fees, license suspensions, loss of voting rights and, far too frequently, arrest and jail. Host Teresa Wilke talks with Priya Sarathy Jones, the National Campaign Director at the FFJC. She works with national coalitions that address fines and fees reform and helps those who seek their expertise on fines and fees reform across the country - today it is Kansas City’s turn to hear from her! website - https://finesandfeesjusticecenter.org/ contact them by email - https://finesandfeesjusticecenter.org/contact/ Crystal's Kidz, A Program For Children Of The Incarcerated…

Empower Missouri Annual Conference Takes On Hunger The highlighted issue for the Empower Missouri 2019 Conference is food insecurity and evidence-based public policy solutions to hunger. The conference will be held 10am to 4:30pm, Saturday, November 9th in the Holiday Inn Executive Center, 2200 Interstate 70 Dr SW, Columbia, MO 65203. The conference is $35 for the day, to register go to - https://secure.everyaction.com/Fh8Kw8WzmE2AVSUjaXsPnQ2 The keynote speaker is Ellen Teller, Director of Government Affairs, Food Research and Action Center, Washington, DC. Teller joined FRAC in 1986 as a staff attorney and previously worked at the American Bar Association’s Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the Consumer Federation of America. She has a B.A. in political science and English literature from the State University of New York College at Oneonta, and a J.D. from Western New England College School of Law. Workshop include Fighting for Food Justice: Workshop Seeing Food Access through a Racial Equity Lens, Discover the “Good Taste” of Healthy Food, Policies and Programs Addressing Food Insecurity for Children and Families, Mass Incarceration in Missouri, Positive Dialogue: A Building Block for Personal and Community Change and more. Host Jeff Humfeld…

The Willow Domestic Violence Center The Willow Domestic Violence Center dedicates itself to restoring the health and safety of people who have experienced domestic violence or human trafficking by providing safety, education, and advocacy. All of their services are free of charge, confidential, and available to all survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking who live in Douglas, Franklin, or Jefferson County in Kansas. The Willow is a safe space for people of all sexual identities and gender expressions. All services are accessible to those in need of a translator or physical accommodation. Their services include 24 hour hotline, emergency shelter, support services, children’s services, court and systems advocacy and much more. Host Teresa Wilke will talk with Will Averill, Director of Community Engagement at Willow Domestic Violence Center about their services, the available resources for persons affected by domestic violence and upcoming events. 24 hour hotline – 785-843-3333 The Willow Domestic Violence Center 1920 Moodie Road, Lawrence, KS 66046 Office phone number: 785-331-2034​ Hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm Email: [email protected] website – https://www.willowdvcenter.org/ Mothers of Incarcerated Sons and Daughters (MISD) Annual Women of Courage Event MISD advocates for humane treatment of MO inmates with the MO Department…