Presentation on Racial Disparities in South Dakota Criminal Justice to Follow
Friday, September 12, 2003, 9:30 a.m.
Commission Headquarters
624 9th Street, N.W., Room 540
Washington, DC 20425
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will review a new report entitled "Not in My Backyard: Executive Order 12,898 and Title VI as Tools for Achieving Environmental Justice" at its business meeting Friday, September 12.
"Not in My Backyard" finds that the EPA, HUD, DOT and Department of Interior have failed to fully implement Executive Order 12,898, signed in 1994 by President Clinton, mandating that federal agencies incorporate environmental justice into their work and programs. "The leadership at key federal agencies sometimes lacks commitment to ensuring that low-income communities and communities of color are treated fairly during the environmental decision-making process," noted Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson of the Commission. "As a result, the agencies do not incorporate environmental justice into their core missions and existing programs are not evaluated."
Following the review of the report, the Commission will conduct a briefing to explore racial disparities in the administration of justice in South Dakota. Dr. Richard Braunstein of the University of South Dakota will discuss the study he and Dr. Steve Feimer conducted at the request of the governor, and his findings that Native Americans might not receive equal treatment in legal representation, case disposition, sentence length and prison time served.
For more information about the September 12 meeting and briefing, contact Danielle Lewis at 202/833-9771.
09/09/03