www.afro.com
Volume 121 No. 41
$1.00
MAY 18, 2013 - MAY 24, 2013
‘D.C. Goes Pink’ for Cancer Awareness By Ariel Medley Special to the AFRO
National Police Week 2013
Heroes in Blue Honored
previous week, including the annual Blue Mass May 7 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Northwest and the Washington Area Law Enforcement Memorial Service on May 10. The big event of the official week, which runs through May 18, was a candlelight vigil on May 13 at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Judiciary Square, near D.C. police headquarters, in Northwest Washington. Morris, who was 23 when he died, was among 321 law enforcement officials from around the country whose names were added to the memorial wall this year. Those men and Continued on A3
By Zachary Lester AFRO Staff Writer Officer First Class Adrian A. Morris had been a member of the Prince George’s County Police Department for only two years when he was killed in an automobile accident on Interstate 95 in Beltsville, Md., in August 2012. Morris was among 120 police officers nationwide who died last year who were remembered during National Police Week activities held this week in Washington D.C. The commemoration kicked off with preliminary events the
INSIDE A4
Howard University Cancer Center Dedicates ‘Zora’s Lounge’
Sony Settles with Gospel Artists’ Lawyer
They’re Baaaaaack! By Cathy Allen AFRO Science Writer
The cicadas are coming! Yes, the scary, loud, big-eyed bugs that make an occasional appearance are back for their 2013 showing. Swarms of the Magicicada Brood II, better known as the 17-year locust, are expected to make their grand appearance by the billions in backyards, parks and just about anywhere that is unpaved in some local areas. They have already started to make their presence known in Northern Virginia. They are expected to visit some areas of Maryland in fewer numbers. Their visit will last four to six weeks, scientists said.
B5
AFRO Interview: Actor Eriq La Salle
afro.com
Your History • Your Community • Your News
Hear the AFRO on The Daily Drum, Wednesday at 7 p.m.
18
7
47105 21847
2
Join the AFRO on Twitter and Facebook
For the entire month of May, Washington, D.C. is going pink! The D.C. Cancer Consortium (DCCC) has launched “D.C. Goes Pink,” a month-long campaign WUSA 9 Anchorwoman and D.C. dedicated to Goes Pink Honorary Chairwoman JC increasing cancer Hayward awareness and promoting regular cancer screenings. Partnered with the D.C. Department of Health (DOH), the United Medical Center, and George Washington University, the D.C. Cancer Consortium’s mission is to reduce the number of cancer-related mortalities in the Washington, D.C. area, officials said. “D.C. leads the country in breast cancer deaths, prostate Continued on A4
While many humans are loathe for the bugs to appear, they will be welcomed by the ecosystem, experts said. “Believe it or not, the Brood II cicada is considered one the jewels of the insect world and eco-system,” said Corinne Parks, director of the Carrie Nature Center in Baltimore. “Imagine cheese burgers or chicken boxes falling from the sky—minus the grease, of course—that
the planet wants to eat a cicada,” said Michael Raupp, an entomologist with the University of Maryland. “In 2004, folks were even dipping them in chocolate. I prefer them raw.” Let’s take a moment to Photos: Wikimedia Commons examine these Brood II cicadas. is what the cicadas are to our The word brood means they wildlife and our ecosystem.” appear collectively and Even some two-legged the Roman numeral is the creatures are prone to snack on the bugs. “Right now, everything on
Continued on A4
James J. Walker of Walker and Associates
Diversion Programs Offer Youth a Second Chance
By Zenitha Prince Special to the AFRO
By Zenitha Prince Special to the AFRO
Sony BMG Music Entertainment has settled a lawsuit filed in 2005 by attorney James J. Walker of Walker and Associates, a Black-owned, Atlanta-based law firm that represents gospel artists. After almost a decade of litigation, the settlement is a major win in the battle for the rights of urban artists, the attorney said. Walker said the settlement was concluded in early May, the day before the trial was supposed to start. He said the case has been “life-changing.” He said he has gotten feedback from all over the world in the David v. Goliath scenario—a billion-dollar company against a small, Black-owned firm. “We felt strongly all along that this was a case we had to fight in order to protect artists and their right to choose effective legal representation and other Continued on A4
Diversion programs for youth offenders are blooming within area jurisdictions and are having a positive impact on the criminal justice system and on society, some officials and other experts said. “Diversion as an alternative to detention is a concept that has been around for 40 years, and it came about as the result of evidence showing that a young person’s involvement in the juvenile justice system makes things worse,” said Daniel Macallair, executive director of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, a San Francisco-based nonpartisan nonprofit, whose aim is to reduce the reliance on incarceration. Most diversion programs focus on first-time offenders who have committed misdemeanor crimes. The alternative approach helps them avoid the stigmatization that a criminal conviction would bring, advocates say. “They were developed to give young people a second chance on the belief that though people may mess up once, they may not mess up gain,” said Andrew Fois, deputy attorney general for the District of Columbia. “It prevents people from becoming chronic recidivists by giving them an incentive to leave the destructive path they may be on and get back on a law-abiding path.” According to a study by the National Association of Pretrial Services Agencies (NAPSA), most diversion screening criteria included prior criminal history, type of charge, substance abuse and mental health history, victim approval, the amount of restitution and arresting officer approval. Standard conditions of diversion participation include drug testing, restitution, community service and counseling. In Washington, D.C., diversion programs are open to any youth under 18. There are three levels geared to different offense categories. At the first stage, if police seize a young person for marijuana
possession, they can choose to withhold charges and refer that person to the D. C. Superior Court Social Services Department, where they would be enrolled in Youth Court, a peer-to-peer remediation process. The second stage offers prosecutors the option of sending the offender to Youth Court. At the third stage, the judge and prosecutors can vacate charges if certain conditions are met, officials said. Fois said a lack of resources limits the options they can offer. “It would be nicer if we had more programs that could be more tailored to the person and the crime,” he said. For example, in nearby Prince George’s County in Maryland, the State’s Attorney’s Office offers a broader menu of options. According to the office’s spokesman John Erzen, their diversion programs include a partnership with the University of Maryland, which targets underage drinkers; an anger management program; a drug diversion program for those arrested with less than 10 grams of marijuana; a bad check restitution program; pre-trial mediation; theft diversion for petty crimes such as shoplifting; and community service. Erzen said the benefits of these programs are many. “This ensures [offenders] are held accountable and that they get the help they need,” he said. “And the reality is there is a cost-savings, as well, because [the county] is not paying to have the trial and house this person in jail.” As in Prince George’s County and the District, Baltimore’s diversion programs involve several government agencies and other entities. “It certainly is a holistic approach,” said Baltimore State’s Attorney Gregg Bernstein. While the city’s programs share the goals of providing counseling and treatment where needed and preventing stigmatization, they also reflect a strategic approach to fighting crime, he said.
Copyright © 2013 by the Afro-American Company
Continued on A4