From the FLP mailbox:
Conference Announcement and Call for Papers: Race and Criminal Justice in the West
Gonzaga University School of Law, Friday-Saturday, September 23-24, 2011
Sponsored by: Gonzaga University School of Law, The Task Force on Race and the Criminal Justice System
Description
This conference seeks to examine the topic of race and the criminal justice system in the Western states. Racial minorities continue to be overrepresented in our criminal justice system; yet too often concerns about the high arrest and incarceration rates are dismissed as simply the result of a high rate of criminality. This conference will explore the role of bias, both conscious and unconscious, to ask whether race still matters in our criminal justice system. While the emphasis will be on the West, we welcome papers and presentations focusing on other areas of the country, particularly ones that engage in comparative analyses. Examples of the topics we expect to explore include:
- historical treatment of racial minorities with crime in the West
- empirical research examining the role of racial bias in the criminal justice system
- changing demographics and immigration reform
- unique experiences of African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Latinas/os, and Native Americans with the criminal justice system
- role and impact of police actions, prosecutorial discretion, and judicial decisions
- comparative analyses of the criminal justice in the West with other areas of the country
- solutions for addressing the problem of racial bias.
We invite scholars, practicing lawyers, prosecutors, judges, law enforcement officials, and engaged citizens to submit proposals for individual papers and presentations dealing with these and related issues. We also seek your participation as panel moderators.
The Honorable Barbara Madsen, Chief Justice of the Washington Supreme Court, will be delivering the keynote address on Friday, September 23.
Papers selected for publication will be published by the Gonzaga Law Review in a special symposium issue.
We anticipate approving the conference for CLE credit.
Proposal Submissions
Proposals must contain the following information:
- Name, Address, Phone, and e-mail
- Title of Presentation and whether you seek, additionally, to submit a Paper for publication
- A statement of up to 300 words explaining your topic
We welcome suggestions for full or partial panels. If you suggest a panel, please be certain to submit the above information for each participant.
If you would be willing to serve as a moderator, please indicate that on your proposal.
Deadline for submission of proposals is June 6, 2011. Please submit proposals via e-mail to Professor Jason Gillmer at jgillmer@lawschool.gonzaga.edu. Those submitting can expect to receive a response by July 1, 2011.
Final drafts of papers will be due October 24, 2011. Publication decisions for papers will be made by the Gonzaga Law Review.
-Bridget Crawford
