You might ask, why misdemeanors? These are minor infractions, like jaywalking, right? Well, this 35 minute film, inspired by Alexandra Natapoff’s book Punishment Without Crime: How our Massive Misdemeanor System Traps the Innocent and Makes America More Unequal, exposes how these “minor infractions” coupled with our country’s history of racial injustice, have evolved into an enormous abuse of criminal justice power.
The following resources, provided by Brave New Films, will aid you in familiarizing yourself with this issue before the screening. The CA LWV Criminal Justice Committee will be using the questions from the discussion guide during the event.
Discussion Guide
Website: Misdemeanorfilm.org
The event will start on time, so join the Zoom a few minutes early to be sure you’re there when it begins. The film and discussion will last one hour.
Immediately after the discussion, California members are invited to stay for our monthly statewide Criminal Justice Committee meeting. It is expected to last from 6:30-7:00pm (Pacific). Read more about our work in California.