Corruption in New York
We'll look at corruption in New York State and at what the open purchasing of favors has done to make corruption a daily activity here - so much so that our legislature has been called the "most dysfunctional in the nation".
We look first at the issue of corruption in state government. Gov. Spitzer thinks enough about the seriousness of the problem - and of the Empire State's designation as the "most dysfunctional state government in the nation" - to make ending corruption his first big push right from his Day One pledge.
In the weeks since his inauguration we see the Governor beginning to challenge the absolute control of state government by Sheldon Silver in the Assembly and Joseph Bruno in the Senate. He knows full well that many believe that their total control of the Legislature is at the moral and practical heart of the dysfunction - and that only a change in that control will be ultimately meaningful. Governor Spitzer's resolve - and time - will tell.
We look at corruption in New York State from the view of New York Civic, a non-political, non-partisan, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization developed several years ago by former NYC Parks Commissioner Henry Stern. Henry, who has been the State Chairman of the Liberal Party for the past several years, studiously brings his 40 years of government experience to play in Civic's work while being very careful to avoid any inkling of political partisanship.
 LEGISLATURE CONCEALS IDENTITY OF MEMBERS SPONSORING PORK
WHO SHOULD RUN A LEGISLATURE, THE SPEAKER OR THE MEMBERS
CLARENCE, THOMAS STILL BEING HARASSED
JUDGE GLEESON UPSETS SYSTEM OF JUDICIAL CONVENTIONS
Looking at the Justice System
We'll look at a criminal justice system that this year will release 700,000 criminals back into the national community, knowing full well that two of every three of them will be back in prison within the next three years as the industrial-prison complex holds on tight to the big, rich business prisons have become in America and New York State.
We will examine all the public institutions in America that found their life in the era of liberalism, and that have became twisted by age and by attitudes that have put the needs of those running these programs above the needs of those who should be receiving help and what must be done to restore these institutions to true health.
Dr. Barry Krisberg who has been President of the National Council on Crime and Delinquency for 25 years, authors commentary on research and fact-finding to reveal the problems of the criminal justice system - here and throughout the nation. The NCCD is a non-political, non-profit, liberal, criminal justice think-tank and advocacy organization which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.
INCARCERATION: THE UNITED STATES VS. THE WORLD
REENTRY: THE NATION REACTS
JUVENILE JUSTICE: A NATIONAL POLL
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