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Every three months: The Open Society Institute under the direction of Nkechi Taifa brings about 50 dedicated professionals together four times a year. Representing close to 50 organizations, we share info and network to change social policy in the USA. Much is accomplished in 90 minutes. At this meeting I showed Tom Angell, LEAP’s new media director, the front page foto and article (at bottom of this letter). I let him know that LEAP expects front page headlines every week! Glad CATO chose Peter Christ to speak: On Thursday I attended a CATO (www.cato.org) event regarding the problems of no-knock SWAT raids on American homes. We listened to the sad story of small town mayor Cheye Calvo whose two black lab dogs were shot dead by police at the beginning of a drug raid on his house. 10 days later the police admitted that the mayor was 0.0 guilty of anything. Expert Radley Balko gave us a history of the use of no-knock, dynamic (violent) entry into homes. Last to speak was retired police captain and one of LEAP’s Founding Five, Peter Christ. The CATO had also considered having me speak but chose Peter instead. So glad they did. Starting slowly and then building and pulling the audience to him, Peter was able to bring immense, emotional power to his speech. He touched me and I am certain all the rest.

Volume 1, number 3 (Autumn 2008) of the West Coast Leaf is now available online at http://www.westcoastleaf.com/1-3/Leaf1-3.pdf. Subscriptions are available here: http://www.westcoastleaf.com/subscriptions.htm.

Releasing all 9 shows for the week, in advance, in advance of Hurricane Ike. (I have not failed to deliver a program in almost 7 years, I'm not going to start now, unless I have no electricity for more than a week.) Drug Truth Network Update: 4:20 Drug War NEWS & Cultural Baggage and Century of Lies for dozens of radio affiliates in the US, Canada and Australis & on the web at www.kpft.org. We provide the "unvarnished truth about the drug war" to scores of broadcast affiliates in the US, Canada and Australia. 4:20 Drug War NEWS 09/15/08 to 09/21/08 now online (3:00 ea:) Select online at www.drugtruth.net SUN - Judge Jerry Paradis from New Zealand 2/2 Sat - Thanks to radio New Zealand, interview with Judge Jerry Paradis of Canada who is touring New Zealand on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Fri - Paul Armentano 3/3 Thu - Paul Armentano 2/3 Wed - Paul Armentano, deputy director of National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws discussed forthcoming convention and falacy of marijuana laws Tue - BBC interview with Jack Cole, director of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition Mon - Ilia Gvoxdenovic of Oaksterdam University discusses their education system for those seeking to grow and distribute medical marijuana The Unvarnished Truth About the Drug War From the Drug Truth Network: (To downlad these 29:00 files, click on links below. To simply listen, go to www.drugtruth.net and select the arrow below the shows description.) Cultural Baggage for 09/17//08 Sul Ross Professor Martin Terry discusses the diappearing peyote button in the US + Terry Nelson for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition & Doug McVay with Drug War Facts MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/2054/FDBCB_091708.mp3 TRANSCRIPT: (To be determined) Century of Lies for 09/16/08 NOTE: Produced in advance of Hurrican Ike, (in case I have no electricity): Judge Jerry Paradis of Canada is touring New Zealand on behalf of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition MP3 LINK: http://www.drugtruth.net/cms/?q=audio/download/2053/COL_091608.mp3 TRANSCRIPT: TBD PLEASE NOTE: We now have transcripts, potcasts, searchability, CMS, XML, sorts by guest name and by organization.

New York: Voting Rights Education Hits the Road The New York Civil Liberties Union this week launched a six-week campaign to educate county election boards and formerly incarcerated individuals on voting rights for those with felony offenses. New York City and Buffalo trains and buses have donned print ads which state: "You have the right to vote ... even if you have a criminal record." Donna Lieberman, the executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union said, "There is a mistaken belief that those with criminal records permanently lose their right to vote. As a result, thousands of New Yorkers are either unnecessarily forfeiting their rights or being unlawfully denied their right to vote." State law bans those incarcerated and on parole from voting, but individuals can vote while on probation. The organization is also active in supporting a bill that would require the state to notify former inmates of their voting status. The bill would provide eligible voters assistance with registration and absentee ballots. It would also require the state Department of Correctional Services to share data with the state Board of Elections to prevent eligible voters with felony convictions from being turned away at voting booths, according to the Press & Sun Bulletin. North Carolina: Campaigning off the Beaten Path Democratic Party campaign supporters have taken to jails to educate inmates on their right to vote, the Durham Herald Sun reported. One delegate went to Durham County Jail in an effort to let inmates with misdemeanors know that they could still register and vote by absentee ballot. The city's mayor, Bill Bell, stated he'd follow through on a request to ask the Durham County Sheriff to ensure inmates could register and send in absentee ballots. Individuals with felony offenses in North Carolina are banned from voting until they've completed their sentence. Nevada: Automatically Eligible, but You Have to Know the Rules Individuals with felony convictions in Nevada have been subject to varying restoration procedures over time, according to Public News Service. The problem is that many individuals don't realize that there are mechanisms by which they can be eligible to vote. Under a 2003 state law, individuals who have completed their sentence for a first-time, non-violent offense are eligible to register to vote. "We're really hoping that we'll get a lot of people involved in this because it's just so important that people participate in civic engagement; it reduces their chances of re-offending, it makes them feel like they are part of the community again, and I think that's just really important in a democracy," said Meredith McGhan, voter restoration advocate for the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada. Tennessee: NAACP Offers Restoration Assistance NAACP Memphis Chapter is offering assistance to residents seeking voting rights restoration, ABC 24 reported. "I think in order to be a United States citizen, it's important to exercise the right to vote. I think it's critically important, and that's why we fight for individuals who have made mistakes and paid for them," said Van Turner, an attorney volunteering with the organization. Tennessee law stipulates that most individuals can vote after they've completed their sentence. Individuals convicted of murder, aggravated rape, treason, or voter fraud after July 1, 1986 are permanently banned from voting. For more information, call 901.521.1343. Virginia: Voting Rights Restoration Forum Planned Norfolk State University's Thurgood Marshall Pre-law Club of the Political Science Department is hosting a restoration of voting rights forum September 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The convening will include assistance with voting rights applications. Virginia permanently disenfranchises individuals with felony offenses. For more information, call 713.582.1316 or visit www.missingvoter.org. - - - - - - Help The Sentencing Project continue to bring you news and updates on disenfranchisement! Make a contribution today. Contact Information -- e-mail: [email protected], web: http://www.sentencingproject.org