"Public Plea" Documentary - Portland Screening

70 NW Couch Street,Portland OR 97209

23 February, 2022

Description

What if your life hinged on decisions you made as a teenager? This documentary explores juvenile justice reform and victims' rights. What if your life hinged on decisions you made as a teenager? That’s the dilemma facing Ricky Gaters, a young Black male and many others incarcerated under a mandatory sentencing law passed decades ago amid the nation’s “tough-on-crime” era - Measure 11. In 2019, the Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 1008, allowing youth offenders to start their cases in the juvenile court system, creating “second look” hearings to determine halfway through a sentence if an offender can possibly be released, and prohibiting life without parole for children younger than 18. However, the legal revisions were not made retroactive. In October 2021, Governor Kate Brown shocked victims' rights advocates by announcing plans to commute many of these young peoples' sentences. Ricky Gaters awaits a decision that could set him free. Defense attorneys, prosecutors, criminologists, legislators, victims' rights advocates, and scholars weigh in on this controversial and timely topic. This 32-minute film explores these issues. The screening will be followed by a brief Q&A session with the filmmakers. Note: Event organizers will observe Oregon and CDC Covid-related protocols. Masks are required to enter and attend this event. The UO School of Journalism and Communication is a community dedicated to excellence in learning, research, and creative projects. We study issues that champion freedom of expression, diversity and equity, and democracy in service to current and future generations. By integrating theory and practice, we advance scholarship and prepare students to become professional communicators, critical thinkers, and responsible citizens in a global society.