Tulsa Chapter NAACP Has New Chair Of Criminal Justice

The Tulsa chapter of the NAACP has a new chair of Criminal Justice. 

Robert Mann said his hope in the new position is to help the chapter and the city move forward.

"We are in a different time in history, and we are in a different position. We are in a more receptive position now where we can talk about real criminal justice, meaningful criminal justice reform," Mann said. 

He said one thing he wants to focus on in his position is restitution to victims.

Mann said people need to be sentenced to cover the cost of the problems they have created. He thinks it's important that when people are in prison, they are working.

"That also means when inmates go in they have a job, and that they have mandatory savings. 40-percent goes to their release so when they get out, they aren't broke," he said.

Mann said it's a goal of his to change the character of the system, to set people up with success. This way when they are released from prison, they won't go back.

"Want education from gate to gate from the time you go in, to the time you leave you will be involved in education," he said.

He said he hopes to work with lawmakers to hear the concerns of people in prison and make them a part of society. 

According to Mann, there's an opportunity in prisons to create whatever environment we choose.

"Rehabilitation means to give new habits, to change the habits, the bad habits that they've had, we want to change those to good habits so they are a benefit to society and not a burden," he said.

Mann said he would also like to meet with the mayor and city council to talk about justice.

For more information, click here: https://naacp.org/our-work/working-your-region