Tag: jason dawkins

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Representative Jason Dawkins Office Moves to the Daral

Representative Jason Dawkins and the staff have moved over to their new office in the Daral building at 4667 Paul Street.  That is on Paul right off Frankford Avenue.

I was over there yesterday and the new office is great.  There is more than enough room, finally, for people to do their work.  The building is still a construction site, so if you need to visit, call first to make sure it is safe to enter.  The numbers are (215) 744-7901,  (215) 744-7902 and  (215) 744-7903.

The Frankford CDC and NAC will be occupying the second floor of the building and they should be over there sometime next month.

 

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Dawkins Proposes Task Force on Juvenile Life Sentences

State Representative Jason Dawkins in working on final preparations to issue a resolution in the jason dawkinsGeneral Assembly to establish the Task Force on Juvenile Life Sentences.

The task force will meet to develop recommendations regarding how best to handle appeals and applications for post-conviction relief from the hundreds of individuals in this Commonwealth who were sentenced to mandatory life without parole when they were under the age of 18.

The task force will be comprised of eleven experts that are knowledgeable and experienced in issues relating to criminal appeals, post-conviction relief, and the appropriate sentencing of youth offenders.  Seven members will be appointed by the House, Senate and governor, while the remaining four will consist of representatives from the Department of Corrections, the Board of Probation and Parole, the Sentencing Commission, and the Office of Victim Advocate.

In 2012, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Miller v. Alabama that mandatory life without parole sentences for individuals who were under 18 at the time of the offense are unconstitutional.  Then, on January 25, 2016, our nation’s highest court ruled in Montgomery v. Louisiana that its decision in Miller must be applied retroactively.  Pennsylvania faces a greater challenge in complying with Miller and Montgomery than most states, as it is home to nearly 500 of the nation’s 2,000 “juvenile lifers.”

The resolution calls for a thorough and comprehensive review of laws, court decisions, policies and procedures.  This will ensure an efficient appeals and post-conviction relief process that will provide just and fair sentences that are sufficient to protect public safety and promote rehabilitation.

Follow this link for a draft of the proposed resolution.

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Egg-citing Easter Day Event

Turning Points for Children in Frankford in partnership with Team Dawkins, will be hosting a community-wide Easter Egg Hunt on March 24th at Gambrel Recreation Center next to Harding Middle School from 10 a.m.-1 pm. Please share with your families or members of the community with children who would enjoy this!!!

There will be an egg hunt, chance to win an Easter basket, light refreshments and snacks, conversations that strengthen your families, and fun activities! All details are below.

Egg-Citing Easter Event 2016-DawkinsChargers

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Frankford Civic Association Meeting January 2016

It was a good crowd for the first meeting of the year at St. Marks on January 7th.  The highlight of the meeting was the talk by State Representative Jason Dawkins on the ongoing budget stalemate and the inside story of how it a potential budget agreement all fell apart right before Christmas.

Veronica Daniel updated the group on the Town Watch being formed in PSA1 of the 15th district.  Residents interested or who want more information should attend the next PSA meeting on January 28th at 7PM at Aria Hospital.  She noted that a partnership with the Representative’s office would be very beneficial.

Rep. Dawkins agreed and went on the say that the community would benefit from stronger working relationships between the various groups in Frankford.  His team is looking into how to facilitate that goal.

Dawkins went on to a list of other issues they are looking at for this year:

  • The 15th District gun buy back in December was very successful with 82 weapons turned in.  Dawkins is interested in targeting the gun buy back at the younger crowd since that is the demographic most likely to be involved in crime involving guns.
  • Newly sworn in mayor Kenney has committed to community schools as are not implemented in the Cincinnati school district.  If something is implemented, Frankford should be at the top of the list.
  • We have a new Commissioner of Police and it would be good to have him come to Frankford to meet the community to hear about our concerns.

Chris from Margaret Street raised the issue of the truck parking on Ditman Street and Torresdale Avenue and also problem of Harding School failure to keep the sidewalk area clean on the Ditman Street side back where it intersects Margaret.

Pete Specos discussed the problem of lighting under the El being an invitation to crime because it is too dark there.  Rep. Dawkins said that it is being addressed as part of the reconstruction of the Arrott Street Transportation Center which began last week.  That is a 30 month long project that will bring the station into the 21st century.

The next Frankford Civic Association meeting will be on February 4th at 7 PM at St. Mark’s Church at 4442 Frankford Avenue.  Entrance is through the side door in the parking lot.