For decades, the law enforcement and justice systems have treated juvenile sex workers as criminals, not victims, arresting and locking them up. Now the Oakland Police Department, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and an Oakland nonprofit that works with sexually exploited youth are exploring alternatives to incarceration. But what’s the best way to do it?
Crime
Nola Brantley, right, talks with some of her MISSSEY staff members at the Safe Place Alternative, or SPA, at the Alameda County Family Justice Center. The SPA is a drop-in transition and recovery center for sexually exploited children in Oakland.
As more Oakland youth join the sex trade, law enforcement explores alternatives to incarceration
March 13, 2010 – 10:02 am
Student perspective: On March 4 during the freeway takeover, some reporters got the story. Four of them got arrested.
March 12, 2010 – 9:32 am
On March 4, hundreds of protesters marched from Berkeley to Frank Ogawa Plaza in Oakland to rally with students and educators from across the region. After the rally, a group of some 150 protesters marched onto the I-880 freeway, shut down traffic and were arrested by police. Some reporters got the story — but four of them, including Oakland North correspondent Jake Schoneker, got arrested. Schoneker shares his account of the day, in pictures and words.
He saw a dance party. She saw a riot. What happened at Durant Hall?
March 3, 2010 – 4:38 pm
Oakland North correspondents Shannon Service and Josh Wolf sit down to review footage of last week’s dance party at UC Berkeley and discuss their impressions of what they saw that night.
City of Oakland petitions for gang injunction
February 21, 2010 – 12:45 pm
Evoking the memory of a gruesome, 2009 murder, Oakland’s City Attorney announces a lawsuit for an injunction against 19 members of the North Side Oakland street gang.
Oakland City Council approves ammunition ordinance
February 19, 2010 – 6:22 pm
On Tuesday, Oakland city council members unanimously voted for an ordinance to enhance the city’s existing gun control regulations.
Former Oakland medical marijuana supplier in legal limbo
February 11, 2010 – 2:36 pm
It’s been almost a year since the Justice Department announced it would no longer go after medical marijuana providers who comply with state law. For Mickey Martin, whose Oakland shop distributed edibles laced with cannabis, the decision came a little too late. Mario Furloni and Patrick Kollman have the story.
Supporters remain hopeful six months after boy’s disappearance
February 11, 2010 – 10:44 am
It’s been six months since Hasanni Campbell disappeared from outside a Rockridge shoe store, but the supporters who gathered outside the downtown Oakland police station Wednesday night continue to hope for his safe return.
Oakland seeks help from churches in youth crime prevention
February 10, 2010 – 6:06 pm
Mayor Ron Dellums held a peace conference on Tuesday to discuss how faith-based communities can help prevent crime among youth and called for more collaboration among religious communities.
Timeline: Important dates in the Hasanni Campbell disappearance case
February 5, 2010 – 1:15 pm
On February 10, supporters of missing Fremont boy Hasanni Campbell will rally in front of the Oakland Police Department to call attention to his disappearance six months ago. Oakland North presents a timeline of key moments in the ongoing investigation.
Rally planned for Hasanni Campbell; foster parents reported to have moved
February 5, 2010 – 11:37 am
The homicide investigation into the disappearance of Fremont boy Hasanni Campbell continues amid reports that his foster parents have left the area
City Attorney files lawsuit against immigration consultants
February 3, 2010 – 8:27 am
A civil suit filed Thursday by the Oakland City Attorney’s Office against immigration consultancy American Legal Services alleges that the company made false promises to clients and damaged their cases.
After five years of Measure Y, Oakland asks “Is community policing the answer?”
January 21, 2010 – 9:00 am
A string of robberies in the Golden Gate neighborhood raises questions about the effectiveness of community policing five years after the passage of Oakland’s Measure Y.
1 suspect killed, CHP officer wounded in Temescal armed robbery attempt
January 20, 2010 – 6:48 am
Updated: 5:50 pm: One suspect shot, another detained, and a wounded CHP officer in stable condition after early morning robbery and shootout at a Temescal Walgreens.
OPD Chief Batts ready to try curfew and new technology, but is Oakland?
January 9, 2010 – 10:22 am
Oakland’s new police chief Anthony Batts told a community meeting that he wants to try curfews and other methods from his tenure in Long Beach, but doesn’t know if Oakland’s progressive political community will accept them.
Mehserle trial to begin in May
January 8, 2010 – 5:21 pm
Los Angeles Judge Robert Perry announced that the trial of Johannes Mehserle, the BART officer accused of murdering Oscar Grant on New Year’s Day 2009, could begin in mid-May.
Oakland’s community policing program fears possible cuts
January 8, 2010 – 10:37 am
With Oakland facing a projected $25 million deficit for 2010, the city’s Community Police Advisory Board voiced concern Wednesday that the 13 civilian staff members in the police department’s community policing program might be dismissed.