Local • News & Public Affairs • Podcast
It is the intention of Jaws of Justice Radio to investigate how to achieve justice in America, this includes issues of economic injustice, political injustice and the criminal justice system. We want to put a human face on those caught in the grasp of injustice and those that are part of an unjust system. We strive to dispel the misconceptions created by the news and entertainment industry, politicians and our educational system.
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The Team
Craig Lubow is a criminal defense and family law attorney in Kansas. Craig has been a progressive activist since the early 1970s, starting in the War Resisters’ League. Craig serves on the executive committee of the Kanza Group of the Kansas Sierra Club.
Mr. Bell has significant experience in criminal matters at the local, state and federal level. After obtaining his business and tax law degrees, Mr. Bell worked as a tax and estate planning attorney. Combining his desire to help people with his love of the law, Mr. Bell then served as a trial attorney with the Missouri Public Defender’s System in Jackson County, Missouri where he represented thousands of clients in matters ranging from misdemeanor assault to first degree murder. Now in private practice as a criminal defense attorney, Mr. Bell's practice areas include white-collar, violent offenses, drug offenses, and sexual offenses.
I am a native son of Kansas City, Missouri who recently returned to this city after a long expedition, or journey that took me to some of the places in America that are referred to here at KKFI as the “Jaws of Justice!” Once I heard that terminology, I automatically knew this is where I belonged and I have been here every sense.
Margot Patterson is a writer and editor. Most of her experience has been in print journalism, frequently writing on U.S. foreign policy and the Middle East. In 2019 she and co-hosts Jamie Jackson and Jeremy Rothe-Kushel started “Understanding Israel-Palestine,” a now-weekly program that seeks to provide listeners with a more informed perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than is often available in the mainstream press. She is a long-time contributor to KKFI’s “Jaws of Justice” program and has interviewed a wide range of policy experts, criminologists, law enforcement officials and former inmates on topics ranging from juvenile justice detention, mass incarceration and police training to domestic extremism, human trafficking, solitary confinement and new technologies of incarceration.
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It is the intention of Jaws of Justice Radio to investigate how to achieve justice in America, this includes issues of economic injustice, political injustice and the criminal justice system. We want to put a human face on those caught in the grasp of injustice and those that are part of an unjust system. We strive to dispel the misconceptions created by the news and entertainment industry, politicians and our educational system. We want to pull back the veil and reveal those that really write our laws and who our justice system is meant to protect. It is our intention to seek out alternatives to the present practice that puts the law before justice, alternatives that are restorative to those that have been wronged and just to those that have offended. In short, we want to inform our society of the realities of the existing systems and in doing so start a dialogue about how to create systems that truly seek justice for all.
The Jaws of Justice Radio group is made up of formerly incarcerated citizens, family members of victims, family members of the incarcerated, lawyers, and justice seeking members of our community. We invite you to join the dialogue.
Jaws of Justice Radio has covered issues of law enforcement, courts, incarceration, homelessness, economic injustice, foster care, death penalty, constitutional rights and more. We are looking for organizations and individuals to tell their story, and more folks that want to learn how to produce radio.
Executive co-producers are Craig Lubow and Margot Patterson.
December 4, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
THE WORK DONE WHILE WAITING FOR RIGHTS
Host David Bell will talk with Madeline Johnson, co-founder and managing partner of Missouri Kansas Queer Law. They discuss the meaning of justice for individuals whose identities may not fit neatly into well-defined categories.
ListenNovember 27, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
Veteran’s Courts in Kansas and BROKEN SYSTEMS NEED RADICAL REFORM
Host Craig Lubow talks to the Honorable Renee Henry about the Veterans Court in Wyandotte County, Kansas, to discuss the purpose, goals, benefits, and eligibility for the Veterans Court. Next, we will replay our show from 6-18-23 when host Bev spoke with Matthew Solomon, Award-Winning Filmmaker, Best-Selling Author, and Integrated Leadership Consultant, about his recent documentary, Reimagining Safety.
ListenNovember 20, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
YOU CAN LEARN FROM MISTAKES; PUT THOSE LESSONS INTO PRACTICE
To begin our hour, host Bev Livingston will talk with Bobby Bostic. Bobby Bostic served the longest sentence in Missouri given to a juvenile for non-homicide offenses. He was paroled and has started a non-profit organization for charity and written 15 books, as well as serving as a youth mentor. Next, host Melvin Merritt speaks with Gina Chiala, Ex Director of Heartland Center for Jobs and Freedom.
ListenNovember 13, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
ALEX VITALE: THE POLITICS OF PUBLIC SAFETY: POLICE REFORM AND ALTERNATIVES
Prof. Alex Vitale gave the Cockefair lecture at UMKC. He is Professor of Sociology and Coordinator of the Policing and Social Justice Project at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center who has spent the last 30 years writing about policing and consulting community-based movements, human and civil rights organizations, and governments internationally. Prof. Vitale is the author of The End of Policing.
ListenNovember 6, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
ERICA ANDRADE OF EL CENTRO SPEAKS ON THE MEANING OF JUSTICE
Host David Bell speaks with Erica Andrade, President and CEO of El Centro, Inc. They will explore what justice means to her and to the community she serves.
ListenOctober 30, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
ISSUES ABOUT CAMERON LAMB; LEGAL CHALLENGES FACING U.S. SUPREME COURT
Jaws of Justice will replay from our April 2020 show when host Pat Bartholome spoke with Sheryl Ferguson, a friend of Cameron Lamb. The KCMO Police Detective convicted in the shooting death has been sent to prison.
Next, host Craig Lubow talks to Allen Rostron, a constitutional law expert who teaches at UMKC School of Law.
October 23, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
OUR GUEST IS JOURNALIST LEWIS W. DIUGUID
Host Macy Jones will interview Journalist Lewis W. Diuguid. Lewis Diuguid is the former columnist, editorial board member, op-ed page editor, and letters editor at The Kansas City Star, as well as a published author. Their topics will be diverse, but are sure to include education issues including banned books.
ListenOctober 16, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
PLEASE, THANKS AND SORRY
First, host Bev Livingston will speak with Aaron Dougherty, an independent filmmaker from Kansas City, MO. There will be a premiere of his film, “The Best Day of Your Life” at Music Theater Heritage, 2450 Grand Boulevard at Crown Center on Saturday, November 4th, 5:00 PM. Then, host Melvin Merritt will speak with Lesa Patterson-Kinsey of Protecting KS Children from Sexual Predators, Sarah Bremmer of Synergy and Alice Kitchen of the Greater KC Women’s Coalition about Putting Survivors at the Center.
ListenOctober 9, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
GOOD REASONS TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Let's come together to support the beauty of community radio. Jaws of Justice is a weekly locally created hour intended to inspire action towards preventing injustices. There is a need to raise awareness and foster a fairer legal system. For the pledge drive, we are bringing a very special show. Host Macy Jones is speaking with another of our hosts, Keith Brown El. Keith is a member of Missouri CURE, Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants.
ListenOctober 2, 2023 Local, News & Public Affairs, Podcast
WRONGFUL CONVICTION DAY 2023
Our show on October 2nd falls on the Tenth Annual Wrongful Conviction Day. Host Latahra Smith, Founder of KC Freedom Project, will speak with Stephanie M. Burton, J.D., of Stephanie M. Burton, LLC. No innocent person should ever spend a day in prison, and yet innocent people are wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. In the second half of our program, Latahra will speak with Mataka Askari and Sheila Bruno about Post-Incarceration Syndrome, a syndrome similar to PTSD. Even after serving their official sentences, many people continue to suffer the mental effects. Mataka and Sheila are representatives of an amazing organization called Wife After Prison.
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