JACKSON, MS (Mississippi News Now) -
Legalizing marijuana was an option discussed Saturday at the Fifth Annual Criminal Justice Reform Conference on the Jackson State campus.
Groups talked about what they called an over reliance on jail time to battle crime.
Faculty, residents and speakers gave their ideas on how the courts can be reformed to better help minorities in the criminal justice system.
Many at the conference say education, regulation, and rehabilitation would help more people who get in trouble with the law.
"The criminal justice system targets African-Americans and other minorities for arrest and prosecution. And quite frankly I think that to some extent, to a significant extent African Americans have become our own worst enemy," said Leo Barron Hicks, author of The New Cotton.
The ACLU of Mississippi, Drug Policy Alliance, and JSU helped host the conference.
Copyright 2012 WLBT. All rights reserved.
WLBT 3 - Fox 40
