By OnMilwaukee Staff Writers   Published Feb 10, 2003 at 5:14 AM

Milwaukee Turners will sponsor a series of forums addressing the question, "Wisconsin's Criminal Justice System: Is it working?"

All of the discussions are from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Historic Turner Hall, 1034 N. 4th St. Admission is free and attendees may bring a bag lunch or buy food before the program from the Historic Turners Restaurant.

On Thurs., Feb. 13, the topic of discussion is "The Juvenile Justice System: Rehabilitation or Criminal Training?" Panelists will include Ramon Candelaria, executive director of the Latino Community Center; Gary Erdmann, executive director of Lad Lake, Inc.; Nancy Joseph, assistant federal defender; Honorable Michael Malmstadt, Milwaukee County Judge (Children's Court Branch 39.)

"Sentencing and Prisons: Cost and Effects" is scheduled for Thur., Feb 20, with panelist Matthew Frank, Secretary of the Department of Corrections; Honorable Louis Butler, Milwaukee County Judge (Circuit Court Branch 9); LaVealea Grandberry, women's support specialist at for Asha Family Services, Inc.; and Pam Oliver, Professor of Sociology at UW-Madison.

Finally, on Thur.,Feb. 27, "Innovative Approaches to Justice" will be the topic of the hour. Panelists for this forum include John Celichowski, attorney and pastor at St. Benedict the Moor Parish; Janine Geske, acting dean of Marquette's Law School; Kit McNally, executive director of the Benedict Center; Bob Gibson, criminal justice systems consultant and president of the Preston Corporation .

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Jack Murtaugh will serve as the moderator for all of the forums.

Channel 10 will air the forums the following Friday at 10 p.m., Channel 36 the following Sunday at 3 p.m. and WUWM 89.7 on Sunday at 6 p.m.

This program is co-sponsored by the UWM Milwaukee Idea & Center for Urban Initiatives and Research and Milwaukee Public Television. For more information, call Milwaukee Turners at (414) 272-2833.