Criminal justice panel at Living Water Fellowship Church

Living Water Fellowship Church hosted a social and criminal justice panel of esteemed community leaders and professionals to discuss desired changes to the criminal justice system on Monday, March 11. “We are honored to host this important discussion on criminal justice reform,” said Living Water Senior Pastor Kim Outlaw in a press release. “By bringing together diverse voices and expertise, we aim to cultivate understanding, collaboration, and actionable solutions that uplift our community.” The panel included Deputy Chief of IMPD Kendale Adams, Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis Judith Thomas, Reverend Malichi Walker, and Bishop John Smith. The panel was moderated by Deandra Dycus, the founder of Purpose for My Pain. Adams works in the criminal investigation unit for the IMPD. He shared statistics on homicide and gun violence, some of the misconceptions related to those statistics and why these crimes are prevalent in the community. He also shared tools and organizations that are working to combat these problems, including mental health options. Thomas brought her experience and insight from municipal governance, voicing options for community engagement and addressing gun violence and arrests before they happen. Walker and Smith discussed their personal experiences with talking to teenagers and young men in the...