"There is a lot of member contact going on right now that isn't so obvious, " said Alan Lizotte, dean and professor at the State University of New York at Albany's School of Criminal Justice.

CNN: Gun lobby may emerge victorious when smoke clears

"It's hard for people to come to the table to at least talk about it, " said Alan Lizotte, dean and professor at the State University of New York at Albany's School of Criminal Justice.

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But the politics of all of these measures is tricky and the stakes are high, said Alan Lizotte, dean and professor at the School of Criminal Justice at the State University of New York at Albany.

CNN: Will states go where Congress hasn't on gun laws?

Gun policies are "still a third rail especially if you're really going to try and do something about it, " said Alan Lizotte, dean and professor at the State University of New York at Albany's School of Criminal Justice.

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As a high school social worker in Oakland, California, Alvarez was frustrated by the number of boys of color he saw dropping out of school or falling into the criminal justice system.

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When dads are not around, young people are more likely to drop out of school, use drugs, be involved in the criminal justice system, and become young parents themselves.

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The 62-year-old Harvard Law School graduate faces criminal counts of racketeering, bribery, money laundering and obstruction of justice.

CNN: High court refuses to step in on ex-congressman's case