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Locals Divided Between Diversion and Border Security

Jesse Alejandro Cottrell

August 26, 2018 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Tucson, Arizona

Pima County, Arizona, eased its jail overcrowding with reforms that reduced the jail population by 400 people. Its Community Collaborative put key players from the criminal justice system, plus formerly incarcerated people, on a team that created programs to divert cases from incarceration to treatment, screen people to detain fewer people before trial, and a new court to reduce the problems working people had in making court dates. A new jail was no longer needed. But a federal border program that gave the county incentives to make needless arrests undercut some of those reforms.

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The prison-to-college pipeline

Mel Jones

August 26, 2018 |

Washington Monthly |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Jersey

The "New Jersey-STEP" program enables inmates and formerly incarcerated individuals to use Pell Grant dollars towards a degree at several in-state schools. Unlike most other prison-to-college initiatives, STEP allows students to transfer credits earned during incarceration. And it's also a plus for universities - schools like Rutgers are benefiting from more tuition dollars at a time when many are experiencing decreasing enrollments.

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How the Smallest State is Defeating America's Biggest Addiction Crisis

Erick Trickey

August 25, 2018 |

Politico |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Cranston, Rhode Island

Inmates at Rhode Island prisons are given the option to participate in a program that provides doses of methadone or other medication to help them break free of opioid addictions, even after leaving prison. The medically-assisted treatment is part of a comprehensive plan to fight opioid addiction in Rhode Island and it's showing results, with 61% fewer fatalities from overdose for recently incarcerated people from last year.

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Cameroon initiative helps young violent offenders become ‘prisonpreneurs,' peace builders

Barbara Borst

August 16, 2018 |

Civic Ideas |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Cameroon, Buea

To give young people in prison hope and a second chance, a new organization known as Creative Skills for Peace attempts to teach inmates about entrepreneurship and job training, as well as civic education and peacebuilding. Achaleke Christian Leke, the founder, hopes to create “prisonpreneurs.” Whether teaching them to make crafts or run greenhouses, Creative Skills for Peace is empowering inmates to empower others.

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'Girls who leave militias get rejected': helping child soldiers go home

Lucy Lamble

August 15, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Enrolling in school can help former girl soldiers reintegrate into society. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Child Soldiers International interviewed community members and former soldiers, and then shared this finding with local organizations to guide programming.

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At This Prison, Puppies and Inmates Give Each Other Purpose

Hallie Steiner

August 15, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Video |

Under 3 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York

Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in upstate New York has implemented a program that pairs puppies with inmates, offering a sense of purpose for both the dog and human. The inmates are tasked with training the puppies to become service animals, which when complete, allows the dogs to go to emergency responders and veterans suffering from PTSD.

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Grassroots Organizations Are Leading the Way on Criminal Justice Reform

Danielle Ziegelheim

August 14, 2018 |

Pacific Standard |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Louis, Missouri

Local groups in cities like St. Louis and New York are organizing to reform the criminal justice system, pushing for policies that reinstate voting rights for formerly incarcerated people, changing punishments for non-violent crimes, and in some cases, eliminating jails altogether. The local know-how and pressure is creating results, and that, along with the funding and assistance that national organizations can bring, is a model for how advocates for criminal justice reform can change the system.

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How tough-on-crime Texas lowered its prison population and what Oklahoma can learn from it

Justin Wingerter

August 12, 2018 |

The Oklahoman |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Texas

In 2007, Texas prisons were near capacity and half a billion dollars was needed to build three new prisons. Instead, the state became a model for conservative-led criminal sentencing reform by changing a host of laws to send many fewer people to prison in the first place. By spending half of the savings on drug and alcohol treatment, among other services, the state focused on solving people's underlying problems rather than always punishing behavior after the fact.

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Parenting From Prison, Inside Out

Lisa Bartfai R.J. Lozada Sylvia Ryerson

August 09, 2018 |

Making Contact |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Concord, New Hampshire

Two programs called FamilyWorks and the Storybook Program aim to improve the relationship between those who are incarcerated and their families. FamilyWorks conducts parenting classes and other education for inmates who may not know how to build a relationship with their children while in prison. Storybook offers inmates the chance to record themselves reading books to send along to their children. Inmates say that both programs taught them a lot and that they are better people for it.

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Despite spike in shootings, a Chicago community gets a handle on violence

Nissa Rhee

August 08, 2018 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has seen a decline in violence, and one neighborhood in particular has led the way, nearly halving its shootings and homicides. Police in Englewood have changed how they work with the community and where they send officers, focusing on the places and people experiencing the most violence, informed by data and surveillance systems. Community organizations are also providing job training, services and counseling to those most likely to be caught up in the violence.

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