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Can a Bible college in this NC prison make a difference?

Shelbi Polk

September 27, 2018 |

The News & Observer |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Wake Forest, North Carolina

The Field Minister Program by the College at Southeastern Baptist Seminary offers inmates inside Nash Correctional the opportunity to study ministry and ultimately be used as a tool to reduce recidivism. Inmates with long terms lead the cultural change within the prisons by helping departing inmates find jobs, mentors and communities, running their own religious services, and becoming juvenile mentors, GED tutors, hospice care workers, chaplain support, and more. Studies done on similar programs show that Bible college reduces participant misconduct by 65-80%, and many inmates share stories of success.

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Stripped: The Search for Human Rights in US Women's Prisons

Adam Skolnick

September 07, 2018 |

Longreads |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

After her client and friend gets sentenced to 13 years in prison at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, Laurie Dawson, an activist, sets out to reform prison practices. With the guidance of the Bangkok Rules, an international document that outlines 70 principles meant to reform women’s prisons, Dawson sets her sight on eliminating strip searches from WCCM, and succeeds.

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As a teen he killed a man. A new law has given him a second chance.

Keith L. Alexander

September 06, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

The Incarceration Reduction Amendment Act was passed is a D.C. law that allows people who commited a crime before the age of 18 to have their sentences reduced if they’ve served at least 20 years in prison. The law was built on the idea that youth, whose brains haven’t even fully developed yet, should not receive adult sentences. ““This isn’t about giving people a slap on the wrist,” he said. “It’s about giving people consequences that are age-appropriate.”

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Restoring Ex-Convicts' Voting Rights

Nina Sparling

August 29, 2018 |

WhoWhatWhy |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

A digital tool called Restore Your Vote launched in the summer of 2018 to help ex-convicts understand their voting restoration status after re-integrating into society. The initiative, which has been piloted in Alabama, aims to reduce disenfranchisement in ex-convict communities by targeting unclear language, misinformation, and lack of access to education.

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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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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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An innovative approach to criminal justice reform: Put black women in charge

Timothy Pratt

August 03, 2018 |

The Washington Post |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, South Fulton, Georgia

South Fulton is the only city in the U.S. to put black women in charge of its criminal justice system—from the judge, to the prosecutor, to the public defender. “The result: A focus on community policing, pretrial diversion programs and assigning public defenders to all cases.” Ultimately, the aim is to divert black people from entering the prison pipeline, and establishing a model that can be replicated in other cities.

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Caring for California's aging prisoners

Sharon Bernstein

June 20, 2018 |

Reuters |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In California, about 18,400 inmates are over the age of 55. In order to properly treat them the state is building a dementia unit. Other states like New York might follow suit, in order to properly care for their aging inmate population.

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Nebraska prisons playing major role in mental health care

JoAnne Young

June 20, 2018 |

Lincoln Journal Star |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Nebraska

Nebraska prisons house many of the state's mentally ill, and they are working on comprehensive care for them. Prisons work to improve outcomes and reduce recidivism through mentorship programs. The Mental Health Association runs programs in Nebraska prisons and trains peer supporters on the inside.

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How Southern organizers are leading the movement to end money bail

Gabrielle Hernandez

May 17, 2018 |

Scalawag |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Atlanta, Georgia

The organization Southerners on New Ground is helping reform the criminal justice system in the south. Activists won a small victory in Atlanta, where the mayor and city council approved a resolution that replaced cash bonds with signature bonds for misdemeanor offenses. They also raised money to help people pay their cash bails as part of a larger event called the National Bail Out collective, which bailed out 147 Black women in 26 cities this year.

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