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At Philly reentry 'hackathon,' using tech to drive down recidivism

Danielle Fox

October 23, 2017 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A hackathon in Philadelphia brought together a diverse group of people, including formerly incarcerated individuals, to discuss the complex issue of reentry and come up with tech-based ways to help. The collaboration resulted in four promising projects, with several created to be accessible through text messaging, rather than apps, as many formerly incarcerated individuals lack access to smartphones and wifi.

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How a Temple professor and a prison inmate started an international movement

Samantha Melamed

October 23, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In the Inside-Out Exchange program half of the students are college students, and the other half are prison inmates. The program has “expanded to about 150 correctional institutions across the globe” but the biggest takeaway is the effect it has on people. Students were “ engaged in a way they never had been in the classroom. For the inmates, suddenly their opinions mattered.”

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The New Co-op Helping Ex-Inmates Find Work—and Recover

J. Gabriel Ware

October 18, 2017 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Washington D.C. struggles with the highest incarceration rates in the nation that already imprisons more people than any other country in the world. But a few determined individuals, including ex-offender Juan Reid, are working to break the cycle by empowering former inmates to join their business cooperative, Tightshift, catered specifically to those reentering the system by providing job training and paid work, as well as critical emotional healing and support.

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Training For A Better Life

Quinn O'Callaghan

October 11, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Narbeth, Pennsylvania

Overwhelmingly, individuals who have been incarcerated will spend the rest of their lives dragging in-and-out of prison, with few resources to help break the cycle and get them back on their feet. But one program called "New Leash on Life" stands out for helping dramatically slash recidivism rates for inmates in Pennsylvania prisons by teaching inmates to train and care for formerly "un-adoptable" rescue dogs, building empathy, job skills, and giving both human and dog a second chance at life.

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Opioid crisis puts Ohio jails at the center of burden and opportunity

Rachel Dissell

October 01, 2017 |

Cleveland.com (The Plain Dealer) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

As jails in Ohio struggle with the skyrocketing numbers of people addicted to opioids, they are increasingly becoming the state's primary detox centers. This article explores how several counties are addressing the issue by connecting inmates to jobs, training and housing to cut down on overdose deaths and reduce recidivism. Medicaid has also made it easier to get inmates health insurance coverage, which gives them access to treatment and medications upon release.

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Quaker City Coffee is betting that former drug dealers will make good entrepreneurs

Julie Zeglen

September 28, 2017 |

Generocity |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Quaker City Coffee Company taps into the skills and expertise of formerly incarcerated people while providing much needed jobs. The company is small, but it aims to serve as a model for other such efforts to help ex-cons find employment.

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Courts That Save Opioid Victims' Family Life

Amelia Schonbek

September 26, 2017 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Dunkirk, New York

The rampant opioid epidemic tearing through communities across the United States is exacerbated by a rigid court system that fails to address individual needs and a severe lack of comprehensive treatment options, even for those who want to get clean. Family Treatment Court, like the one in Chautauqua County, N.Y., provides parents who are addicts an innovative intervention program that includes a broad range of custom-tailored services to permanently quit their drug use and keep their families together.

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Let down and locked up: Why Oklahoma's female incarceration is so high

Ziva Branstetter

September 20, 2017 |

Reveal |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Oklahoma currently locks up more women than any other state in the country, incarcerating females at more than double the national rate, and harshly deals out ever-longer sentences to prisoners, disproportionately targeting poor women and those of color. Tulsa is the one exception, thanks to a charitably-funded, intensive programs like The Education and Employment Ministry and Women in Recovery, which combine shorter prison terms with rehabilitative treatment and supportive probation, including drug addiction recovery, employment assistance, and life skills classes.

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The Latest Trend in Reducing Recidivism: Keeping Mothers and Children Together

Rebecca Beitsch

September 19, 2017 |

Governing |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Most states and cities don’t permits mothers who give birth in prison to stay with their children. However, scattered across the country are programs like ReMerge, a program in Oklahoma City that allows mother and children to stay together, and avoid prison time. Programs like these are working, and yield lower recidivism rates.

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Lancaster knows how to keep people out of jail, but it's expensive

Bobby Allyn

September 14, 2017 |

WHYY |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Officials around Pennsylvania who want to reduce recidivism are studying a re-entry program in Lancaster that gives former inmates intensive case management to help them return to society. That includes transitional housing, job interview clothing and workshops on things like personal finance and interviewing skills. It also addresses the small slips that often send someone back to jail by putting the fees many former prisoners owe on hold for six months and helping them tackle bureaucratic challenges that can seem daunting.

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