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Yoga helps some Utah inmates find ‘the beauty and peace' while behind bars

Sahalie Donaldson

April 29, 2019 |

The Salt Lake Tribune |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Draper, Utah

To reduce stress and anxiety and manage anger and addictions, prison facilities in Utah are introducing prisoner-taught yoga classes. Although not without its complications, such as limited resources, prison guards have reported a change in behavior and attitude amongst the inmates, inspiring funders to invest in expanding similar programs at other facilities.

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Coming home: How offender re-entry programs increase job placement and decrease recidivism

David Singer

April 25, 2019 |

WGME-TV |

Broadcast TV News |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Windham, Maine

Maine's only offender re-entry program for women in Windham is on its way to replicate the success of similar programs in Texas and Nevada. Federal justice research has shown that offenders that go through re-entry programs are less likely to reoffend and more likely to hold down a steady job. The Windham program works towards this through their education program that incorporates students from local colleges as well as utilizing a collection of best practices developed by similar programs.

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“What Does the World Beyond Jails and Prisons Look Like?”

Zenobia Jeffries

April 18, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

The Detroit Justice Center is providing a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of poverty in the county. The nonprofit law firm provides immediate support, like paying back child support and posting the cash bail payments that keep those experiencing poverty trapped in a cycle of debt and imprisonment. The group also aims high in their larger efforts to disrupt the criminal justice system, like suing the county to prevent the building of a new jail complex, and provides their clients and the community the chance to reimagine what the city could look like with transformative and economic justice.

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Piece of the Puzzle: Drug Courts Expand Across State

Anna Berry

April 17, 2019 |

New Hampshire Bar News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Concord, New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Drug Court system – helping individuals find rehabilitation rather than prison – has proven to be a success and expanded to counties across the state. The court follows best practices from the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, but also adapts each court to fit the needs of each local community. Since its creation in 2004, over 400 people have graduated from its programming – over 50 percent of its participants.

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Restoring Prisoners' Access to Education Reduces Recidivism

James McWilliams

April 16, 2019 |

Pacific Standard |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Hawaii

A piece of bipartisan legislation was introduced to the United States’ Senate in February 2018 that would give individuals in incarceration access to Pell Grants, thus increasing their college education opportunities. While the bill was not enacted, it is part of an ongoing process of reinstating access to Pell Grants for prisoners from the Obama administration, who gave limited access in its Second Chance program. This bill speaks to the largely bipartisan cultural shift that embraces the need to invest in correctional education in order to prevent recidivism.

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Graffiti punished by reading - 'It worked!' says prosecutor

Emma Jane Kirby

April 16, 2019 |

BBC |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ashburn, Virginia

After graffitiing a historic landmark with swastikas and racist phrases, a juvenile prosecutor chose to educate rather than punish the perpetrators. Each teen was given a list of 35 books that covered topics like race, religion, and culture, and they had to pick 12 and do monthly assignments for a year. The books included titles like, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou, and Night, by Elie Wiesel. After the year, the learning opportunity given to the teens showed demonstrable success.

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Changes Coming To Housing Program For Former Inmates

Edward O'Brien

April 15, 2019 |

Montana Public Radio |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Missoula, Montana

The state of Montana helps former prison inmates find and pay for stable housing and to improve their job-hunting skills after their release. The pilot program is praised both by former inmates, for the support they received, and landlords, who now have an incentive to rent to this population.

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How Norway designed a more humane prison

Gina Barton Christophe Haubursin

April 12, 2019 |

Vox |

Video |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: Norway, Halden

Halden Prison in Norway has re-designed itself so that the look and feel of prison life isn’t an added punishment to restricted freedom. Designers took into consideration the role campus design plays in promoting or disrupting guard-inmate relations and created a campus that promotes community rather than violence and isolation. Also included was landscaping, more natural light, and the use of softer materials, like glass and wood, instead of metal and brick.

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Where Homeownership Starts at $1 per Square Foot

Carla Bell

April 09, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Detroit, Michigan

In Detroit, a new program is offering homeownership for just $1 per square foot to marginalized and vulnerable people, including those who are unhoused, people with disabilities, or the formerly incarcerated. After proving an income of between $7,000 and $12,000 and the abilities to pay rent, as well as financial classes and volunteering, people can qualify to live in tiny homes, which are then handed off to the resident mortgage-free after seven years. So far, the program has built six tiny homes.

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Mass. prisons start offering medication to treat addiction

Felice J. Freyer

April 02, 2019 |

The Boston Globe |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Massachusetts

Newly passed legislation in Massachusetts is allowing prisons to take a step towards managing inmates health care by letting a third party company administer medication that helps treat opioid addiction. This step towards bridging the gap between punishment and help, also focuses on reducing racial inequalities and rates of addiction-caused deaths.

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