John Santa and Angel Reyes, recipient of the first annual Matt Semple Memorial Scholarship, recently appeared on Gwen’s show to explain the challenges and opportunities for successful reentry to society of formerly incarcerated persons. Angel explained what it was like to go through this process while John explained the broader nature of the situation and what can be done to make it more consistently successful. … [Read more...]
About Jeff Grant, Online Editor
John Santa’s Acceptance Speech for the Cesar Battalia Award
John Santa was recently awarded the Cesar Battalia Award by the Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition for his outstanding community service in his advocacy for Criminal Justice reform in Connecticut. His acceptance speech passionately outlines the challenge and opportunity for us all in this vital social justice arena. … [Read more...]
Creative Corrections Education Foundation Founder Percy Pitzer attends the college graduation of Christopher Scarver Jr.
By:John Gray Executive Assistant Creative-Corrections-Education-Foundation I think today was definitely a win for Creative Corrections Education Foundation. Founder Percy Pitzer and I were able to Christopher is the son of Christopher Scarver Sr., who murdered the notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer while in prison. Christopher is the first of 77 recipients to graduate and we at Creative Corrections Education Foundation could not be more proud of this wonderful milestone! Percy's vision of helping children of incarcerated parents has proven that it is definitely cheaper to send a child to Yale than it is to Jail! Stoping the cycle of second generation crime continues to be one of the main focal points … [Read more...]
The Milwaukee Experiment
What can one prosecutor do about the mass incarceration of African-Americans? Article from The New Yorker MAY 11, 2015 ISSUE BY JEFFREY TOOBIN Like many people in the criminal-justice system, John Chisholm, the District Attorney in Milwaukee County, has been concerned for a long time about the racial imbalance in American prisons. The issue is especially salient in Wisconsin, where African-Americans constitute only six per cent of the population but thirty-seven per cent of those in state prison. According to a study from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as of 2010 thirteen per cent of the state’s African-American men of working age were behind bars—nearly double the national average, of 6.7 … [Read more...]
Forcing Black Men Out of Society
Editorial Section NY Times - 4/27/15 An analysis in The Times — “1.5 Million Missing Black Men” — showed that more than one in every six black men in the 24-to-54 age group has disappeared from civic life, mainly because they died young or are locked away in prison. This means that there are only 83 black men living outside of jail for every 100 black women — in striking contrast to the white population, where men and women are about equal in numbers. This astounding shortfall in black men translates into lower marriage rates, more out-of-wedlock births, a greater risk of poverty for families and, by extension, less stable communities. The missing men should be a source of concern to political leaders … [Read more...]
As Attorney General, Loretta Lynch Plans Striking New Tone for the Justice Dept
By MATT APUZZO and JENNIFER STEINHAUERAPRIL 23, 2015 : New York Times WASHINGTON — Loretta E. Lynch, who was confirmed Thursday as attorney general, will meet with local police officers nationwide this summer as she tries to strike a new tone for the Justice Department amid a roiling controversy over the use of lethal force, aides said. Ms. Lynch, who will be the first black woman to hold the post, will replaceEric H. Holder Jr., an ally of President Obama who has been the administration’s most outspoken voice on issues of race relations and civil rights. His tenure made him a hero among many on the left but recently earned him scorn from some police groups who said he was too quick to criticize … [Read more...]
Violence Inside Rikers
Exclusive Video: Violence Inside Rikers BY JENNIFER GONNERMAN The New Yorker Magazine. May, 2010, Kalief Browder, a sixteen-year-old high-school sophomore, was arrested in the Bronx for allegedly stealing a backpack. He insisted that he was innocent, but he was taken to Rikers Island, New York City’s four-hundred-acre jail complex. Browder spent the next three years at Rikers, awaiting trial while his case was repeatedly delayed by the courts. In May, 2013, the case against him was dismissed. (Last fall, I wrote about Browder for the magazine.) This week, The New Yorker obtained two surveillance-camera video clips that depict the dual horrors of Browder’s years in jail: abuse by a guard … [Read more...]
Greenwich Time: ‘THESE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING.’ Group offers help to innocent families of white-collar criminals
‘THESE PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING’ Group offers help to innocent families of white-collar criminals By Robert Marchant, Reprinted from Greenwich Time, Friday. April 17, 2015 Rich, white people going to jail? Insert punch-line here. The issue of white-collar crime and prison is typically presented in the popular culture as a target of comedy and derision, the subject of Hollywood films for generations. But to the Rev. Jeff Grant and his wife, Lynn Springer, it’s hardly a laughing matter. Grant is a former corporate lawyer who fell into an addiction to painkillers and liquor, and he served 14 months in a federal prison on a business-fraud conviction. He and his wife of six years, Springer, established an … [Read more...]
With Prison Tablets, a Choice Between Rehabilitation and Profiteering
by Amadou Diallo Editor's Note: This is the second of a two-part series on prison profiteering schemes that provide inmate services at a high cost to a population that is disproportionately poor. Part one looks at money-transfer fees and the growing popularity of jail and prison-issued “release cards." The phone call Grace Bauer received from her son Corey, an inmate in Maryland’s Roxbury state prison, was one of desperation. An incident with other inmates the previous day made him fear that his life was in danger. “I had to call the prison and ask for help,” she recalled. Because her communication with Corey is limited to scheduled phone calls, Bauer could do nothing but wait anxiously to find out if her … [Read more...]
‘Release Cards’ Turn Inmates and Their Families Into Profit Stream
by Amadou Diallo Unlike consumer debit cards, prison-issued cards are unregulated and subject to exorbitant fees. Editor's Note: This is the first of a two-part series on prison profiteering schemes that provide inmate services at a high cost to a population that is disproportionately poor. In 2013 Gregg Cavaluzzi walked out of federal prison with nothing more than the clothes he wore going in five years earlier and a Chase-branded debit card holding what remained of money sent by family members and the meager pay he’d earned working in the prison library. “They simply gave me the debit card and said ‘Your money’s on it,’” he recalled. But when he used the card to pay for a celebratory meal at … [Read more...]
FBI Admits Flaws in Hair Analysis Over Decades
Spencer S. Hsu, of the Washington Post: The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000. Of 28 examiners with the FBI Laboratory’s microscopic hair comparison unit, 26 overstated forensic matches in ways that favored prosecutors in more than 95 percent of the 268 trials reviewed so far, according to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Innocence Project, which are assisting the government with the country’s largest post-conviction review of questioned forensic … [Read more...]
Long Road To Project Longevity, By Charlie Grady
Long Road To Project Longevity, By Charlie Grady Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Apr. 11, 2015 We met Charlie Grady when he became the Bridgeport Project Manager for Project Longevity. He became a regular at the Bridgeport Reentry Roundtable and in very short order we were all enriched by his breadth of experience. - Jeff ___________ On a hot summer night in the year 2000 in a suburban neighborhood of Hamden, CT. A narcotics Detective sits at the kitchen table with the young man who rented the house that CT. State Police and the FBI had just raided. The house has been turned inside out during the search for heroin. Over $10,000 worth of the drugs were found tagged and bagged. The man, Freddie Williams … [Read more...]
Malta Justice Chair John Santa To Be Honored At Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition Annual Breakfast on April 30th in Bridgeport
Malta Justice Chair John Santa To Be Honored At Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition Annual Breakfast on April 30th in Bridgeport Bridgeport – The Bridgeport Child Advocacy Coalition (BCAC) has announced that it will host its 30th annual Breakfast on Thursday, April 30th, 7:30am, at the Bridgeport Holiday Inn. This year’s speaker is Bob Herbert, a senior fellow at the think tank Demos and the author of Losing Our Way: An Intimate Portrait of a Troubled America. Previously, Herbert was an opinion columnist for The New York Times, where he established himself as a leading voice for the working poor and middle class. At the breakfast, which traditionally draws about 300 people, two local people will be … [Read more...]
CT-N Video: Malta Justice Initiative/The Justice Imperative Legislative Breakfast, The Capitol, Hartford, CT, Mar. 26, 2015
CT-N Video: Malta Justice Initiative/The Justice Imperative Legislative Breakfast, The Capitol, Hartford, CT, Mar. 26, 2015 CT-N Video of Malta Justice Initiative Legislative Breakfast ______________ Join Malta Justice Initiative’s Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or lease our subscription list to third parties. … [Read more...]
The National Hire Ex-Felons Campaign, By Bob Pelshaw
The National Hire Ex-Felons Campaign, By Bob Pelshaw Reprinted from prisonist.org The Relationship Between Felons – Jobs – Employers - Crime As an employer I never thought about this issue until becoming a convicted felon myself. I served ten months at Leavenworth Federal Prison Camp for a mistake nearly all businessmen have done: I “robbed Peter to pay Paul” in the height of the Great Recession. I’m not justifying it, and I didn’t intend to commit a crime. Don’t worry, I didn’t rob anyone, there was no theft, Ponzi scheme, conspiracy, fraud, or anything as exotic as that. I was convicted of making a false statement by temporarily, and stupidly, misusing SBA loan funds. The project opened and all the … [Read more...]
Photos: Malta Justice Initiative/The Justice Imperative Legislative Breakfast, The Capitol, Hartford, CT, Mar. 26, 2015
Photos: Malta Justice Initiative/The Justice Imperative Legislative Breakfast, The Capitol, Hartford, CT, Mar. 26, 2015 ______________ Join Malta Justice Initiative’s Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or lease our subscription list to third parties. … [Read more...]
Criminal Justice & Corrections System in Connecticut at Western Connecticut State University
Western Connecticut State University: The Justice & Law Club presents CRIMINAL JUSTICE & CORRECTIONS SYSTEM IN CONNECTICUT: A TWO-PART SERIES Couldn't Keep it to Myself: Testimonies from our Imprisoned Sisters Tuesday, March 31, 5:30 p.m. Westside Classroom Building 218 The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked the American Dream Wednesday, April 1, 5:30 p.m. Westside Campus Center Ballroom _______________ Join Malta Justice Initiative’s Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or lease our subscription list to third parties. … [Read more...]
Churches & Prison Ministry: There’s nobody like that in my church! By Rev. Dr. Harold Dean Trulear
Churches & Prison Ministry: There's nobody like that in my church! By Rev. Dr. Harold Dean Trulear Reprinted from prisonist.org, Mar. 23, 2015 Harold Dean Trulear and the Healing Communities team will be holding a workshop on Sat., March 28th, 9 am - 3 pm at the Holiday Inn, Bridgeport, CT. For info & tickets, contact: Rev. Aaron Best (203) 870-5914. Dr. Trulear and I will both be giving workshops on May 29th at this year's Correctional Ministries & Chaplains Assn. Summit, Wheaton College, IL. - Jeff ___________ "So far, so good..."The sentiment echoed in the back of my mind constantly, as I surveyed the faces of others on my cell block. I felt enough shame for being a Christian in … [Read more...]
“The Justice Imperative,” at The Public Library of New London, Monday, March 23, 5:30pm.
“The Justice Imperative,” at The Public Library of New London, Monday, March 23, 5:30pm. 63 Huntington Street New London, Connecticut 06320 tel: 860-447-1411 fax: 860-443-2083 Reprinted from plnl.org. Join us for a discussion of the book “The Justice Imperative" on Monday, March 23 at 5:30pm. A dedicated group of professionals from the fields of law, academia, business, religion and corrections took a unique approach to the problem of mass incarceration in Connecticut and the United States. They wrote a book–together. And they want to share their findings with you. Hear from one of the authors how this process took place, what concerns you should have as a citizen and taxpayer–where is … [Read more...]
Stratford Star: Family ReEntry presents actor and social activist Danny Glover in Bridgeport, Weds., May 6, 2015, 7 pm
Stratford Star: Family ReEntry presents actor and social activist Danny Glover in Bridgeport, Weds., May 6, 2015, 7 pm Reprinted from Stratford Star on March 17, 2015. Family ReEntry invites the public to an evening with the acclaimed actor and leading social activist, Danny Glover Wednesday, May 6, at 7 p.m., at The Klein Memorial Auditorium in Bridgeport. Glover has gained respect for his wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts with a particular emphasis on Mass Incarceration and the Racial Disparity in America’s prison system. Family ReEntry’s mission is to develop, implement, and share innovative, sustainable, cost-effective solutions to the unprecedented … [Read more...]
John Santa, Chairman of the Malta Justice Initiative, on Counterpoint with Scott Harris, WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT.
John Santa, Chairman of the Malta Justice Initiative, on Counterpoint with Scott Harris, WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT. John Santa, Chairman of the Malta Justice Initiative talks about MJI's proposals for reforming the criminal justice system both in Connecticut and the nation -- and his project's new book, "The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream." Counterpoint, hosted by Scott Harris, is heard every Monday night on WPKN 89.5 FM, Bridgeport, CT between 8:00 - 10:00 pm ET. Webstreaming and audio archive at http://wpkn.org. Link to Counterpoint Radio web page: http://counterpointradio.org/2015/150309-cp.html Link to the MP3 audio file only (unedited … [Read more...]
Malta Justice Initiative Legislative Breakfast, Thurs., March 26th, 8:30 am, Capitol Building, 3rd floor, Hartford, CT
Malta Justice Initiative Legislative Breakfast, Thurs., March 26th, 8:30 am, Capitol Building, 3rd floor, Hartford, CT. Babz Rawls Ivy & I serve as Online Editors for Malta Justice Initiative and its important book and movement, "The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream." - Jeff Link to Amazon to Order Your Copy. _______________ Malta Justice Initiative announces a LEGISLATIVE BREAKFAST, Thursday, 3/26, at 8:30 am at the Capitol Building (3rd floor), Hartford, CT. MJI has worked with the Republican leadership in the state House and Senate to host this breakfast which will focus on a discussion of legislative objectives as outlined in the book, The Justice … [Read more...]
JustLeadershipUSA: A New Paradigm, by William Eric Waters
JustLeadershipUSA: A New Paradigm, by William Eric Waters Glenn Martin, CEO of JustLeadershipUSA, will be a panelist at Family ReEntry Presents: An Evening With Danny Glover, May 6th at The Klein in Bridgeport. Danny will be interviewed by WNPR's Colin McEnroe. Other Panelists & Presenters include Charles Grodin, Mayor Bill Finch, Steve Lanza, Hon. Erika Tindill, Fred Hodges & Joe Gaudett. I am honored to serve as the event's Emcee. Link for tickets. - Jeff ________________ Join MJI’s Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or lease our subscription list to third … [Read more...]
The CT Reentry Entrepreneurial Course, By Barry Diamond – Reentry Survivor
The CT Reentry Entrepreneurial Course, By Barry Diamond- Reentry Survivor Our friend Barry Diamond is the founder of ReentrySurvivors.com, a website publishing reentry stories and hosting information about the Connecticut Reentry Roundtables. - Jeff ____________ My name is Barry Diamond & I am a released prisoner. Prior to prison I owned a business consulting company that taught companies how to work smarter not harder. For the past 2 ½ years, I have been teaching formerly incarcerated people how to get a job. I have discovered something very interesting. Some of them should not look for employment. The reason is that some of them should be self-employed. They have skills & walk to the beat … [Read more...]
Photos: Michelle Alexander, Author of The New Jim Crow, at Union Theological Seminary, Weds., May 4, 2015
Photos: Michelle Alexander at the Judith Moyer Lectures, Union Theological Seminary, Weds., May 4, 2015. Michelle's book, The New Jim Crow, was the inspiration for Malta Justice Initiative's book, The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream. Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President of Union Theological Seminary Judith Moyers, Serene Jones, Michelle Alexander ____________ Join MJI’s Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or lease our subscription list to third parties. ________________ … [Read more...]
New Haven Register: Connecticut Malta Justice Initiative working to end ‘mass incarceration’
New Haven Register: Connecticut Malta Justice Initiative working to end ‘mass incarceration’ Reprinted from registercitizen.com, By Ed Stannard, estannard@nhregister.com, @EdStannardNHR on Twitter Posted: 03/03/15, 6:37 PM EST | Updated: 1 hr ago 0 Comments John S. Santa, chairman of the Malta Initiative, and the Rev, Marilyn Kendrix, associate pastor for faith formation at The Church of the Redeemer, United Church of Christ, New Haven, speak to the New Haven Register Editorial Board (Helen Bennett - New Haven Register) ________________ Join MJI’s Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or … [Read more...]
WNPR: PODCAST of Malta Justice Initiative’s John Santa & Rev. Marilyn Kendrix on John Dankowsky’s Where We Live
WNPR: Podcast of Malta Justice Initiative’s John Santa & Rev. Marilyn Kendrix on John Dankowsky’s Where We Live, Original Air Date: Mon, Mar. 2, 2015, 9 am Where We Live, hosted by John Dankosky, is a talk show about where we live… In Connecticut, in the northeast, in the U.S., and on the planet. You can stream us live. We welcome phone calls from 9-10am at (860) 275-7266, emails at wherewelive@wnpr.org, tweets @wherewelive. Link to Podcast of show: WNPR Podcasts ________________ Join MJI’s Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or lease our subscription list to third … [Read more...]
Malta Justice Initiative’s John Santa & Rev. Marilyn Kendrix on John Dankowsky’s Where We Live, WNPR, Mon, Mar. 2, 9 am
Malta Justice Initiative's John Santa & Rev. Marilyn Kendrix on John Dankowsky's Where We Live, WNPR, Mon, Mar. 2, 9 am Where We Live, hosted by John Dankosky, is a talk show about where we live… In Connecticut, in the northeast, in the U.S., and on the planet. You can stream us live. We welcome phone calls from 9-10am at (860) 275-7266, emails at wherewelive@wnpr.org, tweets @wherewelive. Link to Podcast of show: WNPR Podcasts ________________ Join MJI's Advocacy Efforts: Become a Malta Justice Associate Sign Up! MJI will keep your e-mail address confidential. We will not sell, rent, or lease our subscription list to third parties. _________________ Maybe … [Read more...]
Soccer, Brazil & Mass Incarceration, By John Ruane, Filmmaker, 11-time Emmy Winner & Connecticut Native.
Soccer, Brazil & Mass Incarceration, By John Ruane, Filmmaker, 11-time Emmy Winner & Connecticut Native. Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Feb 28, 2015. It has always been our goal for prisonist.org to become a mosaic of stories relating to issues of mass incarceration. We are thrilled that 11-time Emmy winner John Ruane has shared part of his story with us. - Jeff __________ As a filmmaker, my responsibility is to pose insightful questions and let the story reveal the outcome. What do Brazil, soccer, mass incarceration and filmmaking have to do with each other? Everything. It is only through the willingness to examine our lives, find the common threads that bind us, and speak the truth … [Read more...]
Tickets Now Available: Family Reentry presents Danny Glover in Bridgeport, Weds., May 6th, The Klein
Family ReEntry invites you to an evening with the acclaimed actor and leading social activist, Danny Glover! Mr. Glover has gained respect for his wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts with a particular emphasis on Mass Incarceration and the Racial Disparity in America’s prison system. Family ReEntry’s mission is to develop, implement, and share innovative, sustainable, cost-effective solutions to the unprecedented numbers of people involved in the criminal justice system.” Since 1984, Family ReEntry’s effective community-based programs have significantly reduced the likelihood that a client will re-offend, be re-arrested, or be re-incarcerated. Reductions in recidivism resulting from … [Read more...]
Upcoming Mass Incarceration Related Events: Spring 2015. In or Near Connecticut.
Upcoming Mass Incarceration Related Events: Spring 2015. In or Near Connecticut. We want to bring to your attention the important line-up of mass incarceration related events for Spring '15. We welcome your submission of others. - Jeff Michelle Alexander at Union Theological Seminary, Weds., Mar. 4, 6:30 pm The Institute from Women, Religion and Globalization at our alma mater, Union Theological Seminary presents: Fifth Annual Judith Davidson Moyers Women of Spirit Lecture featuring author, advocate, and civil rights lawyer, Michelle Alexander. Alexander is the author of the best selling book The New Jim Crow. Registration is required. RSVP to kmcgee@uts.columbia.edu or call (212) … [Read more...]
Nell Bernstein, Author of Burning Down The House, Mark Twain Museum, Hartford, CT, Mar. 5, 2015
Nell Bernstein, Author of "Burning Down The House," Interviewed by NPR's John Dankowsky, Mark Twain Museum Center, Hartford, Mar. 5, 2015, 5:30 pm light supper, 6:30 pm program. Community Partners in Action, Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance & the Mark Twain House & Museum present: One in three American school children will be arrested by the time they are twenty-three. Many of these youth will spend time in detention centers that do not incorporate everything we know about how to rehabilitate young offenders. In a candid examination of the American juvenile justice system, award-winning journalist Nell Bernstein shows that there is no right way to lock up a child. Join Bernstein and WNPR’s … [Read more...]
Danny Glover in Bridgeport. Presented By Family ReEntry, Weds., May 6, 2015, 7 pm.
Danny Glover in Bridgeport. Presented By Family ReEntry, Weds., May 6, 2015, 7 pm. Family ReEntry event: Mass Incarceration & Racial Disparity, Featuring Acclaimed Actor & Leading Social Activist, Danny Glover. Danny will be interviewed by Connecticut's own WNPR radio host & commentator, Colin McEnroe. There will also be a panel of notable CT criminal justice experts and a media presentation. Weds. May 6, 2015, 7 pm, The Klein, Bridgeport, CT. For sponsor packet & info, contact Jeffrey Earls, jeffreyearls@familyreentry.org, (203) 290-0865. Click image for short video. … [Read more...]
NY Times: Jails Have Become Warehouses for the Poor, Ill and Addicted, a Report Says
NY Times: Jails Have Become Warehouses for the Poor, Ill and Addicted, a Report Says By TIMOTHY WILLIAMSFEB. 11, 2015 Photo Those seeking mental health services in Los Angeles jails stayed more than twice as long as others, the Vera Institute said. Credit Monica Almeida/The New York Times Jails across the country have become vast warehouses made up primarily of people too poor to post bail or too ill with mental health or drug problems to adequately care for themselves, according to a report issued Wednesday. The study, “Incarceration’s Front Door: The Misuse of Jails in America,” found that the majority of those incarcerated in local and county jails are there for minor … [Read more...]
CT “Second Chance Society” Panel in Bridgeport, Thurs. Feb. 5, 10 am Featuring Gov. Daniel Malloy, The Justice Imperative’s John Santa, Others.
CT "Second Chance Society" Panel in Bridgeport, Thurs. Feb. 5, 10 am Featuring Gov. Daniel Malloy, The Justice Imperative's John Santa, Others. CT Gov. Dannel Malloy & John Santa, with a copy of The Justice Imperative. WHO: Community and Faith Leaders, Ex-Offenders and Governor Malloy WHAT: Invitation to participate in a Roundtable Discussion with Governor Malloy WHEN: Thursday, February 5th, 10 a.m. WHERE: East End Baptist Tabernacle Church, 548 Central Avenue, Bridgeport, CT WHY: To discuss reentry and creating a "Second Chance Society" in Connecticut PANELISTS: Gov. Dannel Malloy, John Santa (Chair, Malta Justice Initiative & The Justice Imperative, CT Sentencing … [Read more...]
Life Without Mom, By Steve Brase
Life Without Mom, By Steve Brase Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Feb. 2, 2015. Steve and Kelly Brase first came to our attention because of their blog's name,"Orange is the New Blog." Kelly is serving a three-year prison sentence & writes of her experiences from prison, even as life has changed significantly for Steve and their two children at home in California. We asked Steve to share his story with prisonist.org in our mission to bring compassion and light to people who suffer in silence. - Jeff __________ My name is Steve Brase, on 9/23/14, my Wife (Kelly) was sentenced to a 3 year stay in the California Department of Corrections. She leaves behind our Son (12), our Daughter (18), along with … [Read more...]
With A Little Help From My Friends, By James Dyer
With A Little Help From My Friends, By James Dyer Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Jan. 30, 2015 James Dyer is a Master of Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York and a schizophrenic. He is courageously shedding truth on a topic that is often stigmatized. Our mission at prisonist.org is to bring compassion and light to people who suffer in silence . - Jeff _________ My name is James Dyer, and I am an addict, an alcoholic, and schizophrenic. How often does that last diagnosis get lost in the shuffle of the diseases that inevitably lead to jails, institutions, and death? How often do I try to relate to people why I am having a bad day, only to get squeamish uncomfortable … [Read more...]
YouTube Video of Rev. Jeff Grant’s Sermon, “Authentic.” MLK Sun, Norfield Congregational Church, Weston, CT.
YouTube Video of The Justice Imperative Editorial Board Member Rev. Jeff Grant's Sermon, "Authentic." Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, Norfield Congregational Church, Weston, Connecticut. … [Read more...]
Video: America Can Reduce Its Prison Population and Get Better Results, Says Brian Moran
Video: America Can Reduce Its Prison Population and Get Better Results, Says Brian Moran Reprinted from legalbroadcastnetwork.com, January 26, 2015 TJI Editors: Brian Moran is a the Lead Writer of The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream, a member of the Editorial Committee, a lawyer at Robinson + Cole in Stamford, CT, and an all-around great guy! - Babz & Jeff The Legal Broadcast Network Original News, information and commentary for lawyers, 24 hours a day. America’s criminal justice system needs some reform, says Connecticut lawyer Brian Moran. It costs taxpayers too much, it fails to rehabilitate … [Read more...]
We Will Be Presenting At RENEW 2015: CMCA Correctional Ministry Summit, Wheaton College, IL, May 29-31, 2015.
We will be presenting at RENEW 2015: CMCA Correctional Ministry Summit, Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College, IL, May 29-31, 2015. If you are in the Chicago area, please join us for this important, informative & topical conference! - Jeff RENEW 2015: Workshop Descriptions: Bringing Together Communities Suffering From Incarceration Issues: Inner City, White Collar and Nonviolent. A Christian Approach. Presented by Rev. Jeff Grant and Lynn Springer. This workshop proposes a model that challenges churches in affluent communities to establish authentic “in-reach” ministries to care for those in their own communities suffering from hunger, poverty, homelessness, and issues related to … [Read more...]
Child Of An Incarcerated Parent, By Melissa Tanis
Child Of An Incarcerated Parent, By Melissa Tanis Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Jan. 22, 2015 We asked Melissa to write a guest blog for prisonist.org after she contacted us looking for a job. She sent us one of the most poignant, moving and authentic pieces we have ever had the honor of reading. - Jeff __________ When I was five years old my father was sentenced to a maximum of 50 years in prison. I was not able at that age to comprehend how much my life would change from that moment on. I visited my father in prison when I was eight years old and then went 17 years without any contact. During that time, my mom was a single mom for five years, working as a teacher and trying to support four … [Read more...]
Texas prison program aims to produce business-savvy inmates
Texas prison program aims to produce business-savvy inmates Reprinted from ap.com, Jan. 17, 2015 , By HENRY C. JACKSON TJI Editor's Note: The Justice Imperative Editorial Board Member & Senior Writer Brian Moran forwarded us this article to reprint. It's a wonderful story. Similarly, this afternoon my wife Lynn & I attended the Hudson Link/Nyack College graduation ceremony of twenty-four inmates at Fishkill Correctional Facility in Upstate New York. What a powerful and moving thing it is to see family and friends gather in support of these men who received their bachelors degrees behind bars. Thank you Sean Pica and all at Hudson Link for the invitation. - Jeff … [Read more...]
Five Years of Prison Ministry, By Richard Tunstall
Five Years of Prison Ministry, By Richard Tunstall Dick Tunstall and I serve on the Editorial Board of the new book, "The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream" about the state of criminal justice in Connecticut and our country. - Jeff __________ After 5 years of prison ministry, (2 days/month) at Garner Correction Institution in Newtown, CT, I have the following observations: 1) Each inmate (person) is unique. In other words, instead of categorizing all prisoners or inmates in a certain way, each is a unique person. Whatever way you want to categorize someone, (e.g., by size, intelligence, age, color, etc.), you’ll find prisoners … [Read more...]
Authentic, A Sermon by Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div.
Authentic, A Sermon by Rev. Jeff Grant, JD. M Div Norfield Congregational Church, Weston, Connecticut Sunday, January 18, 2015, 10 am, Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Sat., Jan. 17, 2015 Let us pray. May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight Oh Lord – our Rock and our Redeemer. Good morning, and welcome to Martin Luther King Sunday at Norfield Church. What an auspicious day to be speaking, to salute the work and life of Dr. King in song and scripture, and to introduce our ministry to this wonderful congregation in the town in which we live. My name is Jeff Grant. The title of today’s sermon is, “Authentic.” And I’ve … [Read more...]
U.S. Panel Proposes Changes To White-Collar Prison Sentences: Reuters
U.S. Panel Proposes Changes To White-Collar Prison Sentences: Reuters Reprinter from reuters.com, Jan. 12, 2015, By Nate Raymond NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some executives and others convicted of stock fraud could face shorter prison terms under a U.S. commission's proposal to change how white-collar criminals are sentenced. The U.S. Sentencing Commission on Friday released proposals to amend advisory federal guidelines that would shift the emphasis in calculating a sentence for frauds on the market to financial gains instead of investor losses. The proposal follows years of criticism by defense lawyers and some judges who say that the guidelines focus too much on financial losses caused by fraud, leading … [Read more...]
Connecticut’s 2014 prison population hits lowest level in 16 years: New Haven Register
Connecticut’s 2014 prison population hits lowest level in 16 years: New Haven Register Razor wire surrounds the former Bergin Correctional Institution in Mansfield, Conn. AP Photo/Pat Eaton-Robb By Pat Eaton-Robb, Associated Press, Reprinted from newhavenregister.com Posted: 01/14/15, 7:36 AM EST | Updated: 1 hr ago 12 Comments HARTFORD >> State officials say Connecticut’s prison population reached a 16-year low at the end of 2014 and was highlighted by a dramatic drop in the number of young adults entering the system for the first time. Mike Lawlor, the governor’s undersecretary for criminal justice policy, says there were 16,167 inmates in the system on January 1, down … [Read more...]
NPR: As Court Fees Rise, The Poor Are Paying The Price
NPR: As Court Fees Rise, The Poor Are Paying The Price By: Joseph Shapiro, Reprinted from npr.com, May 19, 2014 4:02 PM ET Ed. Note: The Justice Imperative Editorial Board Member Nick Yanicelli was moved to send us this article. We are pleased to reprint it as part of the mosaic we present about the broken mass incarceration system in our country and ways in which we can help to fix it. - Jeff Listen to the Story: All Things Considered 12 min 20 sec Playlist Download Transcript The proliferation of court fees has prompted some states, like New Jersey, to use amnesty programs to encourage the thousands of people who owe fines to surrender … [Read more...]
A Repurposed Life: A Biblical Perspective, by Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div
A Repurposed Life: A Biblical Perspective, by Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Jan. 2, 2015 ____________ WHAT IF, you are exactly where you are supposed to be? So many of us are in a place where our first life has come to an end. A divorce, the death of a child or other loved one, loss of a job or career, alcohol and drug problems that finally crushed us, financial issues that overwhelmed our ability to be present for ourselves and our families, an illness or mental illness, hospitalization, poor judgment that has caused rampant legal problems, incarceration. So many of us are suffering and want to find a new way. But they - we - are mostly frozen. Stopped dead in our … [Read more...]
Wall Street Journal: The Steep Cost of America’s High Incarceration Rate, Robert E. Rubin & Nicholas Turner
Wall Street Journal: The Steep Cost of America’s High Incarceration Rate, Robert E. Rubin & Nicholas Turner About one of every 100 U.S. adults is in prison. That’s five to 10 times higher than in Western Europe. Ed. Note: We want to bring to your attention, the new book, "The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream." Written and edited by a group of over thirty criminal justice leaders in Connecticut (I am honored to have been included), it uses that state as a model of what has gone wrong with our prison system - with detailed history and specific recommendations for change. It is a call to action on the personal and structural level, and is the most complete … [Read more...]
The Long Way Home, By Genaro Hathaway – White-Collar Felon & Guest Blogger
The Long Way Home, By Genaro Hathaway - White-Collar Felon & Guest Blogger Our mission at the Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project, prisonist.org includes creating & advancing authentic ministry to reflect the real needs of our local communities, such that no person or family ever need suffer in silence. To this end, I have accepted an invitation to guest preach at the wonderful Norfield Congregational Church, Weston, CT on Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday (Jan. 18, 2015), a church dedicated to faith-filled social justice. Our blog post earlier this week, Angels Without A Face: A Christmas Blog, was from one of our ministees in Mississippi - with two+ years of dedication and … [Read more...]
Angels Without A Face: A Christmas Blog, By Lori Dooley, Innocent Spouse
Angels Without A Face: A Christmas Blog, By Lori Dooley, Innocent Spouse Reprinted from Prisonist.org. Dec. 21, 2014. It's been over two years since Lori Dooley first responded to one of our blog posts. In that time, we've seen her grow in incredible ways. Below is Lori's third guest blog for prisonist.org. Her posts, One Mississippi, Two Mississippi, & The Amazing Ride, are two of the most beloved blogs we've ever posted. - Jeff _________ As I walked into church this Christmas season, there hung the tree of Christmas Angels to help those families in need. I would normally just grab an Angel in hopes to bring some joy to a boy or girl. I have always enjoyed being part of this gift giving, but … [Read more...]
Kenneth Ireland, Exonerated, Served Time For Murder & Rape, Sits on Connecticut State Board of Pardons & Parole
Kenneth Ireland, Exonerated, Served Time For Murder & Rape, Sits on Connecticut State Board of Pardons & Parole Reprinted From The New York Times, Dec. 19, 2014. By ALISON LEIGH COWAN, DEC. 19, 2014 Photo Kenneth F. Ireland, who was wrongfully convicted of rape and murder in 1989, is serving provisionally on the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Credit Christopher Capozziello for The New York Times WATERBURY, Conn. — There was the usual grab bag of inmates preparing to be heard here, from the career offender with a heroin problem to the plotter of a jewel heist to the glum men with girlfriend trouble. All were former convicts who had landed back in prison on … [Read more...]
The Ten Best Black Books of 2014, by Kam Williams: The Justice Imperative Makes “Honorable Mention.”
The Ten Best Black Books of 2014, by Kam Williams: The Justice Imperative Makes "Honorable Mention." We are pleased to announce that The Justice Imperative has received an Honorable Mention on Kam Williams' Top Ten Black Books of 2014 List. Kam's column is syndicated to over 100 newspapers & blogs around the country. Thank you Kam & Thank you Babz! Babz Rawls Ivy & I serve as Online Editors (blog & social media) for this important new book, The Justice Imperative. Click image above for link to: thejusticeinitiative.org/blogs and to amazon.com to purchase your copy. - Babz & Jeff 1. Justice While Black: Helping African-American Families Navigate and Survive the Criminal Justice … [Read more...]
The Overturning of Insider Trading Convictions, By Brian Jorgenson – From Prison
The Overturning of Insider Trading Convictions, By Brian Jorgenson - From Prison Reprinted from prisonist.org Upon our learning of the successful appeal overturning the insider trading convictions of Todd Newman & Anthony Chiasson, we reached out to some members of our community most affected by the decision. We published the first last week: Who Watches The Watchmen, by Anonymous - A White-Collar Felon. We invite you to submit your thoughts & feelings on the subject. Our ministee Brian Jorgenson reported in September to the FCI Herlong Camp in California to serve a two-year sentence for a insider trading. Brian's two prior submissions to prisonist.org, Last Blog Before Prison and A … [Read more...]
Who Watches the Watchmen? By Anonymous, A White-Collar Felon
Who Watches the Watchmen? By Anonymous, A White-Collar Felon We encourage our ministees to "develop a voice" on their road to health, redemption and a new life. They often start small, by anonymously publishing comments to other people's blog posts. We are proud that this ministee finally felt compelled to speak out and honored that he trusted us enough to do so on prisonist.org. - Jeff Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Dec. 8, 2014 __________ In the wake of the grand jury failure to indict for the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown, we are called to consider the highly questionable relationship between prosecutors and the police. But the oft-repeated, "a prosecutor can indict a ham sandwich," … [Read more...]
How To Overcome A Dept. of Justice Press Release: A Video By Justin Paperny
How To Overcome A Dept. of Justice Press Release: A Video, By Justin Paperny We were introduced to our guest blogger, prison consultant Justin Paperny, by our friend Walt Pavlo, the Forbes white-collar correspondent, and by Brian Jorgenson, our ministee who is currently serving a two-year sentence for a white-collar crime at FCI Herlong in California. I've spent some time talking with Justin and have found him to be insightful and dedicated to helping our community. We do not have experience in referring ministees to Justin and thus cannot yet endorse him or his consultancy. The video he has submitted offers important information to our readers. Thank you, Justin. - Jeff Reprinted from Prisonist.org, … [Read more...]
Voices From Within: Voices From Sing Sing
Voices From Within: Voices From Sing Sing Among the incredible things that we saw at TEDx SingSing on Weds., Dec. 3, 2014 was the world premiere of this amazing video responding to gun violence head on. Produced by Dan Slepian of Dateline NBC, it stars the inmates of the Sing Sing Prison Voices From Within Project. It took our breath away. - Jeff Voices From Within: Confronting Gun Violence Head On www.voicesfromwithin.org … [Read more...]
The New York Times: Mass Imprisonment and Public Health
The Opinion Pages | Editorial The New York Times: Mass Imprisonment and Public Health By THE EDITORIAL BOARD NOV. 26, 2014 From The Justice Imperative Online Editors: We are pleased to see the mainstream press taking notice of the issues relating to prisons and mental illness. As someone who served fourteen months in a Federal prison for a white-collar crime, and spent part of every one of those days on a "pill line" for my bipolar disorder, I could tell you first hand about the conditions. I could tell you but, of course, nobody has asked. We applaud the work of Francis Greenburger and Cheryl Roberts at the Greenburger Center for Social and Criminal Justice, who are bringing new light to this dark … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Will Reform Threaten The Safety of Connecticut Citizens?
The Justice Imperative: Will Reform Threaten The Safety of Connecticut Citizens? When one raises the specter of reform aimed at diverting offenders, right-sizing our prisons and facilitating re-entry, the first reaction of many law-abiding citizens understandably is focused on “WHETHER I AND MY FAMILY WILL BE PLACED AT GREATER RISK?” Without being able to answer this question in the negative, the prospects for enacting reform and effecting a meaningful cut in our prison population likely vanish. In the face of this political reality, the editors of this book have endeavored to keep the public safety implications of reform top-of-mind in assessing the wisdom of alternative approaches to incarceration. In … [Read more...]
Understanding and Explaining Depression, By Orla Kelly
Understanding and Explaining Depression By Orla Kelly Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Nov. 29, 2014 As someone who suffers from bipolar disorder and addiction to prescription narcotics (12 years sober this past August), and a suicide attempt survivor, I am seeking out voices on these subjects that could offer guidance to families suffering from incarceration issues. We thank our friend and colleague Jim Hodel, MSW for introducing us to the work of Orla Kelly. Orla writes an important blog called, "Take Control of Your Life," and is the author of. "Learning to Reconnect the Pieces of a Life Shattered by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder." We reached out to Orla in the U.K. who offered us this article to … [Read more...]
How Is a Prison Like a War: Patriot Radio Network
How Is a Prison Like a War: Patriot Radio Network Published November 14, 2014 | Reprinted from: http://www.patriotradionetwork.com/2014/11/14/how-is-a-prison-like-a-war/ The similarities between mass incarceration and mass murder have been haunting me for a while, and I now find myself inspired by Maya Schenwar’s excellent new book Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn’t Work and How We Can Do Better. This is one of three books everyone should read right away. The others are The New Jim Crow and Burning Down the House, the former with a focus on racism in incarceration, the latter with a focus on the incarceration of youth. Schenwar’s is an overview of incarceration in all its absurd and … [Read more...]
Brave New Films: Six Companies That Profit From Mass Incarceration And Other Films
Brave New Films: Six Companies That Profit From Mass Incarceration And Other Films … [Read more...]
TEDx SingSing, by Sean Pica
TEDx SingSing, by Sean Pica Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Nov. 26, 2014 Sean Pica, Exec. Director of Hudson Link We first met Sean Pica, and the wonderful students & graduates of Hudson Link, when they spoke for us at Union Theological Seminary. In their honor, we hosted a panel on Religion and Prison, a showing of their important movie "Zero Percent," and a midday chapel service featuring a sermon by Union Trustee Petero Sabune, former Chaplain of Sing Sing Prison. Leading up to their groundbreaking project on Dec. 3rd - TEDx SingSing - to be filmed by director Jonathan Demme - we asked Sean if he would guest blog for prisonist.org. - Jeff ___________ The night of Friday November 21 was a … [Read more...]
Material Freedom vs. Spiritual Freedom, By Pandit Dasa
Material Freedom vs. Spiritual Freedom, By Pandit Dasa Gadadhara Pandit Dasa Reprinted from Prisonist.org, Nov. 23, 2014 We invited our friend Gadadhara Pandit Dasa, the Interfaith Chaplain of my alma mater, Union Theological Seminary, to write a guest blog for prisonist.org. A prolific speaker (TEDx, PBS, NPR) and blogger (Huffington Post), Pandit had never before written and published his thoughts relating to freedom & incarceration. - Jeff ___________ What does it really mean to be free? Is it just the ability to eat where and when I want? Is it the ability to go where I want, to watch whatever show on television that I want, or just to hang out with friends? To a large degree, it would be … [Read more...]
Iowa Agency Wants $2000 For Prison Rape Records, The Marshall Project Refuses
Iowa Agency Wants $2000 For Prison Rape Records, The Marshall Project Refuses Reprinted from Omaha.com, Wednesday, November 19, 2014 IOWA CITY (AP) — The leader of the Iowa Public Information Board is supporting a state agency's decision to charge more than $2,000 for access to mandatory reports about sexual violence in Iowa's prisons. Board executive director Keith Luchtel has concluded that the charge by the Department of Corrections isn't excessive and complies with the open records law. The board will review his opinion Thursday. The Marshall Project, a nonprofit that reports on the criminal justice system, is seeking sexual violence incident reports that were required to be submitted to … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Desired Outcomes
The Justice Imperative: Desired Outcomes In our collective view, the four most significant goals or priorities to be pursued are straightforward and non-controversial: Reduce Connecticut’s prison population, especially non-violent offenders who pose a low risk to public safety, in half within five years; Reduce Connecticut’s recidivism rate by 30 percentage points or more within 5 years; Close half of the State’s correctional facilities within 5 years; and Reduce State spending on the prison system by half in five years, with two-thirds of the savings redirected to proven evidence-based drug and mental health treatments, educational and vocational training and post-release support and … [Read more...]
The Malta Justice Initiative convenes a coalition to call for reform of state’s criminal justice system: ConnecticutPlus.com
The Malta Justice Initiative convenes a coalition to call for reform of state's criminal justice system: ConnecticutPlus.com By Malta Justice Initiative - See more at: http://www.connecticutplus.com/cplus/information/news/News_1/The-Malta-Justice-Initiative-convenes-a-coalition-to-call-for-reform-of-state-s-criminal-justice-system2228522285.shtml#sthash.NXvHwM4T.dpuf The Malta Justice Initiative has convened a group of Connecticut citizens to delineate opportunities to improve the state’s current criminal justice system, where the number of inmates has skyrocketed from approximately 3,645 in 1980 to 16,600 in January 2014, an increase of over 400 percent. The Malta Justice Initiative is part of the … [Read more...]
A Free Man: Ricky Jackson To Leave Prison 39 Years After A Boy’s Lie Helped Put Him Behind Bars
A Free Man: Ricky Jackson To Leave Prison 39 Years After A Boy's Lie Helped Put Him Behind Bars By John Caniglia, The Plain Dealer,Nov. 18, 2014 Ricky Jackson is expected to be freed from prison Friday after prosecutors dropped their case against him after a witness recanted his testimony this week. (The Plain Dealer) Ricky JacksonOhio Dept. of Rehabilitation and Correction CLEVELAND, Ohio – Ricky Jackson is headed for freedom, 39 years after a boy lied to authorities and said Jackson and two other men killed a money-order collector at a Cleveland grocery store. The lie helped a jury convict Jackson in 1975. He has been in prison … [Read more...]
The Pope and the Problem of Punishment, by Aaron Taylor
The Pope and the Problem of Punishment, by Aaron Taylor Reprinted from firstthings.com, Nov. 5, 2014 Pope Francis recently gave a speech to the International Association of Penal Law advocating for the improvement of prison conditions and reiterating pleas made by his predecessors John Paul II and Benedict XVI for an end to the death penalty. Francis, however, went further than either of his predecessors by extending Catholic critiques of capital punishment to life sentences, which he condemned as the “death penalty in disguise.” His comments have reopened debates in Italy about life sentences (nearby countries such as Spain and Portugal have abolished them) and prompted Catholic bishops in … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Juvenile Justice Initiatives and In-School Programs
The Justice Imperative: Juvenile Justice Initiatives and In-School Programs Barack, known to his friends as “Barry”, was a third-year honor student at a private college preparatory school in New Haven. One week from celebrating his 17th birthday, he was convicted of cocaine possession and distribution. Upon such conviction, his life changed forever. His father, a native Kenyan, met his mother in New Haven while attending college as a foreign student on scholarship. They were married the following year. Within a year of Barry’s birth, his parents separated. His father returned to Kenya and had little contact thereafter with Barry. His mom eventually moved to Indonesia to pursue her interest in archeology. … [Read more...]
Aaron Swartz was no criminal
Aaron Swartz was no criminal Dan Purcell, one of Swartz' lawyers, writes about the spiteful and unreasonable charges that led to his suicide—and MIT's gutless support of his prosecutors. Reprinted from boingboing.net, Nov. 18, 2014. I am a lawyer in San Francisco with a firm called Keker & Van Nest. I was one of Aaron's lawyers in his criminal case, in 2012 and early 2013. I didn’t know Aaron that well, and our interactions were always colored by the fact that he didn’t really want to be talking to me. I was a criminal defense lawyer after all, and the only reason we knew each other was because he was facing a federal criminal indictment under the CFAA (Computer Fraud and Abuse Act) for … [Read more...]
Big Time: American Justice Summit, JustLeadershipUSA & TEDx SingSing, New York, By Jeff Grant
Big Time: American Justice Summit, JustLeadershipUSA & TEDx SingSing, New York, By Jeff Grant Reprinted from Prisonist.org. The stars are aligning for the advancement of criminal justice in this country. It is not surprising that the light seems to be shining on New York, and spreading out to the rest of the country. Here in neighboring Connecticut, we not only are not only doing significant criminal justice work of our own, we are also honored to be involved and included in these New York milestones. On Monday, Nov. 10th, Andrew Kaplan and I attended the American Justice Summit at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. Babz Rawls Ivy, Andrew and I are the Online Editors … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Avoiding Incarceration Through “No-Entry” Diversion Programs
The Justice Imperative: Avoiding Incarceration Through "No-Entry" Diversion Programs Robert returned home to Hartford after serving three tours of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was honorably discharged. He was awarded the Purple Heart for severe head injuries he suffered during a roadside mine explosion in which some of his comrades died. Following his return, Robert had significant difficulty adjusting to civilian life. He experienced severe depression and unpredictable episodes of explosive anger. As a military veteran, he was too ashamed to seek counseling. Robert attempted to alleviate his symptoms through the use of alcohol and drugs. He was arrested for driving erratically at a high rate … [Read more...]
Tina Brown – Strange Cellmates: Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On
Tina Brown - Strange Cellmates: Here’s a Reform Even the Koch Brothers and George Soros Can Agree On From The Justice Imperative Editors: I attended The American Justice Summit at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City on Monday, Nov. 10, 2014. It was not only led by of some of the most notable and influential voices in criminal justice today, it was a gathering of the tribe; a place where our community came together to breathe the same air and know that we are not alone in our noble cause. I will be writing more about this event on prisonist.org and on thejusticeimperative.org/blogs as my wife/partner Lynn and I move through this momentous week. Next up, on Wednesday evening is … [Read more...]
Darwin’s Nightmare: The Unintended Consequences Of Hyper-Incarceration, by Brian Moran, Esq.
Darwin's Nightmare: The Unintended Consequences Of Hyper-Incarceration, by Brian Moran, Esq. I recently traveled to Kenya to visit my daughter. She works for an NGO that runs a high school for girls in Muhuru, a rural fishing village alongside Lake Victoria. At one point, we stopped for lunch at a lakeside restaurant. Our local host proudly suggested we try the local perch. The lunch brought to mind the Oscar-nominated documentary film from 2006, Darwin’s Nightmare. The movie chronicled the ironic unintended consequences brought about by the introduction of the Nile perch to Lake Victoria about 50 years ago. The Nile perch was introduced in an attempt to replenish the over-fished waters. Such … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Punishment Beyond Incarceration – Life On The Outside
The Justice Imperative: Punishment Beyond Incarceration - Life On The Outside Maurice has just completed a mandatory minimum sentence for a felony marijuana possession. He has been a model inmate. He earned his GED and successfully completed drug counseling and treatment while behind bars. He is looking forward to starting over and being reunited with his family. His wife and three young kids have had a rough time during his incarceration. Maurice had been the principal bread winner. His family was forced to move in with his wife’s mother in her public housing unit. Maurice leaves prison with $3,000 in debt in respect of court and drug treatment costs. Unbeknownst to Maurice, as a consequence of his … [Read more...]
JustLeadershipUSA, By Glenn E. Martin
JustLeadershipUSA, By Glenn E. Martin Reprinted from Prisonist.org. JustLeadershipUSA's big launch and benefit is coming up on Weds., Nov.12th in NYC. We asked our friend Glenn E. Martin - its leader and visionary - if he would contribute something special to prisonist.org. He did not disappoint. - Jeff Recently, I was invited to serve as a member of NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Reentry and Reintegration Council. I was both humbled and troubled at once: I was humbled because as a man whose youthful past includes serving six years in a New York State correctional facility, I recognize how fortunate I am to simultaneously lead JustLeadershipUSA (www.justleadershipusa.org), serve on a number of … [Read more...]
Stamford Advocate: Are victims’ rights and prisoner redemption compatible? By Brian E. Moran, Esq.
Stamford Advocate: Are victims' rights and prisoner redemption compatible? By Brian E. Moran, Esq. Reprinted From The Stamford Advocate, Thurs. Nov. 6, 2014 As I travel across Connecticut advocating in favor of right-sizing our prison system, I have encountered audience members who question what prison reform will do for victims. I am quick to point out that the recent book on which I served as the lead writer, "The Justice Imperative -- How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream," is dedicated to "all those who selflessly work in our criminal justice and correction system for the rights of victims, the protection of the public and the rehabilitation of offenders." I do not see … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Inside Connecticut’s Prisons – What’s Going On?
The Justice Imperative: Inside Connecticut's Prisons - What's Going On? Shenaya, 16, couldn’t seem to follow prison rules. She was always angry, always getting into fights. As a result, she always ended up in administrative segregation, where she was denied programming, visits, and she was locked up 23 hours a day by herself. She would scream, yell, and cry to the guards to let her out, but when they came, she would spit at them or hit them, earning her another 30 days in seg. After spending the better part of her 16th year in solitary lockdown, she began therapy sessions and a writing class. She began to tell her own story, one full of trauma, abuse, and anger – including anger at being taken from her … [Read more...]
Prison whistleblowers in England and Wales being threatened with dismissal: Inmate suicide figures expose human toll of prison crisis
Prison whistleblowers in England and Wales being threatened with dismissal: Inmate suicide figures expose human toll of prison crisis Tory MP Gavin Williamson attacks ‘arrogant, high-handed’ attitude to those raising concerns about safety and violence Reprinted from The Guardian, by Sandra Laville and Matthew Taylor Kim Lennon Kim Lennon. a prison officer at HMP Lewes, is fighting for her job after speaking to her local newspaper about her concerns over safety. Photograph: Brighton Argus/Solent News Sandra Laville and Matthew Taylor Monday 20 October 2014 13.57 EDT Whistleblowers in the Prison Service in England and Wales are being threatened with dismissal for raising serious concerns … [Read more...]
Automatic Solitary Confinement For Prisoners Held On Virginia’s Death Row
Automatic Solitary Confinement For Prisoners Held On Virginia's Death Row Posted on November 2, 2014 by End Solitary Reprinted from Prisoner Activist Virginia’s practice of automatically holding people held on Virginia death row in solitary confinement will be reviewed by a federal appeals court. Experts claim that the case could have an impact beyond just the state of Virginia. The Daily Press opens its story on the subject with the controversial question: “Should prisoners in Virginia sentenced to die for their crimes be kept in solitary confinement for the rest of their lives?” 2013 Ruling By U.S. District Judge According to the Associated Press: U.S. District Judge Leonie … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Who Resides In Connecticut’s Prisons?
The Justice Imperative: Who Resides In Connecticut's Prisons? Keesha was the daughter of heroin addicts. At age 14, she participated in a robbery that resulted in a homicide. Connecticut imprisoned her as an adult. She was sentenced to 50 years. She is now in her early 30s. While serving her time at York Correctional Institute, she earned her GED and was trained as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant. She has shown remorse. Keesha has been a model prisoner. She has facilitated an in-prison Alternative Violence Group. She became a role model and mentor for younger inmates. Her mandatory minimum sentence precludes her from release until at least 85% of her sentence has been served. See More: Please go to Chapter … [Read more...]
Bribery’s Other Victim: The Families, by Richard Bistrong. An International Perspective on Bribery and Compliance
Bribery's Other Victim: The Families, by Richard Bistrong. An International Perspective on Bribery and Compliance The following was originally published on the Richard Bistrong FCPA Real-World Compliance Blog (www.richardbistrong.com) on September 29, 2014, and appears here with his permission. In my post Deterrence, You Had me at Being Caught, I shared my own experience with respect to incarceration and how that related to the oft-discussed issue of criminal deterrence. I concluded “The impact of saying good bye to a wife and children knowing that your only remaining contact will be in a visiting room for an extended period of time is nothing but traumatic. Trying to “coach” my children … [Read more...]
Visiting Day: The Children in Prison Project
The Children in Prison Project: Visiting Day www.internationaljusticeconsulting.org/ "Visiting Day" is a photography documentary project just finished in Mexico's juvenile justice prisons - documenting what happens on visiting days. They will be exhibiting it across Mexico City in the coming months. The goal of the Children in Prison Project is to reduce and eliminate excessive juvenile detention in Mexico. This includes both pre-trial, or pre-sentencing detention, as well as excessive prison sentences. About half of Mexico’s prison population is in pre-trial detention, awaiting trial without being convicted. Most of the kids in Mexico’s pretrial detention system will … [Read more...]
Time.com: The Nantucket Project: Larry Lessig’s Mission to Reclaim Democracy
Ideas the nantucket project Time.com: The Nantucket Project: Larry Lessig’s Mission to Reclaim Democracy by Philip Davidson Reprinted from Time.com, Oct. 24, 2014 How the MayDay Super PAC hopes to revolutionize campaign finance Evidence suggests that the U.S. Congress is less popular today than the British crown was in the 13 colonies at the time of the American Revolution. So why do voters continue to send so many incumbents back to Washington? The system is rigged, argues Larry Lessig, a maverick Harvard Law School professor and prominent advocate for campaign finance reform. According to Lessig, the outcome of many Congressional elections are decided ahead of the vote by a tiny … [Read more...]
Prisonist.org: A White-Collar Wife’s Lament By Jane S., Connecticut – Innocent Spouse & Guest Blogger
Prisonist.org: A White-Collar Wife's Lament By Jane S., Connecticut - Innocent Spouse & Guest Blogger, Edited by Jeff Grant Reprinted from prisonist.org This past month has been tough. I put off going to social services as long as I could. That isn't who I am........was. This past Sunday my son got a concussion in his hockey game and we spent the whole day in the er. Any self esteem that I had left is officially gone. I never was someone who went to Dr's without insurance. I had no choice. I never in a million years thought I would be a parent who can not take care of her child. That is how I feel now. Yes we struggled since this began but I never thought I'd need State assistance. I do not want … [Read more...]
Save The Date! Career Resources 19th Annual Career Fair To be Held in Bridgeport on April 9, 2015
Save The Date! Career Resources 19th Annual Career Fair To be Held in Bridgeport on April 9, 2015 SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, April 9, 2015 VIP Tickets: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. General Public: 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Join us for the 2015 Career Fair! Career Resources, Inc. welcomes your participation in the region's largest and most productive Community Career Fair. The 19th Annual Career Fair - being held Thursday, April 9, 2015 - is returning to a spacious venue; the renowned Webster Bank Arena Concourse in Bridgeport, CT. Exhibitors that reserve their space by the end of business on Friday, January 30th will receive a special reduced rate of $175. Exhibitors that reserve a space on January 31st … [Read more...]
Greenwich Post: Ailey II Dancers Ignite For Family ReEntry
Greenwich Post: Ailey II Dancers Ignite For Family ReEntry By Greenwich Post on October 28, 2014 in Around Town, News · 0 Comments With two brilliantly choreographed works from their repertoire, the young dancers from Ailey II in New York brought the audience to its feet at Greenwich Academy with their energy, focus and artistry. Three of the young dancers, Gabriel Hyman, Riccardo Battaglia and Samantha Barriento, gave a 90-minute master class to dance students at Greenwich Academy before the evening performance, watched by Marcia Brooks, director of the Upper School Dance companies. The student participants were excited and elated, dancing to The Story of My Life. This year’s Family ReEntry … [Read more...]
HEY CONNECTICUT, EVEN HOLLYWOOD GOT MASS INCARCERATION RIGHT WHEN IT STOPPED MAKING DEATH WISH MOVIES IN 1994 !
HEY CONNECTICUT, EVEN HOLLYWOOD GOT MASS INCARCERATION RIGHT WHEN IT STOPPED MAKING DEATH WISH MOVIES IN 1994 ! By Brian Moran, Esq. When it comes to mass incarceration, Connecticut is like the Energizer Bunny, we just keep going and going and going. We are now 40 years into the war on crime and its consequential hyper-incarceration. What we have failed to realize is that the problem, namely violent crime, was largely brought under control by the mid-1990s. Crime in the United States peaked in the early 1990s. Drug usage also started to decline about the same time. However, the United States, including Connecticut, doubled-down on the war on crime during the 1990s. A new prison was built in the … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Crime Rates In Connecticut – Are We Safe?
The Justice Imperative: Crime Rates In Connecticut - Are We Safe? Can you name the state which (1) ranks in the top ten in the U.S. for lowest crime rates in almost every category, (2) currently enjoys crime rates at their lowest levels in 40 years, (3) has a prison population five times higher than it had 40 years ago, (4) incarcerates low-risk, non-violent offenders at rates equivalent to those for violent, high risk career criminals, (5) imposes lengthy mandatory minimum sentences without regard for the criminal history, propensity for violence, degree of remorse or record of good behavior while behind bars of offenders, and (6) does so at a cost estimated to exceed over $50,000 annually per prisoner, 70% … [Read more...]
From The Community: The Justice Imperative With John S. Santa, Enfield Library, Nov. 5th, 7 pm
From The Community: The Justice Imperative With John S. Santa, Enfield Library, 7 pm By Community Contributor kmassetti, About this post Fairfield University Date of Program: Wednesday, November 5, 2014 at 7:00 PM Visit the Enfield Public Library on Wednesday, November 5th at 7:00 PM for, "The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration has Hijacked the American Dream," a lecture presented by John S. Santa. Malta Justice Initiative (MJI) began its work in the early 2000s under the name Malta Prison Volunteers of Connecticut (MPVCT). Initially, the program intended to assist with the spiritual needs of inmates through Bible study and the distribution of books and Bibles to correctional facilities. … [Read more...]
The American Justice Summit 2014: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Nov. 10, 2014
Here’s the Program for The American Justice Summit! Schedule for The American Justice Summit (subject to change) Gerald W. Lynch Theater John Jay College of Criminal Justice November 10, 2014 1:30 PM | AMERICAN JUSTICE OPENING VIDEO TINA BROWN WELCOME CO-HOSTS: THE ONE I’M HERE FOR Voices from the criminal justice system in America. Tina Brown, Founder, Tina Brown Live Media Neil Barsky, Founder, The Marshall Project Harry Belafonte, Activist and Artist Piper Kerman, Activist, Author, Orange is the New Black: My Year in a Woman’s Prison Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director, Equal Justice Initiative Pamela Thomas-Graham, Chief Marketing and Talent Officer, Member of the … [Read more...]
A White-Collar Minister At A Pharisee’s House: Luke 14:8-11. By Jeff Grant
A White-Collar Minister At A Pharisee's House: Luke 14:8-11. By, Jeff Grant Reprinted from Prisonist.org. 8 “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves … [Read more...]
As Another Young Boy Commits Suicide In An Adult Prison, We Must Rethink The Prosecution Of Children As Adults
As Another Young Boy Commits Suicide In An Adult Prison, We Must Rethink The Prosecution Of Children As AdultsMarsha Levick, Deputy Director and Chief Counsel Juvenile Law Center; Adjunct Faculty, University of Pennsylvania and Temple Law Schools, Juvenile Law CenterReprinted from The Huffington Post Zachary Proper, age 15, committed suicide two weeks ago in an adult prison in Pennsylvania. There has been little media coverage of his death, suggesting a disturbing complacency about suicide by youth who would rather take their own lives than endure decades in jail. How did Zachary end up serving time as an "adult"? At the age of 13, he was charged with killing his grandparents. Under Pennsylvania law, … [Read more...]
Rebuilding Lives After Wrongful Conviction, By Tiffany L. Stevens
Rebuilding Lives After Wrongful Conviction, By Tiffany L. Stevens Monday, October 20, 2014 - 22:12 Reprinted from The Metropolitan Counsel Tiffany L. Stevens The number of individuals released from prison following wrongful conviction and eventual exoneration is staggering. Since the first DNA exoneration 25 years ago, 321 individuals from 38 states have been exonerated through the use of DNA evidence.[1] The wrongs that they suffer do not end when they are released after years of imprisonment. These individuals have already endured the hardship of prison life, loss of freedom, and isolation from family and loved ones, and commonly are … [Read more...]
Rev. Marilyn Kendrix: Connecticut Must Do Better To End Hyper-Incarceration, New Haven Register Op-Ed
Rev. Marilyn Kendrix: Connecticut Must Do Better To End Hyper-Incarceration, New Haven Register Op-Ed The Rev. Marilyn B. Kendrix By The Rev. Marilyn B. Kendrix Posted: 10/22/14, 5:14 PM EDT | “We live in a disposable world.” Thus says Todd Young, one graduate of college program at the maximum security prison at Sing Sing. . Mr. Young maintains that America has become a society where we throw things out – old appliances, old computers, old cell phones, old furniture, old clothes. When we are finished with them or tired of them or they are not quite working the way we think they should, we throw them out. And he suggests that this is true for human beings as well. He is … [Read more...]
NY Times: A Plan To Cut Costs And Crime: Curbs Bias Against Ex-Convicts
NY Times: A Plan To Cut Costs And Crime: Curbs Bias Against Ex-Convicts By TIMOTHY WILLIAMS and TANZINA VEGA, OCT. 23, 2014 Marilyn Scales, 52, of New York, who spent time in prison for selling drugs in the 1990s, said that telling the truth on job applications had made her virtually unemployable. “When I answer that question honestly,” she said, “I never get a call back.” Credit Edwin J. Torres for The New York Times WASHINGTON — James White had steeled himself for the moment. But when he got to the question on the job application — Have you ever been convicted of a crime? — he shifted nervously in his seat. If he checked the “yes” box, he would almost certainly not get the job as a … [Read more...]
Why Is Connecticut’s Prison System Worse Than A 1985 Yugo GV Sedan? A Blog Post By, Brian Moran, Esq.
Why Is Connecticut's Prison System Worse Than A 1985 Yugo GV Sedan? A Blog Post By, Brian Moran, Esq. Do you remember the 1985 Yugo GV Sedan? Car Talk magazine dubbed it the worst car of the millennium. It was built in Soviet-controlled Yugoslavia in the 1980s. It was imported into the United States and heralded as a great bargain for consumers. Its list of standard features included “carpet.” It also touted a rear-window defroster, the principal purpose of which was to keep your hands warm while pushing the car after it broke down. Jokingly, Yugo’s slogan became “Yugo, but often you don’t”. It was, short and simple, a disaster. It was also difficult to get repaired, often because of a lack of … [Read more...]
Connecticut Law Tribune: Lawyer’s Book Says Conn. Should Slash Prison Population
Connecticut Law Tribune: Lawyer's Book Says Conn. Should Slash Prison Population Lawyer says reforms should emphasize support programs over incarceration Amaris Elliott-Engel, The Connecticut Law Tribune October 17, 2014 Brian MoranIt's not every day that red-state Texas is pointed out as a paragon for reform that blue-state Connecticut should emulate. But the author of a new book calling for a mass overhaul of Connecticut's criminal justice system says that Connecticut should adopt some of the best practices that have helped Texas reduce its prison population. Texas has reduced the number of inmates so much that the Lone Star State is closing prisons. Brian Moran, a partner at … [Read more...]
Let’s Find the Humane Way: by Motswana writer, Lauri Kubuitsile
Let’s Find the Humane Way: by Motswana writer, Lauri Kubuitsile Republished from Lauri's blog: Thoughts From Botswana There is a bit in Alice Walker’s We are the Ones We have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness that keeps running through my head. She talks about a tribe in South Africa, the BaBemba. In this tribe, when someone does something wrong, the whole tribe comes out. They put the offender in the middle of the circle and then everyone has a turn to tell the person in the middle something good that the accused person has done in their life. They tell the person about every good word they’ve uttered or kind act that they have done. Then when they are finished, when … [Read more...]
Sister Tesa’s Opus: Hope, Place for Jailed Mothers
Sister Tesa’s Opus: Hope, Place for Jailed Mothers Non-Profit Units Mothers With Children By Melanie Grayce West, Reprinted from The Wall Street Journal Oct. 19, 2014 9:07 p.m. ET After learning that she won the $1 million Opus Prize this past Thursday, Sister Teresa Fitzgerald said her mind instantly went to the most basic of needs: housing. Sister Tesa, as she is known, plans to use her winnings to invest in additional space for the women and children who are served by her Queens-based nonprofit, Hour Children. For more than 25 years, Sister Tesa has been uniting jailed and formerly jailed women with their children in an effort to bring families together and stop the generational cycle of … [Read more...]
TEDx Sing Sing: December 3, 2014
TEDx Sing Sing: December 3, 2014 TEDxSingSing will focus on "Creating Healthy Communities" December 3, 2014 TEDx SingSing Event Page Link On December 3, 2014, Sing Sing Correctional Facility will host TEDxSingSing, an independently organized TED event. TEDxSingSing will be the first TEDx event to take place in a New York State prison. The theme for the event will be "Creating Healthy Communities." Speakers will explore this concept from a variety of perspectives, including individual, physical, mental, and emotional health, and how to work together to build a nourishing and supportive community, no matter where you … [Read more...]
Is Brutality The New Normal, By Alan Mills, Director, Uptown People’s Law Center, Chicago, Illinois
Is Brutality The New Normal? By Alan Mills, Director, Uptown People's Law Center, Chicago, Illinois Posted by uplcchicago on October 18, 2014 Mark spent a week in Cook County jail. Unlike most prisoners, he was not assigned a cell. Instead, he and several other prisoners were shuffled around the jail for an entire week: never assigned a cell, never given a mattress; allowed to sleep a couple of hours at a time on cold concrete floors. No shower, no clean clothes; days without food or water; when he was fed, he was then left for hours in a closet with no toilet where he soiled himself. His mom, brother, girlfriend, and lawyer all tried to visit him–only to be told that he could not be found. … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: The Expanded Length of Prison Stays in Connecticut
The Justice Imperative: The Expanded Length of Prison Stays in Connecticut Dicky Joe Jackson was a trucker whose 2-year old son needed a bone-marrow transplant to save his life. He raised $50,000 through community fund-raisers. But that money was not enough. To make up the difference, he began carrying methadone in his truck. He was arrested and convicted. A non-violent offender who was never a large-scale narcotics trafficker, Dicky Joe is now in the 17th year of a life sentence. He divorced his wife of 19 years to allow her to get on with her life. See More: Please go to Chapter Five in “The Justice Imperative” www.TheJusticeImperative.org … [Read more...]
Just Leadership USA’s “Leading With Conviction” Launch & Benefit, Nov. 12th, 6 -9 pm, Tribeca Rooftop, NYC
Just Leadership USA's "Leading With Conviction" Launch & Benefit, Nov. 12th, 6 -9 pm, Tribeca Rooftop, NYC, 2 Debrosses Street, between Hudson & Greenwich Streets. Business Attire. Glenn E. Martin is the founder and Executive Director of JustLeadershipUSA. Daily Show comedian Wyatt Cenac will serve as Master of Ceremonies, honoring actor and activist Gbenga Akinnagbe. Piper Kerman, Author of Orange is the New Black, will serve as Honorary Chair. Click here to order tickets. … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: Recidivism – How Is Connecticut Doing?
The Justice Imperative: Recidivism - How Is Connecticut Doing? Ora Lee Hurley was imprisoned in Atlanta for failure to pay a $ 705 fine. She was permitted to work during the day and return to her detention center at night. She worked five days a week at a restaurant for $ 6.80 an hour. After taxes, she netted about $ 700 a month. She was charged $ 600 a month for room and board at the detention center. Her monthly transportation costs were $ 52. Her other personal expenses depleted anything she had left. Despite her full time employment, she could not repay the fine for which she was serving time and remained incarcerated. See More: Please go to Chapter Four in “The Justice … [Read more...]
Nell Bernstein, Author of Burning Down The House, at The Mark Twain House in Hartford, Thurs., Nov. 20 at 6:30 pm
Nell Bernstein, Author of Burning Down The House, at The Mark Twain House in Hartford, Thurs., Nov. 20 at 6:30 pm Community Partners in Action, Harriet Beecher Stowe Center, Mark Twain House & Connecticut Juvenile Justice Alliance Present: A Conversation with WNPR's John Dankowsky and Nell Bernstein, Author of Burning Down The House: The End of Juvenile Prison. Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 6;30 pm The Mark Twain Museum Center, 351 Farmington Ave., Hartford, Connecticut Tickets: $20 includes light supper at 5:30 pm Reservations: (860) 280-3130 or MarkTwainHouse.org … [Read more...]
In Rare Rebuke for Rikers Officers, Judge Urges Firing of 6 Who Beat Inmate
In Rare Rebuke for Rikers Officers, Judge Urges Firing of 6 Who Beat Inmate By Michael Winerip and Michael Schwirtz, New York Times Photo Robert Hinton, while in a cellblock for inmates with mental illness in 2012, was hogtied and beaten by six Rikers Island correction officers during a cell transfer. Credit Chang W. Lee/The New YorkIn April 2012, on a cellblock for inmates with mental illnesses, five Rikers Island guards and a captain hogtied Robert Hinton, cuffing his hands behind his back and shackling his ankles, then carried him face down, by his arms and legs, into a solitary confinement cell. When they emerged 10 minutes later, Mr. Hinton’s nose was broken, his eyes were … [Read more...]
Prison Guards Can’t Pepper Spray Just Any Schizophrenic Inmates in Arizona Anymore
Prison Guards Can't Pepper Spray Just Any Schizophrenic Inmates In Arizona Anymore By Shane Bauer Reprinted from Mother Jones | Tue Oct. 14, 2014 2:52 PM EDT Arizona prisons just got a little better. A class action lawsuit by the ACLU, the Prison Law Office, and others reached a settlement with the Arizona Department of Corrections today to improve health care and solitary confinement conditions in the state. "This is one of the largest--if not the largest--prisoner settlements in recent years," said David Fathi, Director of the ACLU's National Prison Project. The lawsuit, which has been going on for two years, won concessions that would seem to be common sense. Prison guards, for example, … [Read more...]
Book: Just Mercy, by Brian Stevenson
Book: Just Mercy, by Brian Stephenson A powerful true story about the potential for mercy to redeem us, and a clarion call to fix our broken system of justice—from one of the most brilliant and influential lawyers of our time Link: Bryan Stevenson Interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Bryan Stevenson was a young lawyer when he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a legal practice dedicated to defending those most desperate and in need: the poor, the wrongly condemned, and women and children trapped in the farthest reaches of our criminal justice system. One of his first cases was that of Walter McMillian, a young man who was sentenced to die for a notorious murder he insisted he … [Read more...]
ReentrySurvivors.com: Dwight Dickerson, MA
ReentrySurvivors.org: Dwight Dickerson, MA Authenticity: Being truthful to oneself and others is the key to maneuvering through the reentry process Dwight Dickerson, MA, Community Psychologist President/CEO Tri-Cord LLC New Haven, CT As there are as many days in the week, months in a year there are as many roads that lead to success each having their own bumps in the road, hills to climb and hurdles to overcome and for those of us like me, traveling upon these roads with the weight of a criminal record on our back, the journey to success become even more difficult to achieve. As I share my story, my hope is that I encourage and empower all who read it to embrace the challenge and do the … [Read more...]
Fairfield County Catholic, Oct. 2014: Malta Book Urges Prison Reform
Fairfield County Catholic, Oct. 2014: Malta Book Urges Prison Reform By Brian D. Wallace “Our criminal justice system costs the taxpayer too much, fails at rehabilitation, exacts a life-long toll on offenders and does not yield corresponding societal benefits. Of late, the political left and right have found common ground in advocating for change. It is our fervent hope that by educating the public about the serious issues confronting the criminal justice system, hearts and minds will be changed, thereby enhancing the potential for more positive outcomes and needed reform.” - John Santa, Chairman, Malta Justice Initiative & Editorial Board of The Justice Imperative The statistic … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: The Staggering Cost of Mass Incarceration
The Justice Imperative: The Staggering Cost of Mass Incarceration In 2013, an 86-year old male prisoner -- having served forty years for felonies committed in the 1970s that were serious but did not result in any deaths -- came before the parole board. By 2013, he was confined to a wheelchair. He suffered from a neuromuscular disorder, asthma, high blood pressure and cancer. Prison officers had vouched for him as a peacemaker and protector of vulnerable prison mates. He had a place to live outside prison. People on the outside were prepared to support and care for him upon release. Yet, he was denied parole based on a “probability” he would reoffend and his release would “undermine respect for the law.” As a … [Read more...]
CT POST: New book,”The Justice Imperative — How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked the American Dream,” identifies 30 specific reform recommendations that could start the vital process of effective reform
CT POST: New book,"The Justice Imperative -- How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked the American Dream," identifies 30 specific reform recommendations that could start the vital process of effective reform Originally Published Mon., Oct. 13, 2014, as: Connecticut Prison Reforms Needed - Morally and Financially. The United States has waged a war on the use of illegal drugs for the past 40 years that has not made the country safer, but instead has produced a mass incarceration of its citizens that is financially burdensome, socially destructive and cries out for effective and humane reform. This effort, accompanied by stricter sentencing policies (e.g. , three-strikes laws and mandatory minimums) and … [Read more...]
ReentrySurvivors.com: Willie Hayes
ReentrySurvivors.com: Willie Hayes " Seek to do what most aren't willing to do now, so that you will be able to do what most can't do later" Willie Hayes My name is Willie Hayes and I'm so pleased to take this opportunity to express the reality of change that can occur when the resources that are available are used. After being released from prison, I was able to become a mentor for juveniles at the Community Partners In Action facility. Then I received some information about New England Tractor Trailer Training School in Bridgeport. I enrolled and received my CDL class A licenses, 4 months after enrolling. While in school I discovered that ATR will help me with my out of pocket fees of $700.00. I made … [Read more...]
Letter To Neil Young, by Jeff Grant
Letter To Neil Young, by Jeff Grant Reprinted from prisonist.org "it's all one song" - Neil Young Dear Neil Young, I am writing to you let you know how you've inspired my transformation story and prison ministry. Since I am publishing this letter on our blogsite, and I have no other way of contacting you that I can reasonably think of, I think it's fair to let our readers know that we've never met, I do not know you, and the closest I have ever been to you is the eighth row of a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young concert in the Nassau Coliseum in 2002. And I have no real understanding of your life other than articles and biographies. I feel particularly connected to Jimmy McDonough's … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: The Purpose of This Book.
The Justice Imperative: The Purpose Of This Book. Our criminal justice system is in need of reform. Such system costs the taxpayer too much, fails at rehabilitation, exacts a life-long toll on offenders and does not yield corresponding societal benefits. Of late, the political left and right have found common ground in advocating for change. This book is the product of a bipartisan coalition here in Connecticut of businesspeople, correctional professionals, legislators, judges, law enforcement professionals, lawyers, ministers and academics. We believe there are systemic solutions capable of saving money, making us safer, and providing offenders with a pathway toward reformation and … [Read more...]
Our Criminal Justice System Is Making It Really Hard For People To Find Jobs
Our Criminal Justice System Is Making It Really Hard For People To Find Jobs By Jonathan Blanks. Reprinted from The Washington Post Jonathan Blanks is a writer and researcher in Washington, D.C. The Coleman Federal Prison seen through a gate in Coleman, Fla. in June of 1999. (AP Photo/Orlando Sentine, Tom Benitez) Although the American economy has rebounded from the Great Recession, many people still struggle to find jobs. Politicians blame taxation, trade policies and automation. Some have even singled out the current welfare system. Often overlooked? The many punitive effects of the criminal justice system. Nearly 65 million Americans have a criminal record. This black mark … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: The Explosion of Connecticut’s Prison Population
The Justice Imperative: The Explosion of Connecticut's Prison Population Danielle Metz became pregnant at 17 and later married an abusive man. Her husband also dealt drugs. To placate him and avoid abuse, she sometimes helped pick up cocaine and collected drug payments from Western Union. After her husband beat her up, she left him and took their young kids with her. Two months later, she was indicted. The prosecutor wanted her to testify against her husband. Because she was not very knowledgeable, she was unable to trade useful information in exchange for a lower sentence. She was convicted and sentenced for life. Danielle has served more than 20 years behind bars. See More: Please go to Chapter Two … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative: The War on Drugs.
The Justice Imperative: The War on Drugs. As documented in Michelle Alexander’s groundbreaking book “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” the war on drugs has been waged over the past four decades with equal vigor by both Democratic and Republican administrations. Such war was accompanied by stricter sentencing policies (e.g., three-strikes laws, truth in sentencing and mandatory minimums) and less use of probation and parole. The war has vaulted the United States to a unique place among nations in the world. Between 1980 and 2000, the number of people incarcerated either in prison or jail in the U.S. rose almost seven hundred percent from 300,000 to over 2 million. By … [Read more...]
Malloy Appoints Kenneth Ireland To Connecticut Board of Pardons And Paroles, Ireland Was Wrongfully Convicted Of Murder and Served Two Decades In Connecticut Prisons
Malloy Appoints Kenneth Ireland To Connecticut Board of Pardons And Paroles, Ireland Was Wrongfully Convicted Of Murder and Served Two Decades In Connecticut Prisons. By JENNY WILSON and ALAINE GRIFFIN Kenneth R. Ireland Jr. hugs his sister, Lauri Hinojosa during a break in a hearing before the Office of the Claims Commissioner at the Legislative Office Building for Ireland, who is seeking up to $8 million in compensation from the state after serving 21 years of a 50-year sentence for a... (Cloe Poisson /) HARTFORD — In a symbolic gesture to a wrongly convicted man who served two decades in Connecticut prisons before he was exonerated, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Wednesday announced the … [Read more...]
Photo: Connecticut State Senator & Majority Leader Martin Looney Likes The Justice Imperative.
Here's a photo of Malta Justice Initiative Chairman John Santa giving Connecticut State Senator & Majority Leader Martin Looney his copy of The Justice Imperative at the Archbishop's Columbus Day Breakfast, Anthony's Ocean View, New Haven, CT. There seems little doubt that Senator Looney is very pleased! Thank you Senator Looney for all you do to help those who need a second chance. … [Read more...]
END SLAVERY NOW: Gary Haugen, Founder of The International Justice Mission to Speak at the Massey Theatre at Greenwich Academy. Oct. 15th, 7 pm.
END SLAVERY NOW: Gary Haugen, Founder of The International Justice Mission to Speak at the Massey Theatre at Greenwich Academy. Oct. 15th, 7 pm. Taking A Stand Against Bondage and Oppression, By Rev. Dr. James B. Lemler, Priest-in-charge at Christ Church of Greenwich. Reprinted from Greenwich Time, Oct. 9, 2014. "Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you . . ." Deuteronomy 15:15 That was what God's people were called to remember as a primary focus of their experience of God. Israel had been enslaved in Egypt and lived in that bondage for years upon years, but then there was redemption. God had brought them out of their slavery into new hope … [Read more...]
Why Are We Using Prisons To Treat The Mentally Ill?
Why Are We Using Prisons To Treat The Mentally Ill? A still from OverCriminalized, our video series produced in partnership with the ACLU and Brave New Films. This fall, we’ve partnered with the ACLU and Brave New Films to launch OverCriminalized, a video series highlighting the many social problems that we surprisingly expect the criminal justice system to solve. Focusing on mental illness, housing and drug dependency, the series sheds light on the damage done when we criminalize social problems and profiles innovative solutions that have proven to be far more effective than throwing people in jail. In our video on mental illness, we look at Crisis Intervention Training … [Read more...]
Voices From Solitary: A Mouse and a Murderer, By William Blake
Voices From Solitary: A Mouse and a Murderer, By William Blake October 7, 2014 by Voices From Solitary William Blake is in solitary confinement at Elmira Correctional Facility in upstate New York. In 1987, while in county court on a drug charge, Blake, then 23, grabbed a gun from a sheriff’s deputy and, in a failed escape attempt, murdered one deputy and wounded another. He is now 50 years old, and is serving a sentence of 77 years to life. Blake is one of the few people in New York to be held in “administrative” rather than “disciplinary” segregation—meaning he’s considered a risk to prison safety and is in isolation more or less indefinitely, despite periodic pro forma reviews of his status. He is now … [Read more...]
How Republicans Stopped Being “Tough On Crime.”
How Republicans Stopped Being "Tough On Crime." GOP Lawmakers in Congress are moving toward prison reform. Is this the final frontier for bipartisanship? By Emma Roller (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) October 1, 2014 In Lawrence, Mass., on Oct. 26, 1974, William "Willie" Horton robbed a gas-station attendant and, along with two accomplices, stabbed him to death. In 1986, while serving a life prison sentence in Massachusetts, Horton was given a weekend pass under the state's furlough program. He went missing for nearly a year and was eventually recaptured in Maryland, but only after he had raped a woman and assaulted her fiancé. Willie Horton's case became an … [Read more...]
Off-Broadway Theater Review: The Bullpen, at the Playroom Theater
Off-Broadway Theater Review: The Bullpen, at the Playroom Theater by Paul Birchall on June 28, 2014 in Theater-New York PRO AND (EX-)CON In telling his true-life tale about being convicted of attempted murder and released following a hefty prison term, Joe Assadourian is proof that you can be a crook and still be a tremendously talented actor. And, really, I don’t suppose anyone should be surprised at this idea. Acting is merely the art of foolery raised to the level of beauty; crookery is somehow similar, though with baser motives. Assadourian’s ’s self-written solo show is a perfect example of a comic piece that allows one to see aspects of life which your typical audience member will hopefully … [Read more...]
Anti-sexist Male Activist Jackson Katz to Speak at Housatonic Community College: Weds., Oct. 15th, 7 pm
Anti-sexist Male Activist Jackson Katz to Speak at Housatonic Community College: Weds., Oct. 15th, 7 pm Wednesday, Oct 15, 2014 at 7:00pm Housatonic Community College 900 Lafayette Blvd., Bridgeport, CT 06604 Centerforfamilyjustice.org familyreentry.org SEE COMMENTS FOR IMPORTANT UPDATE TO VENUE & TIME OF EVENT DUE TO PRESIDENT OBAMA"S VISIT TO BRIDGEPORT! Free Jackson Katz, PhD, recognized as one of America’s leading anti-sexist male activists, will speak at Housatonic Community College Wednesday, Oct. 15, from 7-8:30 p.m. The event is jointly sponsored by The Center for Family Justice and Family ReEntry. “The message that Jackson Katz delivers – that males must be involved in any … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative Fall/Winter 2014/15 Book Talks
The Justice Imperative Fall/Winter 2014/15 Book Talks Check Back Soon, we update regularly. Date Time Location Address Speaker 10/14/14 9:3011:30 Great Hall, Yale Divinity School 409 Prospect St., New Haven Jeff Grant 10/15/14 7 pm Church of St. Peter Claver 47 Pleasant St., W. Hartford John Santa 10/19/14 10 am11:15 am Britain Congregational Church 693 S. Britain Rd., Southbury Marilyn Kendrix 10/22/14 2 pm YDS 409 Prospect St., New Haven Marilyn Kendrix 10/22/14 6 pm Derby Neck Library 307 Hawthorne Ave., Derby Ed … [Read more...]
Corcoran SHU Prisoners Start Hunger Strike for Decent Healthcare: Corcoran, California
Corcoran SHU Prisoners Start Hunger Strike for Decent Healthcare: Corcoran, California On Friday, Sept. 26, 2014, three men locked inside unit 4B-1L of the Secure Housing Unit (SHU) of California State Prison-Corcoran started a hunger strike: Heshima Denham (J-38283), followed on Sept. 27 by Michael Zaharibu Dorrough (D-83611), and Kambui Robinson (C-82830) will join them the following day for a few days or as long as he can considering his poor health. Why? The medical care at Corcoran SHU is so bad that life-threatening situations have occurred on too many occasions to the people in the SHU and possibly also elsewhere at CSP-Corcoran that they have had to resort to a hunger strike, the ultimate … [Read more...]
Former Prison Transformed Into Library: Quebec City, Canada
Former Prison Transformed Into Library: Quebec City, Canada Morrin Centre: This former prison now houses a lovely library devoted to Quebec's oft-maligned English-speaking history Contributor: Eric Grundhauser Built over 200 years ago, Quebec City's first prison has been retro-fitted into an inviting cultural center that explores the history of English-speaking culture in area despite many locals' disdain for it. Originally constructed in 1712 as military barracks, the building was refit as Quebec City Common Gaol in 1813. As the first and only penal city in young Quebec City, public offenders were crammed in with one another with no consideration to their crimes, pairing drunkards … [Read more...]
Photo: Johnny Cash Performing For Inmates at Folsom Prison. January 13, 1968.
Johnny Cash performing for inmates at Folsom Prison. January 13, 1968. … [Read more...]
Incarceration Rates Among Founding NATO Members
Incarceration Rates Among Founding NATO Members … [Read more...]
Video: Angela Davis and Michelle Alexander – End Mass Incarceration – Riverside Church – September 14, 2012
Video: Angela Davis and Michelle Alexander - End Mass Incarceration - Riverside Church - September 14, 2012 … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative Is Now On Linked In
The Justice Imperative Is Now On Linked In I am lending my Linked In page to the roll-out of the book and mission to reform the criminal justice system in the State of Connecticut, The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream. - Brian Moran, Esq., Partner, Robinson + Cole, Stamford, Connecticut, Author/Editorial Board, The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream The Justice Imperative is a collaborative undertaking of the Malta Justice Initiative and thirty-two criminal justice professionals throughout the State of Connecticut who were called together to write and edit the book. The book details the current state … [Read more...]
Fairfield University honors John S. Santa, Chairman, Malta Justice Initiative
Fairfield University honors John S. Santa, Chairman, Malta Justice Initiative John S. Santa receives honorary degree from Fairfield University at 2014 Commencement Ceremonies. John S. Santa, received an honorary degree from Fairfield University at their 64th Commencement Ceremonies. After a 40- year career in marketing, finance and finally as CEO at Santa Energy, he now serves as an independent director for four private corporations. His record as a community activist as well as his ongoing commitment to social justice and community service is substantial. Having served on many community boards in the past, such as the Inner City Foundation for Charity and Education and the Family Firm … [Read more...]
Suburbia, by Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, MDiv
Suburbia, by Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div Below is an essay I originally wrote as part of my Master of Divinity Thesis at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. Entitled "Suburbia," it chronicles the day I reported to Allenwood Low Security Federal Correctional Institution in White Deer, Pennsylvania. Your comments are invited - Jeff ________________ I pulled on my sweatshirt and realized just how cold it was. It was freezing down this end of the hall. Suburbia they called it. It was the most sought after section of the unit. Far from prying eyes. Far from the glaring lights and acrid smells of the bathroom. Far from the incessant screaming in the television room that could last until … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative New Haven Book Talk at St. Thomas More Chapel, Yale University, New Haven, CT, Sun., Oct. 5th, 6 pm
The Justice Imperative New Haven Book Talk at St. Thomas More Chapel, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut Yale University/Yale Divinity School community, and all our friends & colleagues who will be in or near New Haven, Sunday, October 5, 2014, 6 p.m., please join Malta Justice Chairman John Santa as he leads an important discussion about the state of criminal justice in Connecticut. Justice Imperative New Haven Book Talk Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 6:00pm St Thomas More Chapel Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut Please "like" us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejusticeimperative. … [Read more...]
Andrew Kaplan of Walden Pond Design Joins The Justice Imperative Social Media Team
Andrew Kaplan of Walden Pond Design Joins The Justice Imperative Social Media Team Photo clockwise: Andrew Kaplan, Jeff Grant, Babz Rawls Ivy at The Justice Imperative Inaugural Media Meeting, Fri., Oct. 3, 2014, Church of the Redeemer, New Haven, Connecticut. i went into the woods because i wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if i could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. - Henry David Thoreau andrew@waldenponddesign.com, 860.304.6369 … [Read more...]
Back to the Future, By Barry S. Diamond – Reentry Survivor
Back to the Future, By Barry S. Diamond - Reentry Survivor I first met Barry when he and I were members of the SouthWest Connecticut Justice Reinvestment Initiative. Barry was a tireless worker with terrific ideas. Recently, he and Dick Sederquist (another SWCJRI member) invited me to breakfast to discuss a project they were working on - Reentry Survivors Success Stories. At breakfast, Barry shared with us that he was a reentry survivor, having served prison time for a white-collar crime. I invited Barry to write a guest blog for us. - Jeff ReentrySurvivors.com: "It gives prior convicted persons the opportunity to go back into their past life and look at it to see how and what formed … [Read more...]
The Justice Imperative Announces New Social Media Team
The Justice Imperative Announces New Social Media Team Malta Justice Initiative is pleased to announce that Babz Rawls Ivy and Jeff Grant have been selected as Online Editors for the roll out of the new book The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream. Babz and Jeff can be reached respectively, and submissions be made at: babz@thejusticeimperative.org & jeff@thejusticeimperative.org. The Blog will be launched in the next few days. We are already up at running at facebook.com/thejusticeimperative and twitter.com/maltajustice_ct. Soon at Google+ and Linked In. … [Read more...]
Tales From The Inside: Fences
At Allenwood FCI, I met an Israeli guy named Avi. Avi was in the trucking business in New York City. He was apparently in prison for trafficking in contraband that was sold to some nations on the U.S. enemies list. But then again, the rule in prison is believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. One day while we were walking on the track at Rec, Avi looked around commented how much the compound looked like the kibbutz he had lived on in Israel. He said the major difference was that, "on the kibbutz the fences keep the bad guys out; here, the fences keep the bad guys in." Hmm? Fences, like life, are all a matter of perspective. - Jeff … [Read more...]
A White Lawyer’s Take on The New Jim Crow, By Brian Moran, Esq.
A White Lawyer's Take on The New Jim Crow, By Brian Moran, Esq. _____ Brian Moran is the lead writer of the new, important book, "The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Has Hijacked The American Dream." It exposes in great detail the truth about the Connecticut criminal justice and prison process, and how we are all paying for it. It also gives specific recommendations as to how we, and our legislators, can make effective changes immediately. We urge all of our friends, colleagues and readers to order and read this book. Please order individual copies through Amazon and group copies through the book website, thejusticeimperative.org. Thank you. - Jeff _______ Last year, … [Read more...]
