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Mothers flourish with sister's support after incarceration

Chris Herlinger

May 07, 2020 |

Global Sisters Report |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Hour Children is one of several programs throughout the U.S. that focuses on employing "God-given dignity" to help incarcerated mothers maintain relationships with their children and find sustainable futures after their sentences have ended. The latter goal is achieved through the ministry's year-long employment and job-training program. Although it is uncertain how the program will proceed during the Covid-19 pandemic, for the last three years, a local manufacturing company has consistently hired alumni from the program due to their training.

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The Separation

Alysia Santo Elaine McMillion Sheldon

May 06, 2020 |

The Marshall Project |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Wetumpka, Alabama

Alabama’s Tutwiler Prison for women, once found to be one of the worst prisons for women in the country, has undergone major reforms to change its once-abusive culture. A key part of this has been a focus on pregnant women who are experiencing incarceration, focusing more on rehabilitation than punitive measures by offering peer support groups and substance abuse programming. Tutwiler has also brought in the Alabama Prison Birth Project, offering childbirth education and doula services if desired.

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Emptier Jails Could Stay That Way

Daniel J McGraw

May 04, 2020 |

Reasons to be Cheerful |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland’s city jail has released close to 900 inmates in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in its overcrowded facilities. And the response isn’t unique – New York, LA, Detroit, Chicago, New Orleans, and Houston are just a few of the other cities that have taken similar measures. While an immediate response to the pandemic, advocates say the release of low-level offenders could bode well for larger prison reforms that have been slowly taking hold.

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A volunteer army has answered Colorado's need for masks. Denver's jails are one recent beneficiary.

Kevin Simpson

May 04, 2020 |

The Colorado Sun |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Denver, Colorado

Across Colorado, grassroots groups have come together to create homemade masks for the state’s most vulnerable populations to protect against COVID-19. Two of those populations are Denver’s Downtown Detention Center and Denver County Jail. Groups like Dena’s Mask Making Army, the Mask Mavens, and even some AA and sober living communities have rallied together – virtually, of course – to use their sewing skills to fill the mask needs, about 3 masks per person, for those experiencing incarceration.

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America's Other Epidemic: A new approach to fighting the opioid crisis as it quietly rages on

Beth Macy

May 01, 2020 |

The Atlantic |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Batesville, Indiana

To close a gap in drug treatment that often denies help to people who end up jailed, a hospital employee schooled in the strong evidence of effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment cobbled together a program using Medicaid funding and the cooperation of the courts and medical community. The program is rare in rural America. Though still small, the Courts Addiction & Drug Services program ended its first year with no overdoses, and only a handful of relapses, among its dozens of participants. In a region where MAT drugs are nearly impossible to get, the program is now working to expand its services.

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Band of Others: Breaking patterns of violence

Sergio Olmos

April 27, 2020 |

Underscore |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Texas

Specialty dockets are used in some states to provide extensive follow-up and supervision to help juveniles end gang affiliations. The enhanced supervision usually includes a curfew, frequent unannounced home visits, regular courthouse meetings, and in depth mentoring. A federal grant recently made it possible for a Texas docket called Juveniles United Navigating Obstacles Successfully (JUNTOS) to also offer therapy services to at least 36 adolescents over 3 years. Gang re-entry data is scarce and there is a risk of focusing only on youth of color because the gang designation excludes white supremacy groups.

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UnCommon Law Helps Inmates Serving Life Sentences Earn Back Their Freedom

Jennie Butler

April 26, 2020 |

NowThis News |

Video |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, California

The California law firm UnCommon Law is helping people in prison make parole through group counseling and training. The firm facilitates conversations around insight, helping participants understand and explain their own personal journey and reckon with the impact of their actions, so that they can convey this to their parole board. Since 2006, UnCommon law has helped 248 men and women receive parole, a 60% success rate.

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Prisons' Use of Solitary Confinement Explodes with the COVID-19 Pandemic, While Advocates Push for Alternatives

Jean Casella Katie Rose Quandt

April 10, 2020 |

Solitary Watch |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Louisiana

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, prisons are having to figure out ways to keep it from spreading across inmate populations. A popular response has been cell lockdowns, drawing criticism from advocacy organizations and judges across the country. Being compared to solitary confinement, which takes extreme physical and mental tolls on individuals, groups like Amend, the Vera Institute, and the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture are offering alternative plans that are less punitive while still protecting those experiencing incarceration.

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A New Tactic To Fight Coronavirus: Send The Homeless From Jails To Hotels

Abbie Vansickle

April 06, 2020 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Oakland, California

California’s governor signed an executive order allocating $50 million to lease hotel rooms for those experiencing homelessness after being released from prison as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. While the hotel business is at a standstill, it provides shelter and the needed self-isolation to one of the most vulnerable populations. So far, 7,000 hotel rooms have been reserved for these individuals.

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Vermont inmates released to spread out population

Anna Merriman

March 28, 2020 |

Sentinel Source (The Keene Sentinel) |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Vermont

To reduce incarcerated people’s exposure to COVID-19 behind bars before anyone had even fallen ill, Vermont officials all but stopped new admissions to state prisons and released hundreds from custody in February and March. Lowering the population by more than 200, from its late December benchmark to late March, was designed to make the prisons less crowded and to avoid introducing people to a potential virus hot spot if at all possible. The measures required coordination among prison officials, courts, prosecutors, and halfway houses.

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