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On One Issue, Americans Are United. Too Many Are Behind Bars.

Tina Rosenberg

October 30, 2019 |

The New York Times |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

In such a divided country, many groups from lawmakers to advocacy groups are finding rare bipartisan cooperation around the issue of criminal justice reform. Two congressional representatives, one Republican and one Democrat, have found common ground, as well as the Justice Action Network, which forms bipartisan coalitions, one of which was instrumental in passing the First Step Act.

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The Kim Foxx Effect: How Prosecutions Have Changed in Cook County

Matt Daniels

October 24, 2019 |

The Marshall Project |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

In her first two and a half years in office as Chicago’s top prosecutor, Kim Foxx lived up to her campaign pledge to prosecute fewer low-level crimes, divert drug cases to treatment, and focus more on gun violence. An analysis of an unprecedented data release shows that Foxx’s office turned away more than 5,000 cases, mostly shoplifting and drug offenses, based on her vow to stop over-criminalizing behavior in ways that ruin lives. Meanwhile, her office prosecuted more gun crimes. Police complained her policies will increase crime, but in the short term at least there was no evidence that they had.

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Restorative Justice: Healing Instead of Incarceration

Michael Conforti

October 24, 2019 |

News Beat |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Prosecutors in Brooklyn and Bronx divert some violent crime cases away from traditional courts to a program called Common Justice, which gives victims a greater say in the outcome – an outcome chosen by 9 out of 10 victims served by the agency because it provides a more healing alternative to the incarceration that has caused so many social problems in their neighborhoods. Through restorative justice dialog between victims and those who harmed them, agreements are forged whereby the responsible party will atone for his crime through restitution, community service, or other means.

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NYC: Where the Police Offer a Free Art Class Instead of Prosecution

Rebecca Bellan

October 22, 2019 |

Bloomberg CityLab |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Since 2015, Project Reset has diverted potential criminal cases to programs that change behaviors without imposing punishment or staining people's records with criminal convictions. Art classes, behavioral therapy, and restorative dialogue have made 16- and 17-year-olds in the program significantly less likely to commit new offenses, while 98% of those admitted to the program have completed it. Offered in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Bronx, the program helped the Manhattan district attorney nearly cut in half the number of prosecutions of low-level misdemeanors and violations.

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'The Hardest Part Was Finding a Job'

Kristi Eaton

October 21, 2019 |

Ms. Magazine |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, McLoud, Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s Mabel Bassett Correctional Center is seeing its first graduating class of women coders. A nonprofit called The Last Mile offers training programs for incarcerated individuals with the goal of equipping them with timely job skills upon re-entry. Those that are a part of the program participate in 40 hours of class per week for a year, learning coding programs like CSS, HTML, and Bootstrap.

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Easing the Way Home for Returning Senior Citizens

Kate McQueen

October 14, 2019 |

Next City |

Multi-Media |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

For seniors re-entering after incarceration, San Francisco’s Senior Ex-Offenders Program (SEOP) is there to help with the transition. The program offers transitional housing, employment services, and even assistance for minor things like getting a debit card or help with transportation. SEOP has partnered with the city, county, and law enforcement to strengthen its efforts, a key one being the one-on-one assistance and support groups that have shown the most impact with participants.

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After Prison, Healthy Lives Built On Access To Care And Community

Rob Waters

October 07, 2019 |

Health Affairs |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

The Transitions Clinic Network is a program that helps to connect people who were arrested on drug charges with health-care professionals and a social support system once they are released. Originally piloted in San Francisco, this program now has over 30 affiliates throughout the country.

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A Tale Of Two Cities: New York Providers Credit 'Aftercare' For Helping Youths Transition Home

Allison Dikanovic

October 02, 2019 |

WUWM |

Multi-Media |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New York

After kids spend time in one of New York City's community-based incarceration facilities, they are enrolled in an "aftercare" program, which includes group meetings and mentoring, to help with the transition. As Milwaukee continues to reform its youth prison system, it is looking to New York as one promising model to consider.

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A Decade Of Diversion: Franklin County's Court For Addiction Recovery

Paige Pfleger

September 26, 2019 |

WOSU |

Multi-Media |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Columbus, Ohio

Merging accountability with treatment promotes recovery for those charged with drug possession. In Franklin County, Ohio, the municipal court system operates a program called Helping Achieve Recovery Together. The court recovery program provides a two-year track for participants to receive mental health support from peers and the courts, with the goal of moving them from the criminal justice system and into treatment.

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What follows punishment?

Aviva Stahl

September 26, 2019 |

The Outline |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, St. Paul, Minnesota

Minnesota’s Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) program takes a restorative, rehabilitative approach to sex offender re-entry and has lowered the risk of recidivism by 88%. The initiative provides participants with a group of volunteers that help them with emotional support, job finding, and challenge and shift the attitudes and behaviors that led to the committed crime. The rise of the #metoo movement has given way to the complexity of sexual assault, restorative justice, and rehabilitation – making programs like CoSA both more necessary and challenging to sustain.

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