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Two Rural Counties Take Diverting Paths to Jail Reform

Laine Kaplan-Levenson

September 16, 2019 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Alamosa, Colorado

Two southern Colorado counties responded differently when drug abuse, poverty, and mental illness contributed to overcrowding in their old, decrepit jails. Pueblo County's sheriff has gone to voters three times seeking approval of a near-doubling of his jail's capacity. Alamosa County's sheriff did the same, and succeeded in a renovation that nearly doubled capacity. But those extra cells turned out to be unnecessary because that county's criminal justice and community agencies collaborated on jail alternatives, significantly reducing how many people get jailed.

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Can We Turn Down the Temperature on Urban Heat Islands?

Jim Morrison

September 12, 2019 |

Yale Environment 360 |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Portland, Oregon

Researchers are using citizen science volunteers to more accurately identify hot spots in cities, where some temperatures are significantly higher than their surrounding areas. The data has also shown that there is a correlation between lower-income neighborhoods and higher temperatures. Climate change is expected to increase the number of extreme weather events, including heat waves, so mapping these urban heat islands can help cities develop new urban planning strategies.

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TransWork, Philadelphia airport team up for job fair aimed at increasing trans employment

Laura Smythe

September 11, 2019 |

Philadelphia Gay News |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For trans, non-binary, and gender nonconforming people, finding employment - and keeping it - can be difficult because of their identities. To help combat that, organizations like TransWork are creating employment programs for entrepreneurs and job seekers to connect with companies and investors.

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The Courtroom of the Future Looks a Lot Like This Navajo Tradition

Monica Humphries

September 10, 2019 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Brooklyn’s Red Hook Peacemaking Program, part of the Red Hook Community Justice Center, is bringing together individuals in conflict to practice restorative justice. The program accepts cases coming through various courts, schools, and personal references, and brings together families, friends, and adversaries to participate in moderated, peacebuilding discussions. Seeing over 100 cases each year, the program has decreased recidivism rates and spread to other cities in New York.

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How giant African rats are helping uncover deadly land mines in Cambodia

Fred de Sam Lazaro

September 10, 2019 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV News |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: Cambodia, Battambang

Cambodia is littered with unexploded land mines, posing a huge threat to people even decades after the conflict. In order to help locate and remove mines, a unique organization named Apopo trains rats to sniff them out. Rats have extremely sensitive noses and have found about 500 mines and more than 350 unexploded bombs in Cambodia since 2016. The drawback is the pace of the long, tedious, and dangerous work.

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Jeffrey Epstein's Death Highlights Inmate Suicide Problem

Max Blau

September 10, 2019 |

Stateline |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Atlanta, Georgia

After several high-profile suicides at various prisons throughout the U.S, ten states have enacted new policies for jails and prisons in order to intervene before it's too late. From enhanced suicide prevention training to more comprehensive intake regiments to abolishing solitary confinement practices, states across the nation are learning how to prioritize mental health care for inmates.

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How New York and Milwaukee approach juvenile justice

Allison Dikanovic

September 09, 2019 |

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

New York’s Close to Home legislation approaches the juvenile justice system through the lens of rehabilitation, moving those in up-state juvenile facilities to local, sometimes residential housing that emphasizes family and community. The approach has led to a 71% decrease in the number of youth placed in these facilities and a drastic increase in academic performance. Halfway across the country, as Wisconsin closes two of its upstate juvenile facilities, Milwaukee legislators are seeking to implement similar, community-centered programming.

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‘I just want more for them': New program aims to boost families' economic mobility

Lauren Lindstrom

September 09, 2019 |

The Charlotte Observer |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Charlotte, North Carolina

Economic mobility becomes far more attainable when children grow up in a "high-opportunity" area as opposed to a "low-opportunity" area: housing within the city with access to transportation and amenities, higher-performing schools, and lower crime rates. An enhanced voucher program through the Charlotte Housing Authority offers families housing vouchers to move into high-opportunity areas. They also offer incentives to landlords who accept the vouchers, such as up to $1,000 to repair damage beyond normal wear and tear. The program is still new, and it will take generations to see its affects.

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Where Texting Brings People to Court

Jenny Casas

September 09, 2019 |

70 Million |

Podcast |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, West Palm Beach, Florida

In Palm Beach County, an automated system sends text-message reminders, instead of just postal mail notices, to people with upcoming court dates. About 14% of those jailed in the county were there on warrants for failure to appear in court, placing a burden both on the system and on people's disrupted lives. Since the system was started, warrants for failure to appear are down by more than half, although other factors are also at play. At the very least, every court appearance someone makes is one less public cost and private hassle.

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In Chicago, Police Violence Survivors Heal Through Song

Jonita Davis

September 06, 2019 |

Yes! Magazine |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

Communal healing represents reparations in action. The Chicago Torture Justice Center, created in 2015 through a Chicago City Council reparations ordinance, advocates for wrongfully imprisoned Black men, as well as for victims of violence and torture at the hands of police. At the community center, area nonprofits like the Old Town School of Folk Music, lead workshops like the Freedom Songbook. The program uses protest songs as a way to encourage resiliency and healing in survivors.

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