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Bringing Arts and Culture into the Work of Public Safety and Criminal Justice

Emily Nonko

October 10, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A collaboration between artists, lawyers, and community members has resulted in expungement clinics that clean or clear criminal records in a manner that is legally binding and emotionally therapeutic. Clinic attendees are invited to literally shred their records and are then presented with a blank piece of paper made by co-op members—many formerly incarcerated people themselves—representing a new start.

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Every employee at this grilled cheese restaurant has a criminal record

Adele Peters

October 05, 2018 |

FastCompany |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Emily Turner, an attorney-turned-activist, runs the restaurant All Square, which only employs people with a criminal record. After years working in the field of prisoner reentry for the government, she decided to create a solution that would directly help people: providing jobs. By paying a living wage, providing mental health support, and teaching business skills, the “fellows,” as they are called, are finding a sustainable way to bounce back.

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Can a Bible college in this NC prison make a difference?

Shelbi Polk

September 27, 2018 |

The News & Observer |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Wake Forest, North Carolina

The Field Minister Program by the College at Southeastern Baptist Seminary offers inmates inside Nash Correctional the opportunity to study ministry and ultimately be used as a tool to reduce recidivism. Inmates with long terms lead the cultural change within the prisons by helping departing inmates find jobs, mentors and communities, running their own religious services, and becoming juvenile mentors, GED tutors, hospice care workers, chaplain support, and more. Studies done on similar programs show that Bible college reduces participant misconduct by 65-80%, and many inmates share stories of success.

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Miami Thrift Store Gives Women Coming Out Of Prison Jobs

Nadege Green

September 23, 2018 |

WLRN |

Radio |

3-5 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Miami, Florida

Ladies Empowerment Action Program (LEAP), a Miami nonprofit organization, is helping women transition out of prison and into employment. Women are connected to a transitional job at Dragonfly Thrift Boutique, a store built with the explicit purpose of employing women coming out of prison. During their release period, the female participants go through an entrepreneurship training program to urge them to one day start their own companies and further the cycle of employment.

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Meet the Delaware Teen Fighting for the Rights of Former Juvenile Offenders

Hallie Steiner

September 14, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Wilmington, Delaware

After her neighbor was incarcerated, a Delaware teenager and her brother began supporting youth coming out of detention with clothes, school supplies and other items. Their nonprofit grew and was so successful in raising money and awareness that the state legislature took over the re-entry fund just a year and a half after the organization's launch. The founder is now working on a pilot program to provide financial literacy training for formerly incarcerated youth.

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A Vision of Healing, and Hope, for Formerly Incarcerated Women

Adrienne Day

September 07, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

A project in the Bronx led by two formerly incarcerated women is testing whether transitional living/supportive housing meant specifically for women can help protect against recidivism. The Hope House currently provides homes for 5 women, emphasizing the need for community, not just fulfillment of basic necessities.

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Stripped: The Search for Human Rights in US Women's Prisons

Adam Skolnick

September 07, 2018 |

Longreads |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington

After her client and friend gets sentenced to 13 years in prison at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, Laurie Dawson, an activist, sets out to reform prison practices. With the guidance of the Bangkok Rules, an international document that outlines 70 principles meant to reform women’s prisons, Dawson sets her sight on eliminating strip searches from WCCM, and succeeds.

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Youth Need Community-Based Treatment, Not Jails

Megan Hadley

September 05, 2018 |

The Crime Report |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States

The number of youth confined in U.S. detention facilities has dropped by nearly half since 1997, saving money and reducing recidivism. A report by the Justice Policy Institute says this has made communities safer, but that reductions are only among those accused of nonviolent crimes and that racial and ethnic disparities have increased. The report calls for changes, such as repealing state laws on mandatory sentences, offering better probation supervision and creating more diversion options.

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How 'the incarceration capital of America' embraced criminal justice reform

Frank Carlson William Brangham

August 31, 2018 |

PBS NewsHour |

Broadcast TV News |

5-15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

After years of being the incarceration capital of America, Louisiana began changing its laws in 2017 to cut the number of people in prison, prompting a drop of seven percent in the prison population and savings of $12 million. The funds will be reinvested in education, job training and other programs in prisons and jails for those about to be released. But many challenges remain, including stigma from employers and landlords, and skepticism by the state's attorney general.

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How the Formerly Incarcerated Support the Formerly Incarcerated

Zoe Sullivan

August 30, 2018 |

Next City |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

A nonprofit launched by formerly incarcerated men in New Orleans addresses some of the immediate challenges people face in the first 72 hours coming out of prison. The First 72 offers them a place to go, which can be a serious problem for those with records, as well as support and mentorship. There is also a small business incubator that some returnees have used to turn their side hustles into small businesses with plans to grow and employ other former felons.

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