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Yoga, herbs and sunshine: New Zealand opens 'humane' jail for most violent inmates

Eleanor Ainge Roy

July 29, 2018 |

The Guardian |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: New Zealand, Auckland

New Zealand is opening a new prison for its most dangerous inmates, but it will feature more space and holistic therapies in the vein of prisons in Scandinavia, Belgium and Germany. The majority of people in New Zealand's prisons have a mental illness or addiction diagnosis and more than half are Maori. The new facility will focus on helping people eventually reintegrate back into the community and officials hope this will curtail the steadily rising incarceration rates in the country.

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Prison hurts women more than men — so England is trying a new approach

Edward Siddons

July 27, 2018 |

Apolitical |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, all 12 women's prisons have implemented a program to “treat trauma through the lens of gender” in an effort to address the root causes that drive women into prison. It's based on work by the Center for Gender and Justice in California and focuses on training staff to understand trauma, as well as helping inmates heal from trauma. Initial results are promising, but there are serious challenges to implementing this strategy on a systemic basis.

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These Dogs Are Giving Inmates a Paws-itive Path Forward

Joseph Darius Jaafari

July 26, 2018 |

NationSwell |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Bedford Hills, New York

Training inmates to raise service dogs can benefit everyone involved. Inmates gain skills and a sense of purpose, and the dogs go on to help wounded veterans and first responders. “I’ve been here for years,” says a security guard at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility where Puppies Behind Bars started. “And let me tell you, this is like no other program. It really works.”

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Throw the books at them: How more training for Wisconsin's prisoners could help companies

David D. Haynes

July 26, 2018 |

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, the Department of Corrections is tailoring their prison education programs to meet the needs of the job market, and it is benefitting former inmates as well as the economy. Milwaukee Area Technical College works to get inmates credentials, which helps them get jobs upon release from prison. The investment pays off. For every dollar spent educating inmates, the government saves $5 in the years after their release.

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The Citizens Project

Jill Harkins

July 23, 2018 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Haven, Connecticut

In New Haven, a two-decades long experiment in giving community to and promoting empowerment for people who have been in the criminal justice system or mental health treatment services has shown a decrease in drug use and an increase in general quality of life. The idea - that people who have isolated/alienated by a system need to be empowered as citizens to successfully re-integrate - is taking hold in other cities, including Philadelphia.

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New prison unit opens to help young female inmates

Clarice Silber

July 09, 2018 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, East Lyme, Connecticut

Connecticut’s women's prison launched a new unit in 2018 devoted to rehabilitation and reintegration. It’s based on prisons for young offenders in Germany, which the state's governor and the head of corrections visited, after which they worked with the Vera Institute of Justice to design one for Connecticut. The women’s unit follows the opening of a similar program for young male offenders where they are mentored by older inmates and receive counseling and education to reduce recidivism.

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Community in Unity: Recovery Behind Bars

Anne Hillman

July 03, 2018 |

Alaska Public Media |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Wasilla, Alaska

Prisons can reduce recidivism if they provide people who are incarcerated with drug and alcohol treatment, as it helps inmates address underlying issues. People who have been in and out of prison tell their stories about the success of these treatments at a public event organized and recorded by Alaska Public Media. Many participants said more solutions will happen when the question “What's wrong with you?” is replaced with “What happened to you?”

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Caring for California's aging prisoners

Sharon Bernstein

June 20, 2018 |

Reuters |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In California, about 18,400 inmates are over the age of 55. In order to properly treat them the state is building a dementia unit. Other states like New York might follow suit, in order to properly care for their aging inmate population.

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A Rare Look Inside One of the Only High Schools at an Adult Jail

Eli Hager

June 08, 2018 |

The Marshall Project |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

A new high school inside the New Orleans jail gives juvenile detainees the opportunity to earn credits toward graduation, not just a GED, and possibly find a different future. It's showing promise, with three people earning diplomas so far and more passing state exams in English and math. But the challenges are many because students are in a violent jail awaiting adjudication that could mean many more years behind bars.

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In prison, 'Reimagining Justice' - and a governor's legacy

Mark Pazniokas

May 31, 2018 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Cheshire, Connecticut

Inspired by German institutions, a prison in Connecticut is focusing on rehabilitation rather than punishment for the most disruptive young inmates. Sixteen months after the program launched, there has been no violence among the group. Guided by neuroscience and a desire for increased public safety, officials give young inmates intensive training in education and life skills along as well as mentoring and a staff willing to use different approaches.

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