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Last Days of Solitary

Lauren Mucciolo Dan Edge

April 18, 2017 |

PBS Frontline |

Documentary |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Warren, Maine

Across the United States, the use of administrative segregation is being rethought and reduced, as study after study shows it’s link to higher rates of violence and recidivism. At Maine State Prison, over the course of six years, the number of people in solitary went from 100 to 8, while also seeing a decline in fights, use of weapons, and emergency room transportation in the prison’s general population. The prison has instead started implementing individualized mental health programming and structured living units – opting to implement rehabilitation over punitive measures.

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Mentally ill man worse off after acquittal

Jessica Priest

April 08, 2017 |

The Victoria Advocate |

Multi-Media |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Victoria, Texas

“Two million people with mental illness are booked into jails every year.” Mental health courts, would take into accounts a person’s illness, rather than solely focusing on the crime.

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After 36 Years in Prison, This Philadelphian Has a Model for Criminal Justice Reform

Tom Dallessio

March 31, 2017 |

Next City |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Lack of education was the downfall of one Philadelphia man who spent 36 years in prison, and education proved to be his redemption when he discovered he could do well in coursework. He got a college degree and helped bring the Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program to the prison where he was incarcerated. He continues to work with the program, which matches prisoners with college students and professors to help them gain the skills they need, and also fosters more compassion and understanding for those incarcerated.

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Reentry Think Tank wants returning citizens designing reentry services

Tony Abraham

March 09, 2017 |

Generocity |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Reentry Think Tank in Philadelphia brings a badly needed component to the world of services helping inmates reintegrate back into society: The experiences of actual former inmates. The nonprofit created fellowships for those coming back from prison and it has joined with the larger Philadelphia Reentry Coalition to make sure these voices are at the table with policy makers. They're working on a list of policy suggestions called the People's Bill of Rights in a model they want to see replicated across other social services.

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'To focus on young adults who are in prison is very cutting edge'

Mark Pazniokas

March 05, 2017 |

The Connecticut Mirror |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Connecticut

The state of Connecticut is partnering with the Vera Institute of Justice to creating a new model of incarceration for young people ages 18 to 25. That state has created four integration centers to help inmates transition back to the community and opened a unit for young male prisoners who are mentored by those serving life sentences. They engage in circle-based conversations daily to promote communication and curtail conflict within the correctional center.

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Philadelphia Reentry Coalition wants to solve for the 'severe lack of data on returning citizens'

Tony Abraham

February 21, 2017 |

Generocity |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Two, separate coalitions in Philadelphia, whose aim is to lower recidivism rates, joined into one. Aviva Tevah, the director of the coalition, will have to merge the vision and goals of the 80 plus members. “We set new targets, a new organizational structure and focused on what it would look like to build the infrastructure for deeper collaboration in the future.”

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No country for old men: Japan's elderly inmates prefer jail

Natsuko Fukue

January 14, 2017 |

Agence France-Presse (AFP) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: Japan

In Japan more services are becoming available to help elderly offenders return to society and find work so they can be financially secure. The country is seeing increasing numbers of older people entering prison and being afraid to leave because of financial hardship and uncertainty on the outside. But right now services both inside and outside the prison are not enough to keep up with need and officials are deploying more nursing help inside.

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Boulder's Elkhorn Treatment Center: 'Silver bullet' for women fighting addiction

Kathleen J. Bryan

December 11, 2016 |

The Montana Standard |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Boulder, Montana

The Montana prison system operates a pair of men's and women's treatment facilities that provide an intensive, nine-month treatment program for methamphetamine and opioid abuse that has shown high rates of success. Residents are seen not simply as prisoners or people with addiction, but as people needing empathy and life lessons in accountability and honesty. Therapy groups allow patients to share their stories of trauma. Various studies have shown the treatment centers have successfully graduated 75-95% of their patients.

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Hard time software: Why these prisoners learn computer coding

Ann Scott Tyson

November 28, 2016 |

The Christian Science Monitor |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Quentin, California

The USA has one of the highest rates of incarceration, and reoffending is a likely outcome after prison. 'The Last Mile' and similar programs are providing inmates with the opportunity to learn marketable skills and earn degrees while in prison, and then find jobs once their sentence is finished, in order to decrease the likelihood of reoffending.

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Don't Lock 'Em Up. Give 'Em a Chance to Quit Drugs

Caroline Preston

October 25, 2016 |

The New York Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

In Seattle, the over-policing of drug users has been extensive and frequently racially biased. Looking for a new solution, the LEAD (Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion) program, driven by a harm reduction philosophy, is connecting users with key social services rather than punishment.

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