Prisoners bearing the brunt of institutional incompetence over escapes

Aug 13, 2015 No Comments

The escapes and ultimate death and capture of inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat, respectively, were supposed to have prompted a clean-up in the Clinton Correctional Facility. There were suspensions, leaves, and retirements aplenty as myriad failures in prison protocol were revealed. The FBI also launched an investigation into the facility’s operations over accusations of

Completing the education circle with financial knowledge

Aug 13, 2015 No Comments

By Curtis Carroll, AKA “Wall Street” Zak Williams may not be as well-known as his late father, Robin Williams, but the impact he is having on the lives of others is no less note-worthy. A Columbia MBA, Williams has been working at San Quentin State Prison to provide prisoners with important financial skills to help

Mental illness and the first line of defense in the justice system

Aug 6, 2015 No Comments

In 2013 public defenders across the country sounded the warning alarm when the federal sequester forced many offices to slash budgets and take on fewer cases. Many have yet to recover, and offices are still dealing with not enough lawyers, few resources, and not nearly enough time to help a dearth of clients. With indigent

Pell Grants for Prisoners: New Bill Restores Hope of Reinstating College Programs

Jul 31, 2015 No Comments

It’s been over 20 years since Jon Marc Taylor, Ph.D., a Missouri state prisoner and author of the Prisoners’ Guerrilla Handbook to Correspondence Programs in the U.S. and Canada, published an op-ed in the New York Times urging federal lawmakers not to ban Pell grants for prisoners. In the two decades since his plea, the

Top view of handcuffs on paper with 'GUILTY' text, symbolizing a verdict or crime.

Mandatory minimum sentencing: A tragedy of comedic proportions

Jul 30, 2015 No Comments

Just as Obama did with his landmark speech at the NAACP several weeks ago, comedian and host of Last Week Tonight, Jon Oliver, has thrust the issue of mandatory minimum sentencing into the spotlight of public discourse. In a segment both critically astute and emotionally wrenching, Oliver demonstrated that comedians are amongst those taking most

New prison-oriented tablet released

Jul 30, 2015 No Comments

JPay has just released a new tablet, the JP5mini, an Android-based tablet that’s specifically designed to deal with some of the rigors of use in the prison setting. Its purchase cost to inmates is $69.99, and there are additional per-use fees with it. Its casing is more durable than the typical tablet’s, its firmware is locked

UK Justice Secretary calling for improved prison education

Jul 24, 2015 No Comments

In a recent speech, newly-appointed UK Secretary of State for Justice, MP Michael Gove echoed what so many prison reform advocates have been saying for decades: education is key to reducing recidivism. In doing so, he appears to be demonstrating a commitment to making prison education a top priority in his portfolio. Gove has called

Sandra Bland case highlights need for stronger oversight at local level

Jul 23, 2015 No Comments

As more troubling details regarding the untimely death of Sandra Bland emerge, it’s clear that being under police custody is becoming an increasingly dangerous place to be. On the heels of the deaths of Freddie Gray and Eric Garner, and following in the tradition of Maricopa County’s trail of deaths, Bland’s experiences both during her

Can Obama set the US on the path to prison reform?

Jul 16, 2015 No Comments

A few weeks ago I wrote about the passing of a landmark revision to the United Nations’ “Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.” In it, I questioned why the United States, a key player in the revision process, had remained so quiet since the announcement, positing that the silence was in large part due

College for Convicts review

Jul 15, 2015 No Comments

A review of College for Convicts has been posted at sirreadalot.org. We thank them for taking the time to read it and for the excellent information they post about all the important non-fiction titles out there.

News

Prisoners bearing the brunt of institutional incompetence over escapes

Completing the education circle with financial knowledge

Mental illness and the first line of defense in the justice system

Pell Grants for Prisoners: New Bill Restores Hope of Reinstating College Programs

Mandatory minimum sentencing: A tragedy of comedic proportions

New prison-oriented tablet released

UK Justice Secretary calling for improved prison education

Sandra Bland case highlights need for stronger oversight at local level

Can Obama set the US on the path to prison reform?

College for Convicts review

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