On December 8, 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) released new guidelines, coined a “Correctional Education Guidance Package,” designed to enhance educational programming in juvenile detention centers. These guidelines have the potential to help many of the 60,000 juvenile prisoners who are currently in custody. The state
Most Americans take the Constitution and Bill of Rights for granted; they are simply an inextricable part of the very fabric of our society and nation. But this past October, a startling bill was fast-tracked through the Pennsylvania legislature that should make everyone pause and think about what those documents really mean. On October 16,
The study, conducted by legal commentator Christopher Zoukis, concludes that offering post-secondary and academic education to prisoners can cut $60 billion from the national budget every year – without scrapping existing programs. Zoukis has compiled his research and findings into College for Convicts: The Case for Higher Education in American Prisons, a game-changing new book
Given the choice between studying math and improving literary skills or producing a radio show, it’s not too hard to guess which option most prison inmates would go for. Yet in Britain, National Prison Radio has found that the two make excellent partners. Radio Feltham pioneers prison radio The history of prison radio in Britain
By Jonathan Stith There is a war going on outside — that no Black youth is safe from. Most recently, we’ve seen this war played out through the extrajudicial killings of Trayvon Martin, Mike Brown, Tamir Rice, and other victims of state-sanctioned violence. But we also know it through the devastation of mass incarceration under
Editor’s note: This commentary was submitted by the Community High School of Vermont State Board. Its members are George Cross, chair, Winooski; Carol Bokan, vice chair, Shelburne; David Luce, secretary, Waterbury; Daniel Alcorn, Rutland; Sarah Flynn, Burlington; Richard Fraser, South Ryegate; Jason Gibbs, Duxbury; and Brian Vachon, Montpelier. The Community High School of Vermont (CHSVT)
By Troy Lee Wooley So, the Democrats and Republicans have joined teams to develop this fabulous new bill; great…NOT!! Corrections Oversight, Recidivism Reduction, and Eliminating Costs for Taxpayers in Our National System (CORRECTIONS) Act…A lot of words that add up to spell BULL-PUCKY! The bill says it EXCLUDES ALL sex offenders, terrorist offenders, repeat offenders,
By Sam Brodey In his inaugural speech in January, Arizona’s new Republican governor, Doug Ducey, struck a budget hawk’s tone while staring down a $1.5 billion budget shortfall. “Fair warning: The budget will not meet with general approval among special interests,” he said. “I can assure you that a more efficient government is not only necessary
Following a 2011 federal appellate court ruling, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) initially tried to delay the release of federal prisoners who were wrongly convicted in North Carolina. The government later announced that it would halt such tactics but has continued to oppose challenges filed by some offenders who are legally innocent. The DOJ’s
By Dianne Frazee-Walker The Yavapai Reentry Project, established in 2011, fulfills a critical need within the state prison system and the Prescott, Arizona, area. The main objective of the program is to empower newly released inmates and create a safe environment for the communities they re-enter. The goal of human service non-profit organizations, government agencies,