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Advice for firms to hire former inmates: Let a partner help

Jane M. Von Bergen

November 02, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

What does a business like IKEA do if they want to hire former prisoners? They listen to a panel of people who have already done it.

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Can Screen Time Reduce Prison Time?

Doug Bierend

October 31, 2017 |

Bright Magazine |

Text |

1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, California

In Madera Juvenile Detention Facility, teens have access 6 hours a day to tablets loaded with learning and entertainment materials. The program aims to help teens productively use their time in prison and advance their education. Even though there are some positive outcomes, many critics argue that the program only treats a symptom and not the overarching problem of the juvenile prison system that needs reform.

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A prosecutor meets the juvenile lifer he locked up for 40 years - and apologizes

Samantha Melamed

October 26, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Text |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A Philadelphia man imprisoned for 40 years for a crime he did not commit was finally freed when the prosecutor who helped put him behind bars realized he made a mistake and worked to get him out. The U.S. Supreme Court found automatic life sentences for juveniles unconstitutional, but despite that and the previous prosecutor's change of heart, Ronald Brinkley has not been exonerated and the current district attorney stands by the case. However, the former prosecutor has offered to help Brinkley as he transitions back to the outside world.

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When he was 13, he shot her in the face. 20 years later, she helped get him his freedom.

Ally Hirschlag

October 26, 2017 |

Upworthy |

Multi-Media |

Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Tampa, Florida

A man convicted to a life sentence for a shooting he took part in at age 13 reached out to the woman he injured from prison and over the years they built a friendship based on forgiveness and trust. She helped him win an appeal for release after 26 years and has been part of his support network as he learns to navigate the world as an adult. Their story offers a great example of the power of forgiveness and building personal connections.

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The Fight to Fix America's Broken Bail System

John Buntin

October 25, 2017 |

Governing |

Text |

Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States

Jails are overcrowded with inmates awaiting their trial and who didn't have the money to make bail. Across the country states are trying to implement new policies to deny high-risk felons bail, while conducting risk assessments to see if inmates would be a safety concern if they were released until their trial. Many plans have been developed but the big bail business remains a barrier.

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Philly activists raising money to bail poor defendants out of jail

Dana Difilippo

October 23, 2017 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For many low-income people who are arrested, coming up with even a small amount of bail money is nearly impossible, leaving them to languish for months before their cases are ever adjudicated. That means lost jobs and housing and sometimes custody of their kids. In Philadelphia, a number of groups have banded together and raised funds to bail out inmates, following examples in other cities, as a temporary measure until policymakers can enact long-term bail reform.

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At Philly reentry 'hackathon,' using tech to drive down recidivism

Danielle Fox

October 23, 2017 |

WHYY |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A hackathon in Philadelphia brought together a diverse group of people, including formerly incarcerated individuals, to discuss the complex issue of reentry and come up with tech-based ways to help. The collaboration resulted in four promising projects, with several created to be accessible through text messaging, rather than apps, as many formerly incarcerated individuals lack access to smartphones and wifi.

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How a Temple professor and a prison inmate started an international movement

Samantha Melamed

October 23, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network) |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In the Inside-Out Exchange program half of the students are college students, and the other half are prison inmates. The program has “expanded to about 150 correctional institutions across the globe” but the biggest takeaway is the effect it has on people. Students were “ engaged in a way they never had been in the classroom. For the inmates, suddenly their opinions mattered.”

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Drug court – giving families a chance to break the cycle of opioid use

Fred R Conrad

October 23, 2017 |

The Guardian |

Photojournalism |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Abingdon, Virginia

In Washington County, Virginia, a drug court modeled after the federal drug court model is offering opioid addicts a chance to follow a strict program intended to help keep them sober as an alternative to incarceration. Participants are required to maintain full-time employment, subjected to random drug tests, attend mandatory therapy groups, and abide by a curfew. The program is helping addicts maintain sobriety throughout the duration of their enrollment in drug court instead of sending them to prison where they are less likely to have access to these types of addiction services.

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‘We can't just keep doing what we've been doing': King County tries risky alternative to youth jail

Claudia Rowe

October 23, 2017 |

The Seattle Times |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Seattle, Washington

As Seattle’s Central District continues plans to expand their juvenile detention center, one prosecutor is looking for ways to keep kids out of it. "Our system has proven woefully inadequate, so we can’t just keep doing what we’ve been doing," explains Jimmy Hung, the prosecutor behind this hope. Hung, in partnership with the chief deputy prosecutor, faith workers, police officers and the director of King County’s juvenile detention center are now piloting peace circles with incoming detained juveniles with a goal of seeing a behavior and lifestyle switch.

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