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How a new district attorney is shaking up the justice system in midcoast Maine

Beth Brogan

May 28, 2019 |

Bangor Daily News |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Knox, Maine

The newly-elected district attorney in Maine, Natasha Irving, has started implementing restorative justice practices into the area’s criminal justice system. The use of restorative justice in this case includes offering mental health and substance abuse treatment, amongst other supportive services, and using prison as a last resort. There has been some pushback from law enforcement, but a willingness to try the new approach aimed at reducing recidivism in the region.

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Washington State Debuts Unique Tool to Reduce Gun Suicides

Elizabeth Van Brocklin

May 28, 2019 |

The Trace |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Olympia, Washington

In Washington, state legislators have passed an innovative measure that would allow individuals to suspend their own gun rights. The bill was started as a proactive measure for those experience mental health issues to be able to prevent themselves from harming themselves in the future. While they’re still working on publicizing the new measure, those that do know about it simply have to fill out a short form at any count clerk’s office – the rest is taken care of within 24 hours.

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In N.H., a Land of Opportunity for Refugees, Immigrants

Susan Milligan

May 14, 2019 |

U.S. News & World Report |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Concord, New Hampshire

For many new Americans, New Hampshire - with all of its cold weather and reputation of racial homogeneity - is a safe haven where they've been able to join in existing communities as well as carve out their own. The welcoming atmosphere has been attributed to its status as a assigned destination for some refugees, the state's affordability, and a network of nonprofits who work to provide necessary services and resources.

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Offering Childcare at City Meetings May Be Key to Diversifying Civic Engagement

Rebecca Ritzel

May 08, 2019 |

Next City |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Ithaca, New York

Research shows that city council meetings are dominated by older, male and longtime residents. One Mayor is trying to change that. Under the leadership of mayor of Svante Myrick, in Ithaca New York, the city council began to offer childcare during city council meetings. “We don’t think anyone else has done it.’ People are using it, and some are even hailing it for it’s inclusionary nature. “Now we’re starting to see new people at meetings. People are using the childcare service.”

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Here's how Birmingham is battling its high homicide rate

Katherine Webb-Hehn

May 08, 2019 |

AL.com (Alabama Media Group) |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Birmingham, Alabama

From city-wide efforts to faith-based interventions to public health approaches, the city of Birmingham, Alabama is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to ending gun violence in the city. The city has been deeply affected by structural violence, racism, and disinvestment, and is applying multiple approaches, like deploying “peacemakers” that talk to residents to figure out why violence is happening in the first place. The city has also increased the number of detectives covering homicides and area nonprofits are developing counseling, rehabilitation, and job training programs for young men.

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How stricter vaccine laws spared California from a major measles outbreak

Soumya Karlamangla Priya Krishnakumar

May 06, 2019 |

Los Angeles Times |

Multi-Media |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, California

The only way to eliminate a communicable disease, such as measles, is to achieve herd immunity, but due to recent anti-vaccination campaigns, the vaccination rate fell so low that the measles resurfaced in the U.S. To combat the contagion from getting worse, California enacted laws that prohibited people from choosing not to be vaccinated.

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Mississippi Leads the Nation in Criminal Justice Reform

Casey Leins

May 03, 2019 |

U.S. News & World Report |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Jackson, Mississippi

The state of Mississippi has taken drastic steps in reforming their criminal justice system, pointing to a nationwide cultural shift as a driving force. State legislation, such as expanding parole eligibility, eliminating mandatory minimum sentences, and barring licensing boards from discriminating against individuals who used to be incarcerated are just a handful of policies the state has championed. The reform has led to a prison population decrease of 11% and state savings of $46 million

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I Served My Prison Time. Why Do I Still Have to Pay?

Courtney E. Martin

April 30, 2019 |

The New York Times |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, San Francisco, California

In 2018, San Francisco county forgave $32 million worth of criminal justice administrative fees. These fees are issued to formerly incarcerated individuals upon release from prison, most of which are not employed and without stable housing. The coalition pursuing this policy change cited economic justice for those that have already paid their societal debt and an overall state savings in collection costs as the primary reasons to end this practice.

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Participatory Grantmaking for Teens: The Funders Who Trust Girls to Make Grants

Julia Travers

April 24, 2019 |

Inside Philanthropy |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Ghana

Nine philanthropic organizations, including Plan International and Comic Relief, make up the With and For Girls Collective, which asks teenage girls worldwide to select girl-led initiatives to fund, a process known as participatory philanthropy. Since 2014, the collective has funded 60 organizations across 41 countries for nearly $3 million.

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Growing Pima County: Utah turned to private investors to fund public preschool

Luis Carrasco

April 21, 2019 |

Arizona Daily Star |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Salt Lake City, Utah

Understanding that it would be hard to gain support for increased taxes to fund early childhood education in a conservative county, Pima County in Utah turned to a Pay for Success model. In this public-private arrangement, private investors are paid only if a social program achieves its goals.

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