Artwork stating 'Education Destroys Barriers', 'We Demand Treatment', and 'I Need A Chance'

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  • Scrubbing The Past To Give Those With A Criminal Record A Second Chance

    Indiana's Second Chance law was passed in 2013 and allows people to petition to remove their misdemeanor convictions and arrests from public view. In Marion County alone, more than 11,500 people have visited the full-time paralegal processing all requests since legislators implemented the law. Many of those visitors speak with relief about the newfound opportunities that have come their way since the dismantling of that barrier. This is part of a growing movement in the US to reimagine the existing criminal justice system that creates far more problems than it solves.

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  • Building the Prison-to-School Pipeline in California

    Providing those experiencing incarceration with educational services has shown to reduce recidivism by 28%. While many prisons offer GED or higher education classes, the opportunities are still hard to come by consistently, so organizations like Underground Scholars help recruit individuals after prison to colleges. Looking forward, those pushing for criminal justice reform hope to overturn a 1994 legislation that banned incarcerated individuals from being eligible for Pell Grants, which could help drive more people from prison to school.

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  • Incarcerated fathers connect with children thanks to local program

    In Cuyahoga County, Ohio, the Passages program, part of its larger Fatherhood Initiative, aims to help men become more involved parents. The program, instituted in the hopes of reducing recidivism rates and creating stronger male role models in the community, provides participants with job training, emotional support, and the skills they need to be active parents for their families.

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  • This Detroit farm is helping former inmates stay out of prison

    When people are released from prison, they often have a hard time finding work due to time lapsed and prison records. RecoveryPark Farms in Detroit, Michigan aims to change this by providing job training in urban farming which benefits both the individuals and the community.

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  • In Licking County, Ohio, a Corrections Strategy That Offers Counseling, Art Classes, and Mindfulness Training

    Day reporting, which serves as an alternative to to jail or prison for many with substance abuse disorders, provides intense, holistic programming to help participants recover. The personal relationships built in the programs are particularly helpful according to participants, although relatively little formal research has been conducted about the approach.

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  • Reentering Society: How One New Athens Initiative Aims to Help

    After teaching an Inside Out class with half college students and half incarcerated students, an assistant professor from the University of Georgia addressed a gap in services to help incarcerated folks reenter into the community once released. The Athens Reentry Collaborative now meets weekly to help former inmates find career, personal, and community support.

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  • Reformed prisoners give back, save lives by monitoring SF's public restrooms

    Reformed prisoners are finding a way to contribute their skills to society by monitoring public restrooms in high-risk areas throughout San Francisco. Thanks to a partnership between Public Works Department and Hunters Point Family, these individuals are supported in finding work that includes "providing directions to tourists, returning lost wallets or cell phones, or hailing police to report drug dealers in the area."

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  • KC court cuts down on repeat domestic violence offenders

    Kansas City Municipal Court deals with over 40,000 cases of domestic violence per year, but the implementation of a compliance docket aims to reduce how many of those offenders come back to court. By forming a relationship with the people on the docket and leveraging accountability as well as requiring a series of classes, the court has been able to successfully decrease the number of reoffenders.

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  • Helping Women Exit Incarceration Successfully

    Crossroads for Women, a New Mexico nonprofit, is helping formerly incarcerated women find community, support, and recovery. Using trauma-informed care practices, the program offers a comprehensive list of services like housing, mental health treatment, employment counseling, and substance abuse treatment. Underlying all services is the understanding that no individual is trauma free and that community and relationships are crucial to sustainable recovery.

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  • 'Changing The Mindset': Female Inmates In Training For A Life After Prison

    A women's prison in Washington has found success in a pilot program that trains inmates for nontraditional jobs, giving them the skills necessary to be a competitive applicant in fields such as welding. While this program helps to cut down on recidivism, it also connects participants with other programs that help provide appropriate work clothing and pay union fees.

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