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Check out today’s new article on the new jail funding debate that features a quote from CCE’s Executive Director Misty Thomas Zaleski and references our Task Force work. CCE established the District Task Force on Jails & Justice five years ago, bringing together an interdisciplinary group of leaders who all agreed that a new jail was long overdue, while also recognizing that a jail is only one part of a just and equitable criminal legal system. Initially we were heartened by the District’s budgetary investment and steps to replace the jail with a new facility whose structure and programs would promote safety, health, and rehabilitation. Unfortunately, over the last year, the publicly available details about the plans being developed have been limited and have not involved much, if any, community engagement. The high level plans that have recently been shared by the Administration do not get us close enough to a facility that would actually replace CDF, which currently houses more than 1,300 people in substandard, dangerous conditions. CCE hopes District leaders will move quickly and collaboratively to fully realize this objective of replacing our crumbling, unsafe jail. We also believe that this must be a community-centered project and that those whose lives are most impacted by the jail should be centered in the planning for this new facility. https://lnkd.in/eqYuiZJ6

🔈Have you or someone you know been a resident at D.C. Jail in the past year? CCE is seeking people willing to participate in an interview on conditions in the DC Jail, including the Central Detention Facility (CDF) and Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF). For directly impacted people, CCE will provide a small gift to show our appreciation for sharing your time and information about your experience. If you are interested in being interviewed, please contact Magdalena Tsiongas (443-296-2435 or [email protected]). 📑More information: CCE is writing a detailed report about the conditions in the DC Jail. The report could include recommendations for policy and/or programmatic changes, and will help inform plans for a new jail facility. We seek to speak confidentially🔒 with people who were previously incarcerated in CDF or CTF anytime during July 1, 2023- June 30, 2024. We also seek to interview people who have firsthand experience with the jail through providing services to people who are incarcerated there now or in the past year, and family members of currently incarcerated people. Interviews will take place during the months of July and August 2024, on Zoom, on the phone, or in person. No personally identifying information from interviewees will be included in the report.    🫴Please share this post to spread the word!

As an advocate for my clients (offenders ) whose lives are in the hands of the government and the AR legal system, I believe it's crucial for all attorneys, judges, supervisors, and lawmakers to have a deep understanding of correctional facilities. Not just the surface-level information, but the real, everyday environment that offenders face. By spending time in these facilities, officials can gain insight into the criminal mindset and the struggles of addiction and mental health. It's time to break down the stigma and misconceptions surrounding offenders. Society has painted them all with the same brush, but we know that's not the case. A non-violent addict should not be sentenced the same as someone who committed a heinous crime. It's time for officials to listen and learn from those impacted by their decisions. The Arkansas government's current approach is the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. To fix our broken system, we need to start from the bottom and work our way up. Ongoing training in addiction studies and mental health for officials is a must. Let's work together to rebuild our system and provide true rehabilitation for everyone effected and make our communities safe for all Arkansans. Instead of spending money on building another prison and the war on crime/drugs; invest in the citizens of AR including the ones incarcerated. Excessive punishment, longer sentences only keeps parents away from their children and the foster system full. People that you lock up can adapt but their children and family members can’t; those are the ones who suffer. So all that money you waist every day keeping people incarcerated, spend it on helping them get better, spend it on housing, education, job training, programs, etc. Think outside the box!

Early jail diversion, which refers to diversion efforts preceding formal arrest, offers a significant opportunity to reduce contact with the criminal justice system. By preventing recidivism, exacerbated mental health and substance abuse issues, and trauma associated with incarceration, early diversion can greatly benefit vulnerable populations. The Police, Treat, Community Collaborative identifies five pathways for early diversion, such as self-referral and active outreach. Effective collaboration between law enforcement and behavioral health agencies is essential. Julota’s cloud-based program ensures secure data sharing and compliance with all relevant laws, enhancing the effectiveness of early jail diversion efforts. Learn more about how Julota can support your community's response. 👇👇👇

One of the biggest factors when it comes to #Improving the lives of inmates and helping them rehabilitate faster and better is receiving #Support from their loved ones. ET Group is helping enable moments of #Connection for inmates and their families by providing #VideoConferencing solutions to correctional institutions. These video visitation solutions not only benefit prisoners, but also the facilities they reside in, as they increase levels of #Safety in the environment and allow staff to spend their time more #Productively. Learn more about Video Visitation: How Audio Visual Technology Improves the Lives of Prisoners & Their Families in our latest blog: https://hubs.li/Q02JnxYs0 And contact us to discover more about our #Justice Solutions. #JusticeSolutions #VideoVisitation #Corrections

To illustrate the impact of private equity’s investment in the prison industrial complex, the Private Equity Stakeholder Project and artist Noah Jodice created a zine titled From Dawn ‘Til Dusk: Private Equity’s Impact on Mass Incarceration. The zine profiles a day that could take place in any U.S. prison, jail, or immigrant detention facility, highlighting all the ways that incarcerated people interact intimately with private equity-owned companies on a regular basis. The zine is also accompanied by a report that explores how these set schedules within prisons are often reflective of the whims of corporate actors and more specifically, the whims of the private equity industry. Join us on December 14th at 12:00 pm ET for a webinar where we discuss the creation of zine and report, and also learn more about the various ways that private equity works to keep people subjected to the violence of the carceral state. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gw5S-p-D

Read about groundbreaking research on reentry programs and recidivism with our latest study, Attrition from Jail Reentry Program Increases Recidivism. Download free PDF 👉 https://rb.gy/zl7nx0

Incarceration provides a chance for jail administrators to identify substance use disorders (SUDs) among individuals and in turn, address any withdrawal symptoms to prevent serious medical complications and even death for those with an SUD. The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) released "Managing Substance Withdrawal in Jails: A Legal Brief," developed by AHP in partnership BJA and the National Institute of Corrections, along with the support of Georgetown University Law Center. The brief focuses on withdrawal in jail settings, the scope of the challenge, an overview of key legislation and significant court cases related to withdrawal, and steps for creating a comprehensive response. https://bit.ly/3QoQA0r

Privatization of County Jails - BAD IDEA Recently discussions have surfaced about privatizing the Lorain County Jail or critical functions within the jail to cut costs. My campaign stands behind the research which finds: 1. Individuals in private jails perceived these facilities as less safe compared their public counterparts. 2. Private jail inmates reported higher levels of gang activity and theft of personal items while detained. 3. Fewer surveyed in private facilities thought they were adequately staffed or that corrections officers quickly addressed violent activity. 4. Fewer individuals were referred for or provided mental health services in private facilities. Join me in saying NO to privatization of our county jail. I pledge to operate our public county jail in a cost-efficient and safe manner which conforms with all state and federal guidelines. This protects our prisoners but more importantly, our corrections officers and staff. Please review the research here: https://lnkd.in/gN32D3rH

Veteran Housing Corp would suggest that this is a problem that needs permanent solutions. Communities that lack robust reentry policies and programs will suffer as a result. It makes no difference whether someone is in a local jail, state or federal prison, or for the length of time they are incarcerated. It is a fact that about 95% of those incarcerated will eventually be released back into heir communities. America has been great at putting pepople in jail or prison, but has failed miserably in establishing reentry programs to break the cycle of recidivism. DID YOU KNOW THAT the United States has a current recidivism rate of 70% within 5 years (U.S. Prison Population, 2019). This means that, within 5 years of their release, 70% of prisoners will have reoffended. In comparison, Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world at 20% within 5 years. ASK YOURSELF: Why can't the US adopt similar policies as those of NORWAY. Why do we as Americans allow our political and government leaders to continue to adopt policies that don't work. If one is going to be tough on crime, then one must also be prepared to do whatever is necessary to provide the conditions where those being released from prison will not be victimized by cruel and misguided policies that create barriers to individuals being released from jail or prison.