Understanding the Rules and Having a Worldly Perspective
In Norway, all prisoners have access to the internet, even in their cells. Firewalls have been set up to ensure security. They believe that it helps in their education, and also lets them know they are still connected to the world. Norway has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world at 20%. |
Voting For the Right People
PRESIDENT OBAMA
Obama announced a set of sweeping prison reforms on Monday night, ending solitary confinement for juveniles and prohibiting the practice for punishment of those who have committed low-level infractions. The reforms, adopted from recommendations by the Justice Department, will also expand treatment for mentally ill prisoners. About about 10,000 people in the federal prison system will be affected.
HILLARY CLINTON
Hillary Clinton has been outspoken on criminal justice reform recently, tackling over-incarceration in her first policy speech as a candidate. However, her history on the issue is complex. She has a long history in politics and has moved back and forth on her opinion on prison reform.
BERNIE SANDERS
Sanders met with criminal justice experts to get a better handle on the issues, and recently introduced legislation that would eliminate privately run federal prisons and reintroduce federal parole. He is a cosponsor on the Smarter Sentencing Act, and his campaign calls for federal parole, better prisoner education and training, and an end to the over-incarceration of nonviolent offenders.
DONALD TRUMP
When asked about prison reform, Trump usually talks about the number of immigrants or Latinos in U.S. prisons. He was a vocal supporter of Kate’s Law, legislation that would impose a mandatory minimum of five years for any previously deported immigrant who illegally reenters the country, effectively increasing the federal prison population by an estimated 28 percent.
TED CRUZ
Cruz is a cosponsor of the Smarter Sentencing Act. He writes, “Although there is nothing wrong in principle with mandatory minimums, they must be carefully calibrated.”
Obama announced a set of sweeping prison reforms on Monday night, ending solitary confinement for juveniles and prohibiting the practice for punishment of those who have committed low-level infractions. The reforms, adopted from recommendations by the Justice Department, will also expand treatment for mentally ill prisoners. About about 10,000 people in the federal prison system will be affected.
HILLARY CLINTON
Hillary Clinton has been outspoken on criminal justice reform recently, tackling over-incarceration in her first policy speech as a candidate. However, her history on the issue is complex. She has a long history in politics and has moved back and forth on her opinion on prison reform.
BERNIE SANDERS
Sanders met with criminal justice experts to get a better handle on the issues, and recently introduced legislation that would eliminate privately run federal prisons and reintroduce federal parole. He is a cosponsor on the Smarter Sentencing Act, and his campaign calls for federal parole, better prisoner education and training, and an end to the over-incarceration of nonviolent offenders.
DONALD TRUMP
When asked about prison reform, Trump usually talks about the number of immigrants or Latinos in U.S. prisons. He was a vocal supporter of Kate’s Law, legislation that would impose a mandatory minimum of five years for any previously deported immigrant who illegally reenters the country, effectively increasing the federal prison population by an estimated 28 percent.
TED CRUZ
Cruz is a cosponsor of the Smarter Sentencing Act. He writes, “Although there is nothing wrong in principle with mandatory minimums, they must be carefully calibrated.”
Donate to Organizations
- Fortune Society: Fortune Society is a non-profit social service and advocacy organization that’s committed to helping inmates reenter society after prison and promoting alternatives to incarceration. Fortune Society helps incarcerated or formerly incarcerated inmates through education, drop-in services, employment services, family services, health services, housing assistance, substance abuse treatment and many other rehabilitative services that are essential to their success in and out of prison. This program serves nearly 3,000 men and women at three New York area service centers.
- Prisoner’s Reading Encouragement Project: The Prisoners’ Reading Encouragement Project (PREP) is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to enhancing literacy and education for inmates. This 11-year-old program also strives to teach the public about the educational needs of correctional facilities, as well as establish scholarship funds for inmates’ tuition and textbooks while in prison. PREP collects new and gently used books, videotape, audiotapes for prison libraries and inmates enrolled in courses or doing independent study. This inspiring prison program has donated more than 55,000 books to 23 different prisons in New York, bringing literacy and education to eager inmates.
- Insight Prison Project: The Insight Prison Project is a rehabilitative program for prisoners that strives to prevent relapse into crime and improve public safety. Former convicts and professional teaching staffs will teach prisoners the skills and life tools needed to positively change their lives and become responsible, productive members of society when they’re released. Some areas of focus include: victim impact accountability, rational restructuring, emotional competency and intelligence and embodied integration.