BREAKING NEWS
07/02/08

"Prison - a cruel and unusual punishment for a woman"
Prison is certainly not one of the places where women aspire to equal treatment. The family is central to their world view and their lives revolve round it. The criminal justice system, developed in Victorian times, modelled the idea of women's prisons on the male institution, without enough thought about the differences between the sexes..


"Fewer felons returning to prison"
Convictions among parolees went from 4,567 in 2004 to 3,742 in 2007 an 18 percent reduction, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. "The reality is that offenders who are sent to prison are most likely going to be back in our communities sooner or later. The vicious cycle of recidivism weakens communities, destroys families and puts a huge burden on the state's finances," the governor said.


"Hire ex-con in Philly, get $10K annual tax credit"
Now, the city of Philadelphia is making a concerted effort to encourage the hiring of ex-convicts amid a renewed interest nationwide in dealing with high recidivism, growing crime rates and exploding prison populations.


"Program teaches living skills to Female Prisoners"
Campbell saw the need to prepare a program that would help the prisoners establish life skills such as handling finances, preparing for a new job, developing a positive outlook, balancing relationships, understanding emotions and establishing goals.


"Brenda Martin a Free Woman"
After more than two years in a Mexican prison, former Trenton-resident Brenda Martin has come back to the Quinte area. Martin was released on parole from the Grand Valley Institute in Kitchener yesterday at 4:45 p.m.


"Family ties can stop prison return."
A mother's tie to her child can be a strong incentive to be a good citizen. If someone has nothing or no one to look forward to once they are out of prison, they probably will end up back in prison.


"Alternative sentencing for incarcerated mothers could break the cycle of crime."
llinois would save an estimated $15,133 per family per year by implementing community-based programs and save $19.3 million annually if all eligible mothers were sentenced to these programs.


"Sheriff embroiled in inmate sex scandal."
A yearlong investigation by prosecutors and law enforcement agents in Oklahoma has resulted in nearly three dozen felony charges against a county sheriff who could face up to 467 years in jail if convicted.


"Bill on abortion goes to governor."
A yearlong investigation by prosecutors and law enforcement agents in Oklahoma has resulted in nearly three dozen felony charges against a county sheriff who could face up to 467 years in jail if convicted.


"Brazil fails to protect women from violence-Amnesty."
Gun control laws temporarily blocked, and Wisconsin: Ruling will stand on abuse case.


"A Painful Choice for Moms in Prison."
"SOME HAVE TEETH PULLED TO LIVE WITH KIDS. Just one badly damaged tooth will block them from entering a program."


"Women's prison program aims to unite mother and child."
"New program helps unite women in prison with their babies. A prison in Indianapolis has opened a nursery called 'Wee Ones Nursery' to help newborns bond with the mother while she is incarcerated."


"Self Harm Shocks."
"Many women held at New Hall have experienced sexual, physical and emotional abuse in early life and this is sometimes disclosed for the first time while in prison."


"All Women Should Fight Prostitution."
Suspected sex workers leave for Luzira prison. Sex workers should be given a chance to change their lives.


"Advocates: Alabama alone bars HIV inmates from work release."
Tutwiler prison inmate Kathryn Canty has all the qualities of a prime work release candidate: a good behavior record, less than three years left to serve and an accounting degree along with several vocational certificates.


"N.H. Settles for $1.9M with Women Who Accused Former Prison Guard of Rape, Harassment."
Tower and the corrections department faced eight lawsuits filed by a group of inmates and a worker alleging misconduct ranging from inappropriate comments to rape, Assistant Attorney General Michael Brown said.


"Olson arrested after release blamed on error"
Sara Jane Olson was released from prison on Monday and rearrested on Saturday after she was prevented from flying back to Minnesota. The California Department of Corrections claimed that there was an error in calculating her sentence.


"Dwight Correctional Center target of Lawsuit Alleging Sex Misconduct"
In the first lawsuit Jane Doe was kept from contacting prison officials, the media or her attorney. She was moved to a segregated area after complaining, but the attacks continued.


"2nd former inmate alleges misconduct by Dwight prison officials, files suit Woman's report led to her punishment, attorney says"
"Prison officials apologized months later, after the same guard allegedly assaulted two other female inmates and was fired, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in federal court in Chicago."

"Death of woman in prison down to Styal's lack of resources"
"Hayes, who was on suicide watch at the time of her death and who had a history of drug use, mental health problems and self harm, was found hanging in the Care, Support and Reintegration Unit; a segregation unit used to discipline inmates and to house those who needed extra support."

"As Their Crime Rate Climbs, More Women Filling Jails"
"It used to be that it'd be surprising to have the women's floor full [in the old jail]," said Stephanie Sloan-Butler, chief of the prisons division for the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. "Now the women's floors are full. Things have really changed."

"America Behind Bars: Why Attempts at Reform Keep Failing"
"A bloated prison system is against the country best interests. Yet "tough on crime" rhetoric has gotten in the way of reform. The number of women prisoners is also rising, and black women are a microcosm of the national epidemic. One in 100 black women in their mid- to late 30s is behind bars."

"Women in N.Y. Prison Seek Better Child Custody Protections"
"Currently state law requires that foster-care agencies file a petition to terminate parental rights if a child has been in foster care for 15 of the last 22 months, a shorter time than most mothers prison stay."

"Dog training in women's prison helps inmates and the clients who get companion"
"Dog training improves the life and attitude of inmates while producing companion animals for the disabled"

"Mexico City kids share moms' prison existence"
"Municipal law requires that babies born to inmates remain with mothers until children turn 6"

"Wisdom Without Walls: The Golden Girls Inmates"
"Carolyn Hamilton has been at CIW for 26 years serving a 16-years-to-life sentence. She says she grew up in an abusive family and that her brother had killed his wife --- and that he made her his alibi. When he was found guilty, she received a second degree murder sentence.

"LSPC Investigation Uncovers Child Abuse in San Diego Prison"
"There is a better way. If you really want to help women rehabilitate, stop putting them in hidden cages. These women need real community-run programs where they and their children can heal." -Maisha Quint, LSPC Family Advocacy Cooridnator

"Helping Women at-risk in Jail"
For women at risk for substance abuse, jail can present serious challenges. "Instead of trying to provide treatment in jail, we provide these women with information about themselves and resources available to them. When they leave jail, it is easier for the women to connect with the treatment that they need," says Begun.

"Women sends Words from Prison"
This captivating story about a young girl who cared nothing about life and those who lived in it. Janice Billie says "You see, there are three types of people in the world, according to the pre-1995 Janice Billie: members of society, like the clerk, operating inside an illusion; the authorities, like the prison guards, who enforce that illusion; and "the cons," like Billie, the only people who see the truth that "life sucks."

"Deported immigration activist says son, 8, to move to Mexico"
Update on the latest events on the separation of Elvira and Saul Arellano.

"Illegal Immigration is not just men's work"
By Laura Hill, research fellow, Public Policy Institute of California This opinion article appeared in the San Diego Union-Tribune on March 17, 2004.

"Elvira's Song: Tribute to Elvira Arellano and her son Saul"
Listen to Elvira's Song on youtube.

"Mother's immigration cause continues in Mexico after deportation"
Arellano would have been in a better position to influence the american public from inside the Chicago church than from Mexico.

"Rethinking Prison, Cells of Secrecy and Annals of Pain by LA City Beat"
This paper shed light on the judicial system in California and its politics

"Inmates sue guard, allege sex assault"
"Man was fired after an investigation"

"The Drug Wars Collateral Damage"
"Those victimized by a crackdown on marijuana since the early 1990s can be denied everything from food stamps to voting rights to the right to adopt a child"

"Battered Woman Freed from Prison after 24 Years Knows Parole system Too Well"
"Sandra Redmond denied Parole twice, Freed after serving 24 years in prison".

"Inmate Warns Tension Running High at Prison"
"I'm concerned for the mentally ill people and I'm also concerned for the other women on the unit ... their whole unit is unbelievable, it smells of human feces and urine...".

"Justice Denied"
"One Man Stands Between Flozelle Woodward and the "Free" World -California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger,"

"Facing Illegal Immigrant Crackdown, Farms Look to Inmate Labor"
Farmers and Activists say The Program Is Only a Temporary Solution

"All White Jury Convicts Black Women"
Lesbians Sentenced for Self-Defense

"A Life Without Bars." Once-battered prisoners like Joyce Walker -- who killed their husbands -- have new hope of being freed from their cells, thanks to legal help from the Habeus Project.

"Packed Prison Riles Female Inmates" Susan McLaughlin, who has served 18 years of a life sentence for accomplice to murder, said, "This is the worst it has ever been. . . . How would you like to hold your bowels for an hour, lights on 24 hours a day?"

Prison Investigation Uncovers Child Abuse Pattern
Unsafe Conditions at the "San Diego's Family Foundation Program" has prompted an investigation in the healthcare of children at this infant and mother facility.

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