October 7, 2024
The historic COVID lockdown that seemed like a good idea, was not good in so many ways. But it revealed an unexpected result that may have saved some kids, and reminded parents of the power they wield.
September 20, 2024
The number of women held in Indiana jails has grown exponentially in the last several decades. Since 1980 to 2015 the numbers have increased by 1,492%, and the female prison population in Indiana through 2017 increased by 1,012%.
September 6, 2024
It shouldn't surprise anyone that most of those leaving incarceration don't have a dependable car at their disposal. The van program fills that important gap between the jobless reentrant, and the successful employee. Without that important link, too many people will never be connected to a long term job that can keep them from returning to prison and jail.
August 21, 2024
There is a very real revolving door from poverty to incarceration. Incarceration in turn, exacerbates poverty and its relatives: Food insecurity, homelessness, and the destruction of the family unit. Let's just say it's an easy round trip.
August 7, 2024
During the 20 years Hoosiers fought in the Viet Nam War, Indiana lost 983 soldiers. In just the past 10 years, more than 4,000 Hoosiers have died from using opioids. Use of opioids over the past 10 years has killed at a rate of more than eight times the death rate in Viet Nam.
July 22, 2024
Incarcerated people have few if any decisions to make about their daily life. They are told what to wear, and are given the food someone else has decided to provide. The days are ordered according to the facility's schedule, and visits are determined by the visitor, not the inmate. Eventually the ability to make decisions is impacted.
July 7, 2024
I recently read a fascinating prisoner blog post. The man has been in prison for 30 years and says he is grateful for the sentence because he has been taught how to think through cognitive reframing, and he is peaceful and happy now. Seriously?
June 21, 2024
According to Indiana statistics, roughly 26,000 Indiana inmates have been reincarcerated, not for committing a new crime, but rather for a "technical parole violation"—such as missing an appointment or failing a drug test. Some of these violations act like a trip-wire that sends reentrants back behind bars for seemingly minor infractions, actions that neither serve the public or the reentrant.
June 7, 2024
"I remember the sinking feeling when the mail cart would pass my cell, for weeks and months at a time, without a letter for me. The squeak of the wheels passing reminded me that I did not matter to a single person outside that concrete box."
May 21, 2024
Fifty years of empirical evidence proves you can change the trajectory of the life of a family member or close friend in prison through visits, phone calls and more. So, do you have a family member or close friend in long term incarceration? If, so, here's what you can do...
