Aventiv Technologies’ Post

There's enormous power in #RestorativeJustice. It's a way we can heal individuals, neighborhoods, and whole societies. I've been preparing a lot for my first-ever civics class inside a prison in two weeks—reading literature, listening to testimonials, lesson planning, and talking to returning citizens. I'm profoundly humbled by this learning journey and the opportunity. Here's an insightful article on restorative justice and about Armand Coleman and Emmanuel Williams, both at Transformational Prison Project, and their journeys in and out of prison. https://lnkd.in/gpeKhrrJ

As we speak of Juneteenth Day and freedom, those who are oppressed look and see how the legal slavery was not abolished just transformed. The New Jim Crow revolves around the Prison Industrial Complex that disproportionately arrests and incarcerates young males from poor and urban areas. Instead of just being tough on crime, can we create proactive strategies that reduces the likelihood for aberrant behavior (e.g., head start, alternatives to traditional education, fair wages for parents)? Correctional Facilities were created to remove the individual who offended from society and reform that individual. And lastly, deter others from going down that same anti-social road. In a society where, it is better to be rich and powerful and guilty than innocent and poor, we have created another form of slavery with our citizens. No country incarcerates like America, but rarely are the elite level criminals punished or reprimanded. This system is exacerbated when we have little compassion for youth who have gone astray. In Texas, Wisconsin, and Georgia they are more than willing to prosecute young children just like adults. If children or juveniles are in adult courts, there are serious problems. We want to be careful of the next steps; we do not want to exacerbate them with a negative decision by how we deliberate their case. #RaisetheAge #Juveniles #TheNewJimCrow #PrisonIndustrialComplex

This is an easy math for California voters and legislators: The average salary of an entry-level professional is $50k per year (they pay taxes), the average cost of a re-entry program per person is $80k per year (creating tax payers), and the average hourly wage of a California prisoner is $.08 cent per hour (legal slave labor). As we are trying to balance our State budget, investing in workforce development re-entry programs, investing in re-training inmates while they are serving time in prison, and ending archaic labor practices inside Prison will benefit our state.

We need new leadership.

It was an honor to be back at the Pennsylvania state Capitol and testify on behalf of HB 1410, a bill to return clemency to its' historical norm. During the "Tough on Crime" era, a policy change created an insurmountable obstacle for so many incarcerated people who were nonetheless worthy of a second chance. This caused a 90% drop in the number of people receiving clemency. The number of people who receive clemency should be reflective of the number of people who are worthy of it. There wasn't suddenly less people who deserved clemency. Consider also that the prison system has made huge strides and investments in services, education, and programming to meet the rehabilitative needs of incarcerated people. In light of this, numbers should have gone up, not down. HB 1410 will not only return clemency policy to historical norms, it will give hope to many incarcerated people and their families. Hope that if they put in the hard work to better themselves and are truly worthy of second chance, they will have a realistic opportunity. FAMM #secondchances

I was able to join Matthew McFarland from Lawndale Christian Legal Center and Joel Pomerenk from Cara Chicago at the WBEZ-FM 91.5 studio to discuss a new Chicago Dept. of Family & Support Services program - Spring Forward - which stands for Selected Pre-Release for Intensive Navigation Support Going Forward. Each year there are approximately 12,000 returning residents released back into the city of Chicago from the Illinois Department of Corrections. At least 76% of those returning residents released from IDOC return to 15 Chicago zip codes on the South and West Sides of Chicago, many with no plan. Through a $9M investment over two years, the DFSS Workforce Division intends to support 400 returning residents with paid employment and 200 of those individuals with housing support/rental assistance for one year. This is the first time we are tying employment, housing, case management and wrap around supports in one program for individuals recently released from the Cook County Department of Corrections and the Illinois Department of Corrections. This pioneering initiative underscores the city's commitment to rehabilitation, community reintegration, and reducing recidivism rates.    If you know someone recently released from the carceral system in the last 18 months or who intends to be released in the next month, lives in Chicago and is over 18, have them call (312) 798-3310. #hope #opportunity #secondchances https://lnkd.in/g75tD5rr

As we look for more effective ways to reform our criminal justice system, one solution stands out: providing access to education for incarcerated individuals. By giving inmates the opportunity to gain knowledge and #skills, we can empower them to become contributing members of society. Not only do they benefit, but communities are safer and stronger when former inmates can find meaningful employment. #CommunityDevelopment

“How was the class helpful? “Showed me how good restorative justice can be for the victim, justice involved individual (J.I.I.), and the community.” D. Reed “Learning more about indirect and direct impact on victims & families.” D. Travis  “Helped to shift some paradigms in my life as well as understand the negative impact I had on my victims.” P. Olvera - CJC TRANSFORMING HARM to HEALING to HOPE! 4th Four Mile Correctional Facility Colorado DOC – Canon City, CO. CJC Brief Restorative Justice Intervention (RJI) “Crime Victims Impact/Emotional Hygiene (Life Skills) class” Monday December 18, 2023. Out of the seven (7) justice involved individuals who attended our RJI – 86% demonstrated some level of empathetic response or insight into the effects their actions had on their victims or communities. The average ACE score for this class was “6” with four or 57% rating our program EXCELLENT!  #goodwillLincoln #victimsimpactstatements #reentry #restorativejustice #transformativejustice

At a time when it’s tempting to believe that the justice reform movement has lost momentum and that elected officials are unwilling to take risks to build a more humane and effective response to crime, it’s energizing to read this report from California. Can we hope that fundamental prison reform can set the pace for the next chapter of justice reform? Can human dignity become our new North Star? Thanks to everyone who worked on this report and Gov. Newsom for issuing the challenge to our better angels.

#FridayFacts As of 2019, there were 9,982 people in MN prison system, many of whom are people of Color disproportionately sentenced for similar offenses and for longer sentences compared to white folks. The recent lockdown at Stillwater Prison highlights the longstanding concerns across the correctional system. Issues with lack of cooling, signs of poor water quality, and additionally inhumane conditions have led the people inside experiencing them to act. Currently, the state is facing calls for an independent human rights investigation into prison conditions. Insights by Urban League Twin Cities Center for Social Justice Research, Policy and Advocacy. Data by the National Institute of Corrections (2019). #UrbanLeagueTwinCities #ULTC #Minnesota #Prison #StillwaterPrison #CivilDisobedience #MCFStillwater #MCFLinoLakes #PrisonReform #MCF