Goodwill Central Texas’ Post

One of the major benefits of partnering with MaxxContent is the access to proven educational programs for incarcerated students of all ages that can create a positive economic impact upon re-entry. According to the RAND Corporation Policy Impact, "The evidence shows that correctional education programs have the potential to decrease crime, save money, and change lives." Click the link below to discover how "...high-quality correctional education has become one of the most effective crime-prevention tools at our disposal." https://bit.ly/3NjIfdG #reducerecidivism #prisoneducation #justicesystem #elearningsolutions #learningtechnologies #skillsforlife #maxxlms #maxxcontent

The graduation of 23 incarcerated individuals from UC Irvine’s LIFTED program at Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility represents a significant achievement in California’s prison education reforms, as highlighted in an opinion piece published by the San Diego Tribune. Shannon Swain, Superintendent for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Division of Rehabilitative Programs, emphasized the transformative impact of education as a rehabilitative tool. Studies indicate a 48 percent reduction in recidivism among participants of correctional education programs compared to those without access. For further details, visit https://ow.ly/hbBR50SBJ5j #PrisonEducation #RecidivismReduction #CaliforniaReforms #STEMOPS #Innovation #EducationDevelopment #sySTEMImpactedpodcast #advocacy #STEMeducation #STEMcareers #equityineducation #reentry #formerlyincarcerated #mentoring #hope #rehabilitation #reintegration #lifeafterprison #secondchancesprograms #opportunity #empowerment #hopeforchange #breakingthecycle #transformativejustice #socialjustice #equity

Disciplined and fired for teaching facts.

Way 2 go Warren CI! Keep setting the standard! Honorable mention to Columbus CI before Warden Walsh retired they had a all women’s leadership executive team too! Keep making history ladies! #proudmoment #wearewomenincorrections #womenleadership #corrections #criminaljustice #teamncdac #ncdac

In 2017, I had the privilege of testifying before the Canadian Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights, advocating for comprehensive reforms within our federal correctional system. This remains an important cross-section of Black, Indigenous and women's issues and concerns within our justice system. That testimony (among other data and inputs of course) lead to a landmark report and list of 70+ recommendations published by the committee in 2021. As we approach the 3 year anniversary of this report and recommendations, I cant help but do some reflecting. Before I begin, if you want to read the report: https://lnkd.in/gsa-hy82 If you want to see my testimony: https://lnkd.in/gMcCfJK9 My testimony highlighted critical gaps in our correctional institutions. Despite some progress, the government's response has been been misguided in implementing innovative solutions. Here were some of my recommendations that made its way into the official recommendations of the committee: ✅ Enhanced Collaboration: Foster better cohesion between CORCAN (the department responsible for offenders' employment within correctional facilities) and provincial trades regulatory bodies. Recognition of offenders' skills acquired within correctional institutions by the broader job market is essential for successful reintegration and reducing recidivism rates. ✅ Culturally Aligned Housing: Access to culturally aligned transitional housing is paramount post release. Developing housing options that respect diverse cultural backgrounds fosters healing and community support, promoting equitable rehabilitation efforts. ✅ Employment Programming: Continuation of employment programming in correctional institutions is crucial. However, it requires a proper funding model to ensure sustainability and effectiveness in preparing offenders for successful reintegration into the workforce. ✅ Release Planning: Provision of release planning services is essential for facilitating smooth transitions from correctional institutions back into society. Comprehensive planning helps individuals access necessary resources and support for a successful reintegration process. 🚀Tackling Persistent Challenges: Despite the clarity of these solutions, persistent challenges hinder their implementation. Most importantly: funding access, and integration of BIPOC networks into proposed solutions. Its simple, help the smaller organizations with young, idea driven professionals to carry the day! #JusticeReform #Innovation #Equity #Accountability #Action

Ms. McGee asserts "Abolition is an essential element of redress for the centuries-old atrocity still being perpetrated against Black Americans by the government. Though the penitentiary was created as a progressive reform and an alternative to corporal punishment, it evolved into a tool of racialized oppression that has perpetuated White hegemony, exploitation of free labor, and a profit-producing White capitalist venture. The PIC [ prison-industrial complex] was an oppressive tool created in response to the formal end of JimCrow laws, just as JimCrow was an oppressive tool created in response to emancipation. Each time the American public pushes for a “reform” to this institution, the government easily evades granting true liberation by finding a legal loophole. This is precisely why prison reform will never end this atrocity--abolition is the only way. It is essential that compensatory and institutional reparations--in addition to an apology--must be doled out by the government to Black Americans. But under the principles of reparative justice, the atrocity must end before it can be redressed. Redress without a path toward abolition will continue the same pattern of oppression that occurred during the Reconstruction era. It took 100 years following emancipation to provide truly meaningful opportunities for Black Americans to prosper in this country. The government must not waste another century by doling out reparations without properly ending the atrocity this time. The government must abolish slavery in all its forms--mass incarceration included."

Traditional college degrees may help LOWER recidivism, but it doesn't get us closer to SOLVING it... Foregoing traditional education and helping returning citizens go from prisons cells to CEOs should be a superior alternative in our reentry efforts... https://lnkd.in/d9q9Jvna #secondchances #reentry #reentrymatters #justiceimpacted #formerlyincarcerated #entrepreneurshipeducation #entrepreneur #massincarceration #endmassincarceration #policy #policychange #policyreform #policyadvocacy #policymakers

A report from the RAND Corporation* found that “inmates who participate in correctional education programs had a 43% lower odds of recidivating than those who did not. This translates to a 13% percentage point reduction in the risk of recidivating.” This stat illustrates why it was an honor for Kindros to partner with the Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT) to provide formerly incarcerated people with the Financial Building Blocks® platform. TUPIT was the vision of Founder and Executive Director Hilary Binda, PhD. TUPIT provides opportunities for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people with access to higher education, technology upskilling, and financial education.    It was an honor to work with Hilary and Quinn Williamson, the Academic Director & Program Administrator, to bring financial education to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people. And a special thanks to Amy Millay, PhD for making the introduction to the TUPIT program!   We are excited to continue our partnership in the future! #kindros #financialwellness *Davis, Lois M., Robert Bozick, Jennifer L. Steele, Jessica Saunders, and Jeremy N. V. Miles, Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education: A Meta-Analysis of Programs That Provide Education to Incarcerated Adults, RAND Corporation, RR-266-BJA, 2013.

In a piece on the restoration of Pell Grants for incarcerated students, Community College Daily explores how schools are rebuilding a model that works. At one point, nearly 800 college programs operated in U.S. prisons & jails; nearly all were eliminated by the 1994 Crime Bill. https://lnkd.in/gPJPivAA A RAND study found that incarcerated people who participated in a prison-based education program were 48% less likely to recidivate than those who did not participate in such programs. But only 9% of those serving time complete a postsecondary education program behind bars. The main reason is a lack of funding. To enhance public safety and improve economic potential for people in prison, CCJ’s Task Force on Federal Priorities recommended restoring Pell Grants and expanding other educational opportunities behind bars: https://lnkd.in/gWnWdfWg

This is so exciting! This is the kind of change that heals people from the inside out! This is how you go to the root of self-destruction and repeating cycles of abuse and dysfunction. Teach people their worth! I can’t imagine a better way to do that - on the INSIDE - than to restructure someone’s core beliefs of their value with an opportunity like this! This is so powerful! #realchange #workwithpurpose #makeanimpactthatmatters