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Is a drop in crime linked to declining prison and jail growth?
Analysis from the Justice Policy Insitute (JPI) looks at new 2007 statistics released today in the FBI Uniform Crime Report, finds that there may be a correlation between dro in prison growth and drop in crime rates.
Violent crime - Murder - Forcible rape - Robbery - Aggravated assault - Property crime
Total -0.7% -0.6 -2.5 -0.5 -0.6 -1.4
Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report, Crime in the United States, 2007, Table 4, http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2007/index.html
See Report link for more details, or FBI link above for report in full. Analysis from the Justice Policy Insitute (JPI) looks at new 2007 statistics released today in the FBI Uniform Crime Report, finds tha... more -
Reputed KKK member's conviction overturned - Crime & courts- msnbc.com
I don't know, this seems like the kind of thing that makes people lose faith in the courts... but everyone should theroetically be able to be rehabilitated in our jail system. I don't know, this seems like the kind of thing that makes people lose faith in the courts... but everyone should theroetically b... more
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At San Quentin, Fears Raised Over Integration
California prisons face a court order to end a decades-long practice of separating inmates by race. At San Quentin, the process has already begun. Inmates and prison officials gathered to air their concerns about how violence may increase. California prisons face a court order to end a decades-long practice of separating inmates by race. At San Quentin, the process has al... more
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Hollywood Milks Stoner Stereotypes in Anti-Pot Propaganda Film
Above the Influence's faux documentary, Stoners In The Mist, is a film so prejudiced that even the White House -- which commissioned the interactive video -- is hesitant to promote it.
Available online at the AbovetheInfluence.com website (a project of the White House's multi-billion dollar National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, Stoners In The Mist is a series of vignettes -- each designed to grossly exaggerate and exploit common pothead stereotypes. But promoting falsehoods about the physical and mental effects of weed is nothing new for federal politicians and bureaucrats. What sets Stoners In The Mist apart from prior examples of government-financed anti-pot excrement is the film's shocking and exceedingly malevolent tone.
In this case, cannabis consumers are portrayed, quite literally, as less than human. Rather, they are mockingly characterized as wild game -- to be hunted, tagged, and bagged by the film's 'Crocodile Hunter' inspired narrator.
The host refers to pot smokers as lab "specimens" whose safety requires them to be locked up in an "artificially controlled environment" (a not-so-subtle endorsement of jail, perhaps?) Above the Influence's faux documentary, Stoners In The Mist, is a film so prejudiced that even the White House -- which commissio... more -
Saving Our Youth
Revolutionary Sista Damali Abrams and BETJ Host Abiola Abrams discuss what's happening with our youth and the solution to the problem. Revolutionary Sista Damali Abrams and BETJ Host Abiola Abrams discuss what's happening with our youth and the solution to the pro... more
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The Official Website Of Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
July Newsletter
Check Our latest news Blog Here
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Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
* In The Spirit of Leonard Peltier Visions of US Prisoner #89637-132
1/22/2008
IN THE SPIRIT OF LEONARD PELTIER VISIONS OF US PRISONER #89637-132 Date: Thursday January 31st, 7:00 pm Location: El Museo…
* Bringing Leonard Peltier to Iowa and New Hampshire
12/30/2007
Bringing Leonard Peltier to Iowa and New Hampshire December 30, 2007, By Harvey Wasserman http://www.freepress.org/ The Clintons are running for…
* Global Write- A- Thon for Leonard Peltier
12/30/2007
GLOBAL WRITE-A-THON FOR LEONARD PELTIER DECEMBER 1st-31st, 2007 http://users.skynet.be/kola/writeathon2007.pdf Global Write-A-Thon for Leonard Peltier Save the Date: December 1st-31st, 2007…
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From TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com July Newsletter Check Our latest news Blog Here You can also suscribe to our feed here Leonard Peltier Defense Committee ... more -
Free Leonard Peltier - A message from Leonard Peltier
Go to link to read news and most recent letter from American Indian Imprisoned Leader Leonard Peltier who reminds us,
"Our people have told them from the very beginning about the consequences of mistreatment of individuals and mistreatment of Mother Earth.
There are history books that quote our chief headmen and medicine people cautioning
them about there destruction of the earth and nature.
We know the first concentration camps America ever had held Indian prisoners.
The first biological warfare was used on our people with poisonous blankets.
The first atomic bomb dropped was dropped on Indian land in Nevada.
Today there are abandoned uranium quarries in
Navajo country that cause genetic defects on a lot of their people.
When you look into the past, America has used us Indians as their social experiment.
They tried to destroy us with boarding schools,
relocation, and even the first slavery practice was with American people."
________________
From TouchArt.net and OneEarthBlog.blogspot.com Go to link to read news and most recent letter from American Indian Imprisoned Leader Leonard Peltier who reminds us, ... more -
U.S. prison system a costly and harmful failure: report
The number of people in U.S. prisons has risen eight-fold since 1970, with little impact on crime but at great cost to taxpayers and society, researchers said in a report calling for a major justice-system overhaul.
The report on Monday cites examples ranging from former vice-presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby to a Florida woman's two-year sentence for throwing a cup of coffee to make its case for reducing the U.S. prison population of 2.2 million -- nearly one-fourth of the world's total.
It recommends shorter sentences and parole terms, alternative punishments, more help for released inmates and decriminalizing recreational drugs. It said the steps would cut the prison population in half, save $20 billion a year and ease social inequality without endangering the public.
But the recommendations run counter to decades of broad U.S. public and political support for getting tough on criminals through longer, harsher prison terms and to the Bush administration's anti-drug and strict-sentencing policies.
"President (George W.) Bush was right," in commuting Libby's perjury sentence this year as excessive, the report said. But he should also have commuted the sentences of hundreds of thousands of other Americans, it said.
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Our prison system is a direct reflection on us as a people and a nation, and our moral and constitutional code. And we are failing on all counts. The number of people in U.S. prisons has risen eight-fold since 1970, with little impact on crime but at great cost to taxpayers and s... more -
How the drugs trade took hold of British prisons
The government says it's under control but a devastating new report reveals that a sophisticated new drugs trade is flooding British prisons with record levels of cocaine, cannabis and even heroin. In many cases it's aided and abetted by corrupt prison guards
,,,,,,,,,,,I hope Hussain Djemil has been afforded protection. It's a shame that it has taken an immigrant prisoner to so highlight this issue, good on him ! The government says it's under control but a devastating new report reveals that a sophisticated new drugs trade is flooding Brit... more -
Non-whites receive harsher sentences for inflicted traumatic brain injury of child...
Study finds that non-white defendants are nearly twice as likely to receive harsher prison sentences than white defendants in North Carolina criminal cases stemming from inflicted traumatic brain injury of young children. Study finds that non-white defendants are nearly twice as likely to receive harsher prison sentences than white defendants in North Ca... more
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Dallas man freed by DNA testing after 27 years in prison
DALLAS - A Dallas man who spent more than 27 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit was freed Tuesday, after being incarcerated longer than any other wrongfully convicted U.S. inmate cleared by DNA testing
James Lee Woodard stepped out of the courtroom and raised his arms to a throng of photographers. Supporters and other people gathered outside the court erupted in applause.
"No words can express what a tragic story yours is," state District Judge Mark Stoltz told Woodard at a brief hearing before his release.
Woodard, cleared of the 1980 murder of his girlfriend, became the 18th person in Dallas County to have his conviction cast aside. That's a figure unmatched by any county nationally, according to the Innocence Project, a New York-based legal center that specializes in overturning wrongful convictions.
"I thank God for the existence of the Innocence project," Woodard, 55, told the court. "Without that, I wouldn't be here today. I would be wasting away in prison."
Overall, 31 people have been formally exonerated through DNA testing in Texas, also a national high. That does not include Woodard and at least three others whose exonerations will not become official until Gov. Rick Perry grants pardons or the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals formally accepts the ruling of lower courts that have already recommended exoneration.
Woodard was sentenced to life in prison in July 1981 for the murder of a 21-year-old Dallas woman found sexually assaulted and strangled near the banks of the Trinity River.
He was convicted primarily on the basis of testimony from two eyewitnesses, said Natalie Roetzel, the executive director of the Innocence Project of Texas. One has since recanted in an affidavit. As for the other, "we don't believe her testimony was accurate," Roetzel said. DALLAS - A Dallas man who spent more than 27 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit was freed Tuesday, after being incarce... more -
US now ranks 53rd in World Press Freedom Index - a sad time for Democracy
"The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expressed. The agitation it produces must be submitted to. It is necessary, to keep the waters pure." --Thomas Jefferson to Lafayette, 1823. ME "The only security of all is in a free press. The force of public opinion cannot be resisted when permitted freely to be expresse... more
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Young offender's diet maybe a factor in violent behavior
One young offender had been sentenced by the British courts on 13 occasions for stealing trucks in the early hours of the morning.
Bernard Gesch recorded the boy's daily diet as follows:
Breakfast: nothing (asleep)
Mid morning: nothing (asleep)
Lunchtime: 4 or 5 cups of coffee with milk and 2½ heaped teaspoons of sugar
Mid afternoon: 3 or 4 cups of coffee with milk and 2½ heaped sugars
Tea: chips, egg, ketchup, 2 slices of white bread, 5 cups of tea or coffee with milk and sugar
Evening: 5 cups of tea or coffee with milk and sugar, 20 cigarettes, £2 worth of sweets, cakes and if money available 3 or 4 pints of beer. One young offender had been sentenced by the British courts on 13 occasions for stealing trucks in the early hours of the morning. ... more -
Politics and prisons
Someone please tell me why we have so many people in jail
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Privatizing prisons. Legal slavery?
Ok. Years ago laws were passed by the Clinton Administration to privatize prisons. These huge corporations such as Wackenhut now build huge prisons and fill them. Once filled these corporations get paid $30,000- $50,000 a year per inmate. Once these companies have a workforce they then can bid on contracts for their workforce to earn even more money. Once you take a person's freedom and have them work for your profit I call that slavery.
Slavery: noun
1. the state of being under the control of another person [syn: bondage]
2. the practice of owning slaves
3. work done under harsh conditions for little or no pay
The majority of people in prison are non violent drug offenders. Ok. Years ago laws were passed by the Clinton Administration to privatize prisons. These huge corporations such as Wackenhut now build... more -
Free Range Jailbirds
Michael Healy goes inside Bastoy Prison in Norway, the world's first eco-prison and one which has been attracting a lot of attention from around the world. Everything in the prison is eco-friendly. The island facility holds 115 prisoners, including murderers and rapists. They live in houses, are not locked in and are responsible for the care of about 200 chickens, eight horses, 40 sheep and 20 cows. They also tend the fields, pick berries and fish on the prison's 30-foot boat. All very good asks Michael, but does it work? Michael Healy goes inside Bastoy Prison in Norway, the world's first eco-prison and one which has been attracting a lot of attent... more
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America's family prison
A short film on the T. Don Hutto "residential facility", an American family prison for non-criminal immigrant families. This prototype for privatized family detention is located just north of Austin, Texas.
The film is by Matt Gossage and Lily Keber and is one of the only public reports on this prison. Otherwise this subject has very rarely been mentioned by the media. A short film on the T. Don Hutto "residential facility", an American family prison for non-criminal immigrant families. This... more -
Maze escaper is arrested in Texas
Wow. HOW do they do it. We're not having money nicked off from politicians. Anyhow, A Maze escaper has been arrested at a border patrol in the United States, American officials have said.
He was arrested by officers at a border checkpoint in southern Texas on Monday night.
The US Border Patrol have refused to identify him, but said he was awaiting deportation.
It said he had been serving a 23-year prison sentence in Northern Ireland on charges of possessing a bomb and a firearm.
The man produced an out-of-date immigration document at the Sarita checkpoint near Brownsville.
The man was identified through fingerprinting after a search of his background through the Joint Terrorism Task Force and Interpol.
"The subject was arrested and is pending deportation proceedings back to his country of origin," said the US Border Patrol.
'Biggest search operation'
Ronald D. Vitiello, chief patrol agent for the Rio Grande Valley Sector, said: "The primary purpose of checkpoint operations is to support enhanced national security efforts that deter, detect and prevent the threat of further terrorist attacks against the United States.
"Consequently, law enforcement partnerships, coupled with Border Patrol checkpoint operation, continue to be a reliable means of detecting people who would attempt to enter the United States illegally and threaten the integrity of border security."
38 republican prisoners escaped from the Maze in 1983
The biggest jail break in the UK history took place from the high security Maze prison on 25 September 1983. On that day 38 republican prisoners escaped.
Prison officer James Ferris died of a heart attack after being stabbed while attempting to stop the jail break.
Security forces mounted the biggest search operation Northern Ireland had ever seen within minutes of the escape.
Ten of the prisoners were recaptured in the first few hours, but the remainder went on the run.
In 1997, a republican prisoner escaped from the jail disguised as a woman, during a Christmas party.
The Maze prison closed in September 2000 as a result of the Good Friday Agreement's early release scheme. Wow. HOW do they do it. We're not having money nicked off from politicians. Anyhow, A Maze escaper has been arrested at a border ... more -
Privately-run jails 'worse' than public sector prisons
A document leaked to the BBC today reveals that the eleven prisons in the UK which are run by private companies perform significantly worse than those in the public sector, scoring particularly badly at security and 'maintaining order and control'. Governors want the government to re-think the private management of prisons. A document leaked to the BBC today reveals that the eleven prisons in the UK which are run by private companies perform significantly ... more
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Jail House Yoga
by Nicole
A British charity has scored a hit amongst prisoners with their Cell Bed Yoga booklet. The instructional pamphlet, which was produced by The Prison Phoenix Thrust, offers solutions to the problems incurred when yoga is practiced in cramped surroundings. The 15-step guide adapts classic yoga poses so inmates can practice yoga in their beds - even if they sleep in bunks.
"It's a great way to ease a back that's tired after lying too long on a sagging mattress," said a spokesman for the charity, which according to their website, "encourages prisoners in the development of their spiritual welfare, through the practices of meditation and yoga, working with silence and the breath."
The trust was founded in 1988 with initial support from Prince Charles' Prince's Trust after founder Ann Wetherall began corresponding with prisoners about their spiritual experiences as part of a research project. The organization promotes spiritual wellbeing in prisoners by offering books on yoga and meditation. Their two key works, Becoming Free Through Meditation and Yoga and We're All Doing Time (which are also available on tape for prisoners with reading difficulties), can be ordered from their website.
"Through yoga and meditation my peace of mind has grown beyond my wildest dreams," says a prisoner from Belmarsh Prison in southeast London. "I used to be so moody and angry and the things I used to dwell upon and hold onto don't cause me to resent anyone or anything any more. It's only the gift of meditation and breath that has made me see that I couldn't progress until I let go completely of all the anger from within me"
http://www.dailymantra.com
http://www.myspace.com/thedailymantra by Nicole ... more
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