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downloaded over the web.
RSS, an acronym for "Really Simple Syndication,” is a way for websites to distribute content updates to users. RSS updates, or “feeds,” are delivered through an RSS reader, which can be part of your web browser or can be installed on your computer. RSS content can also be sent to personal webpages such as a Yahoo or iGoogle page.
How do I subscribe to a RSS feed?To subscribe to an RSS feed, click on the RSS icon and then click on the Subscribe link or button that will appear at the top of your browser page. If your preferred browser does not allow you to subscribe to an RSS feed directly, you can download and install a news reader. Many readers are available for free and can be easily downloaded over the web.
Serving Together: 2013 Correctional Ministry Summit
This conference, sponsored by Christians Working Together in Correctional Ministry (CMCA), is open to in-prison ministries, chaplains, volunteers, reentry specialists, correctional officials and church leaders. During the three day conference, participants will have the opportunity to:
- develop professionally through informative workshops;
- learn best practices from dynamic leaders in correctional ministry; and,
- build relationships with others who are passionate about correctional ministry.
Date: May 30-June 1, 2013
Where: Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL
To learn more about this event, click here.
Webinar: Expanding on the Definition of Family and Engagement to Provide Better and More Effective Services
Webinar: Designing and Implementing Quality Education Programs in Confinement Settings
BJA Calls for Applicants to the Second Chance Act Adult Mentoring Grant Program
On January 22, 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance released the fiscal year 2013 solicitation for the Second Chance Act Adult Mentoring and Transitional Services for Successful Reentry Program. Nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Indian tribes are invited to apply to receive up to $300,000 over a two-year period to provide mentoring and transitional services to individuals returning from prison or jail. Awards will be made in two categories: mentoring programs for adult offenders generally and mentoring programs that focus on adult offenders who are parents, particularly those who are non-custodial parents. Applicants may apply under Category 1 or Category 2, but not both. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 21, 2013. To download a PDF of the solicitation, click here.
On February 20, 2013, at 3:30 p.m. ET, the Council of State Governments Justice Center will host a webinar to assist organizations with the application process. To register for the webinar, click here.
CSG Justice Center Releases "The Impact of Probation and Parole Populations on Arrests in Four California Cities"
The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center today announced the release of “The Impact of Probation and Parole Populations on Arrests in Four California Cities.” The study, funded by the Public Safety Performance Project of the Pew Center on the States, the Public Welfare Foundation, The Fund for Nonviolence and the Rosenberg Foundation, answers one question that to date has been a matter of speculation among law enforcement and corrections officials everywhere: to what extent do people on parole and probation contribute to overall crime rates?
The Chiefs of the Los Angeles, Redlands, Sacramento, and San Francisco Police Departments commissioned the analysis in 2010. Collecting and analyzing the data required an extraordinary effort spanning 11 independent agencies, including four local police jurisdictions, county law enforcement and probation agencies, two county sheriffs’ departments and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Researchers at the CSG Justice Center collected and matched more than 2.5 million arrest, parole, and probation records generated between January 1, 2008 and June 11, 2011.
To learn more about this publication, click here.
BJA Calls for Applicants to the Second Chance Act
Technology Career Training Grant Program
On January 10, 2013, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance released the Second Chance Act Technology Career Training grant program solicitation. State and local governments, territories, and “federally recognized Indian tribes” are encouraged to apply. The funds can be used to establish training programs in technology-based fields for adults and juveniles in the 6-18 months prior to their release. Applications are due by 11:59 p.m. ET on March 11, 2013. To download a PDF of the solicitation, click here.
U.S. Attorney General's Task Force Recommends Not Trying Youth As Adults
On December 12 after a year-long exhaustive study, the Attorney General’s Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence issued comprehensive recommendations, including a recommendation to abandon policies that prosecute, incarcerate, or sentence youth under 18 in adult criminal court. According to the report, “[w]e should stop treating juvenile offenders as if they were adults, prosecuting them in adult courts, incarcerating them as adults, and sentencing them to harsh punishments that ignore their capacity to grow.”
“The Task Force’s recommendation to remove youth from adult criminal court is grounded in the latest research on effective approaches to reducing juvenile crime,” says Liz Ryan, the Campaign for Youth Justice President and CEO. “We look forward to working with Attorney General Holder and members of the Task Force to ensure that federal and state policies and budgets align with this recommendation.”
San Antonio Hosts Third Annual Texas Statewide Reentry Council Coalition Conference
Reentry councils take a collaborative approach to improving reentry outcomes in their communities. Members of these councils often include a cross-section of policy makers and criminal justice stakeholders, including: elected officials; judges; defense attorneys; prosecutors; administrators and staff from law enforcement, courts, pretrial services, corrections, probation and parole; crime victim advocates; formerly incarcerated individuals and their family members; representatives from community based organizations; local business owners; and treatment and social service providers. Through the reentry council, these stakeholders work together to develop initiatives and policies to promote successful reentry.
Bexar County Commissioner, Tommy Adkisson, described the conference as “the most significant convocation of reentry leaders in the history of the state” and said that “slowly but surely we are assembling a group of leaders who will take reentry work to the next level not only in the next legislative session, but year-round.”
FTC Fines Background Screening Company $2.6M for Handling of Criminal Records
In August, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) imposed a civil penalty of $2.6 million on HireRight Solutions, a background screening company, for allegedly violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) in regards to criminal records. A landmark case, the United States v. HireRight Solutions, Inc. marks the first time that the FTC has fined a background screening company in a FCRA case; it also resulted in the second-largest civil penalty that the consumer protection agency has ever imposed under FCRA. The FTC, a member of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council, underscored its decision on September 13th, when Robert Schoshinski of the FTC testified before the House and stated that enforcing FCRA remains a top priority for the agency.
Originally passed in 1970, FCRA regulates the collection and use of sensitive consumer information, including criminal records. According to the FTC’s charges, HireRight Solutions allegedly violated FCRA by failing to ensure that the reports it provided to employers included up-to-date and accurate information on individuals’ criminal histories. Specific examples of the alleged mishandling of records include providing employers with expunged criminal records and reports incorrectly matched to individuals being considered for employment.
According to Anthony Rodriguez, a staff attorney at the FTC’s Division of Privacy and Identity Protection, HireRight Solutions repeatedly matched people with different middle names, dates of birth, or genders—obviously erroneous information that should have been caught had proper procedures been in place.
U.S. Department of Justice Announces New Second Chance Act Awards
On October 1, 2012, United States Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the Justice Department awarded $58.5 million to 98 Second Chance Act grantees around the country. Second Chance Act grants, which are administered by the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), support comprehensive strategies that address the challenges faced by adults and youth following release from prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities. Since 2009, when the first Second Chance Act grants were announced, nearly 500 grant awards have been made.
Of the $58.5 million awarded in 2012, more than $47 million will go to state and local government agencies and nonprofit organizations to fund interventions and support services that improve outcomes for formerly incarcerated adults and youth returning to their communities.
Congressional Briefing Discusses More Effective School Discipline Options
On November 15, 2012, the Council of State Governments Justice Center (CSG Justice Center) hosted a briefing for congressional staffers, government officials, advocates, and other stakeholders to discuss the ongoing efforts of law enforcement, education officials, and policymakers to develop alternatives to suspensions and expulsions, decrease student contact with the juvenile justice system, and provide safe, positive learning environments.
Register Now for Webinar: "Electronic Technology and Reentry: An Overview of New Trends and Applications for Supervision"
Hosted by the National Reentry Resource Center
During the post-release stage of reentry, community corrections officers rely on many tools and resources to effectively monitor and manage individuals under supervision. Electronic technologies are among the tools used, and as these technologies improve, officers have become better equipped to supervise individuals in the community.
In this webinar the American Probation and Parole Association, in collaboration with the Corrections Technology Center of Excellence, a program of the National Institute of Justice, will provide an overview of the numerous technologies that are available for use by community corrections agencies. During the webinar the panelists will discuss new trends and applications for each of these technologies. Topics that will be discussed include location technologies; drug detection technologies; computer monitoring; remote/automated offender reporting; and other emerging technologies. This webinar will be of particular interest to community corrections professionals, allowing them to learn about the latest technologies in the field and helping them to identify which technologies may be a good fit for their agencies.
Webinar: Strategies for Effective Facility-Based Behavior Management
This webinar, part of the National Center for Youth in Custody's series on improving conditions of confinement, will highlight strategies for effective facility-based behavior management. The discussion will explore the impact of certain practices on youth behavior—including isolation, room confinement, and use of force—as well as effective alternatives and promising approaches. The webinar will also review the use of incentive-based programming and strategies for fostering positive staff-youth relationships.
For more information and to register for this webinar, scheduled for November 14, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. EST, click here.
Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program for Private Sector Leaders
The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University‘s Public Policy Institute has announced the 2012 Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program. The Certificate Programs are week-long periods of intensive study designed for organization and system leaders working with youth known to the juvenile justice and child welfare systems—youth commonly referred to as “crossover youth.” The programs are targeted at public and private sector leaders working in the juvenile justice, child welfare, judiciary, behavioral health, education and other systems that serve crossover youth. The programs utilize a multi-systems and multi-disciplinary approach in focusing on policies, programs and practices that improve outcomes for this population. Upon completion of the week-long program, participants apply the knowledge they gain via a Capstone Project—a reform agenda they implement in their organization/ community to make a positive impact on the lives of crossover youth. In order to enhance the possibility of implementing cross systems change after returning from the program, applicants from the same jurisdiction are encouraged to apply as “mini-teams.”.
For more information and to apply, please visit: http://cjjr.georgetown.edu and click on “Certificate Programs” or email CJJR at jjreform@georgetown.edu.
Black on Black Violence Conference
At this conference, sponsored by the Father's Day Rally Committee, Inc., (FDRC) attendees will learn about evidence-based crime prevention programs from across the country. Session topics will include economic development, trauma and healing, family values and culture, and media and communication. The event will serve as a networking opportunity for individuals and groups working to eradicate violence in their communities. Crime and violence prevention advocates, school officials, elected officials, criminal justice and social service practitioners, youth leaders, local and state government leaders, faith-based leaders, and mental health and substance abuse workers are encouraged to attend.
Date: October 26-28
Location: Philadelphia, PA
To learn more about this conference visit the Father's Day Rally Committee website.
ABA Criminal Justice Section Fifth Annual Fall Institute
The Fifth Annual Fall Institute, sponsored by the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section and the International Society for the Reform of Criminal Law, will focus on sentencing, reentry, juvenile justice, legal education and white collar crime.
- Date: October 25-26, 2012
- Location: Washington, DC
To learn more about this event, click here.
New Database on Collateral Consequences Released
On September 19, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the American Bar Association (ABA) joined with Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) to announce the launch of the National Inventory of the Collateral Consequences of Conviction (NICCC) website. When individuals are convicted of crimes, they often face long-term consequences years after they’ve served their punishment. These consequences are diverse, ranging from employment restrictions to voting bans, and are often established by a large number of complicated, overlapping bills that make it very difficult for judges, prosecutors, defendants, and others to understand the long-term collateral consequences of a crime.
Q&A with Adrienne Noti, Senior Program Analyst at the Office of Child Support Enforcement
Many people released from prison have a substantial amount of debt to repay, and child support is often a significant part of these financial obligations. The following feature is a Q&A with Adrienne Noti, Senior Program Analyst at the Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Administration for Children and Families. OCSE recently released three fact sheets in its Project to Avoid Increasing Delinquencies series, which promotes innovative strategies for improving the collection of child support. In this Q&A, Noti discusses these promising practices and their effect on incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals and their families.
CSG Justice Center: Can you describe the work of the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement and how it engages with state and local agencies?
Adrienne Noti: The federal Office of Child Support Enforcement (OCSE) partners with federal, state, tribal, and local governments and others to promote parental responsibility so that children receive reliable support from their parents. OCSE helps child support agencies in the states and tribes to develop, manage, and operate their programs effectively and according to federal law. In working with state and local agencies, the federal child support program promotes economic stability, facilitates healthy relationships, supports responsible fatherhood, and connects parents to jobs.
Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program for Private Sector Leaders
The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University‘s Public Policy Institute has announced the 2012 Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare: Multi-System Integration Certificate Program. The Certificate Programs are week-long periods of intensive study designed for organization and system leaders working with youth known to the juvenile justice and child welfare systems—youth commonly referred to as “crossover youth.” The programs are targeted at public and private sector leaders working in the juvenile justice, child welfare, judiciary, behavioral health, education and other systems that serve crossover youth. The programs utilize a multi-systems and multi-disciplinary approach in focusing on policies, programs and practices that improve outcomes for this population. Upon completion of the week-long program, participants apply the knowledge they gain via a Capstone Project—a reform agenda they implement in their organization/ community to make a positive impact on the lives of crossover youth. In order to enhance the possibility of implementing cross systems change after returning from the program, applicants from the same jurisdiction are encouraged to apply as “mini-teams.”
For more information and to apply, please visit: http://cjjr.georgetown.edu and click on “Certificate Programs” or email CJJR at jjreform@georgetown.edu.
Juvenile Justice, Law Enforcement, School and Health Professionals Join Other Experts and Stakeholders to Forge Consensus on School Disciplinary Policies
Washington, DC—The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center convened this week a group of more than 100 policymakers, national experts, educators, law enforcement and court officials, health professionals, students, parents and others committed to improving school disciplinary policies. The diverse, bipartisan national group commenced work on consensus-based recommendations for approaches to school discipline that keep kids in school and out of the juvenile justice system while providing a safe, positive learning environment.