Correctional Forum

Headlines: National

Angela Davis Presents Paradox of Prison and Democracy [Cornell Daily Sun]

Deadly medical lapses in prison [Los Angeles Times]

Man charged with holding up bank day of prison release for bank robbery [Chicago Tribune]

Thousands Rally in La. to Support Jena 6 [ABC News]

Killer of witness in Phila. murder case sentenced to die [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Action Alert: What you can do now to make change!

FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE ALERT

Join advocates from across the country in urging the U.S. Congress to pass the Second Chance Act. Please call fax or email your U.S. House members and Senators today and ask them to

PASS THE SECOND CHANCE ACT BEFORE THE AUGUST RECESS

What You Need to Know:

Advocates from across the country are currently urging the U.S. Congress to pass the Second Chance Act before the month-long recess that begins August 3. Your voice is needed today to send the message to Congress that passage of the Second Chance Act should be a top priority in the next two weeks. We need your help in reaching out to members of the U.S. House and Senate today to ask them to support passage of the House (H.R. 1593) and Senate (S. 1060) versions of the Second Chance Act of 2007. Congress will only be in legislative session for the next two weeks before returning to their home districts for the month of August.

The amount of time available for review and passage of this important legislation by the U.S. Congress is more limited every day and it is extremely important that your U.S. House and Senate members hear from you, their constituents, about the important crime prevention and health-related resources that this legislation could bring to their district and state. The Second Chance Act would provide grants to States and local areas to begin to address the need for drug and mental health treatment, job training and education opportunities, and housing, as well as other critical services for individuals when they return to the community. The Second Chance Act would also improve the reentry process by taking a critical first step towards reviewing and reversing the archaic and counter-productive Federal and State legal roadblocks that prevent successful reintegration of people with criminal records. A summary of the Second Chance Act can be found here.

[See jump for what you can do]

Tuesday's International: Golden Rules

South African police briefly detained prisoners’ rights activist Golden Miles Bhudu (pictured) for wearing an orange prison overall in public. Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour applauded police efforts, saying, “Wearing of offender or prisoners’ uniform in public places and gatherings should be condemned in the strongest possible way.”

Balfour also condemned Bhudu for “masquerading and personifying prisoners.” We have to ask: How do you personify a person?

Bhudu incarceration welcomed

Biography of Golden Miles (scroll down)