The Pandemic\u27s Impact on the Efficacy of Chaplaincy at the Baldwin State Prison

Chaplains usually provide pastoral care for inmates, staff members, and counseling for offenders and offenders’ families. Because of the pandemic, they have not provided adequate pastoral care and counseling in their respective facilities. The restrictions imposed by the pandemic have negatively impacted the chaplain’s ability to adequately provide pastoral care and counseling in most federal and state correctional institutions. The Department of Georgia Correctional facilities, particularly at the Baldwin State prison, has also experienced this decrease in pastoral care and counseling due to the pandemic. In the Georgia Department of Corrections, all visitations, including lawyers and clergy, have been suspended since March 2020. Due to these restrictions, the chaplain of the Baldwin State prison in Georgia cannot coordinate the various religious services representing the different religious groups housed in the facility. Secondly, the facility has seven dormitories that house one hundred and seven inmates (107) per dormitory, and the COVID-19 virus can spread exponentially due to this overcrowded condition. The pandemic has severely hindered the Baldwin State prison\u27s chaplain\u27s ability to provide this critical pastoral care and counseling for staff members and offenders. This body of research implications is discussed: the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and the overcrowded conditions at this facility have impeded the Baldwin State chaplain\u27s ability to adequately provide the pastoral care and counseling required for this facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. This lack of pastoral care and counseling results in moral issues and increased mental health challenges throughout the facility

Can COVID-19 Teach Us How to End Mass Incarceration?

In this essay, the author argues that federal, state and local government response to the COVID-19 epidemic in prisons and jails was largely incompetent, inhumane, and contrary to sound public health policy, resulting in preventable death and suffering for both incarcerated people and corrections staff. However, the lessons learned from these failures provide a roadmap for policy priorities and legal reform in our ongoing need to decarcerate and end the era of mass incarceration, including: (1) rolling back extreme sentences, recalibrating sentences generally and providing for “second look” mechanisms to those currently serving sentences beyond 10 years; (2) ensuring that decarceration efforts center racial justice as a goal both prospectively and retrospectively; and (3) promoting voting rights for all incarcerated people and those living in the community with a felony conviction

Still Ringing the Alarm: An Enduring Call to Action for Black Youth Suicide Prevention

In 2019, the Congressional Black Caucus Emergency Task Force on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health sounded the alarm about concerning suicide trends among Black youth in their report, Ring the Alarm. This present report not only urges us to renew the urgent call to action, but also to critically interrogate the socioecological factors and structures—including institutional racism—that contribute to suicide risk among Black youth and how those factors create significant barriers for researchers and implementors trying to save their lives.This report is comprised of six main sections. The first section provides an overview of data pertaining to Black youth suicide ideation, attempts, and deaths to contextualize the problem, data trends, and how that varies based on intersectional identities. The second section contextualizes risk factors unique to Black youth using the socioecological model. The third section provides an overview of unique protective factors for Black youth, with the fourth section summarizing some existing evidence-informed and best practices for Black youth suicide prevention. The fifth section reviews gaps and impediments to Black youth suicide prevention, followed by the sixth section that provides recommendations developed to advance this work forward.This report serves as a renewal of the CBC task force's original call to action as well as a guide for policymakers, advocates, stakeholders, and federal, state, and local governments to understand the issue of Black youth suicide. The report identifies potential evidence-informed interventions and practice-based evidence to implement and address this enduring crisis, while also engaging in the longer-term work necessary to address upstream, structural factors that contribute to Black youth's suicide risk. Finally, the report also explores barriers researchers and implementors face to develop evidence-based and culturally responsive interventions to save Black youth's lives

Report and Recommendations to Address Race in Washington’s Juvenile Legal System: 2021 Report to the Washington Supreme Court

Report and Recommendations to Address Race in Washington’s Juvenile Legal System: 2021 Report to the Washington Supreme Cour

Expanding Drug Courts and Alternative Justice Courts in West Virginia: Implementing Innovative and Restorative Justice Practices

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world. Alarmingly, West Virginia’s incarceration rate is even higher. West Virginia’s staggering incarceration rate can largely be attributed to the increased criminalization and prosecution of individuals experiencing addiction. This Note considers what actions can be taken to limit incarceration and recidivism in West Virginia. The solutions proposed by this Note also aim to limit the collateral consequences of incarceration in West Virginia because many of West Virginia’s current issues are only exacerbated by incarceration. This Note reviews alternative justice methods and notable alternative justice courts across the United States as a potential path to a solution. From this review, this Note identifies one limitation of many alternative justice courts across the United States, including the drug courts in West Virginia—individuals with the highest risk of recidivism are largely excluded from participation in alternative justice courts. This Note advocates for the expansion of drug courts, alternative justice courts, and restorative justice practices in West Virginia. This Note also advocates for adopting a community court model similar to courts in other jurisdictions that will address the needs of individuals who commit property offenses and quality-of-life crimes. The solutions this Note advocates for are critical to address the problems West Virginia currently faces regarding incarceration, substance use, and the well-being of the state

The Role of the Arts in Healthcare: Transforming Lives, Creating Community

This report showcases the power of the arts to build strong communities, improve health and wellbeing and help people thrive. It includes case studies and data on the impact of the first six years of the Illumination Fund's initiative at the intersection of the arts and healthcare in New York City.This report explores:The Power of the Arts to Heal: Discover how creative engagement reduces stress, combats isolation, and fosters resilience for patients, caregivers, and healthcare workers.Addressing Key Health Challenges: Learn how the initiative tackles mental health stigma, trauma recovery, and aging-related diseases through innovative arts programs.Impactful Partnerships: Explore case studies of collaborations between arts organizations, healthcare providers, and community groups that have amplified the reach and impact of these programs.A Vision for the Future: Gain insights into the lessons learned and the roadmap for expanding the integration of arts into healthcare systems

Scoping review on the use and meaning of sport in prison and after detention

The aim of this study was to provide knowledge on existing literature and research regarding the use and meaning of sports during and after incarceration. To achieve this, a scoping review was conducted, entering one hundred and seventeen combinations of search terms related to sports and incarceration into Google Scholar and Web of Science, focusing on titles and/or key terms. Ultimately, one hundred and fifty-two publications were included in the scoping review. The identified literature and research on \u27the meaning of sports during and after detention\u27 discuss the outcomes related to physical and mental health, behaviour, and the rehabilitation of prisoners, all with the ultimate goal of reducing recidivism and supporting the successful reintegration of ex-prisoners. These results revealed knowledge gaps that are explored in the discussion. The conclusion provides a critical examination of the results and knowledge gaps, highlighting some indications for further research on the meaning of sports for (ex-)prisoners

REV UP Voting Issues Guide: A Tool for Voters and Candidates to Understand Key Issues Impacting People with Disabilities

All issues are disability issues! As people with disabilities, we are impacted by policies and decisions about healthcare, government budgets, policing, employment, housing, and so much more. In this guide, we will talk about some of the issues that are important to people with disabilities.These issues have everything to do with why we vote. Our votes help decide the people and policies that shape our lives.It is also important to know that, as a diverse disabled community, different issues will impact each of us differently and our policy priorities will vary. Each of us votes for many reasons. This guide talks about some of these important issues and how they impact people with disabilities