The Prison Thread

[Nat]

For all things prison/prisoner-related.

[Nat]

[Nat]

Rachel Maddow Exposing private prisons role in Arizona's 'Papers Please' roots



I think this is an interesting twist on the Arizona law. It takes her a while to get there, but half-way through she finally gets to it (minute 6).
and a follow-up:

[Nat]

Based in central Austin, the Inside Books Project (IBP) is an all volunteer, non-profit organization sending free books and educational materials to people in prison in the state of Texas. It is the only project in the state offering this vital resource to Texas' prisoner population, which now exceeds 171,790.

[Medusa]

There's a pretty good book called "Fish: A Memoir of a Boy in a Man's Prison".
The writer talks about his time in prison and is now a human rights advocate due to all of the things he endured. Powerful stuff.

[SuperFemme]

I don't think that the population has ANY idea as to what it is like to be in prison in America.

Which is frightening considering the rate at which we fill up our prisons.

I do think we need to be clear on one thing. Prison is NOT about rehabilitation. The programs available that even take a small crack at rehabilitation are few and far between.

[IrishGrrl]

Originally Posted by Nat

Based in central Austin, the Inside Books Project (IBP) is an all volunteer, non-profit organization sending free books and educational materials to people in prison in the state of Texas. It is the only project in the state offering this vital resource to Texas' prisoner population, which now exceeds 171,790.

When I get back from my trip next week I will donate to this project. I think often about how books literally saved my life, my mental state, and taught me so many things. Mostly, they have been an escape. I think at the very least, no matter what someone's crime, they are entitled to books.

Irish

Thanks for this video!

[Nat]

Help Free the Scott Sisters <-- click to sign petition

Read the following petition to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, and add your name on the form to your right
September 14, 2010

Dear Governor Barbour,

Jamie and Gladys Scott – the “Scott Sisters” – have been incarcerated in Mississippi for the last 15 years for an armed robbery which, according to court testimony, yielded $11. They have consistently denied involvement in the crime. Although neither of the Scott Sisters had a prior criminal record, they were each sentenced to an extraordinary double life sentence.

The presiding judge in their trial, Judge Marcus Gordon, has a history of racially biased rulings, including granting bail to the KKK murderer of the three civil rights workers: Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner.

Furthermore, Jamie Scott now has lost renal function in of her kidneys and cannot survive without a transplant. She has suffered repeated infections and been hospitalized due to unsanitary prison conditions. The Department of Corrections will not allow tests for kidney compatibility even though numerous volunteers have come forward.

Given these serious concerns, we ask that you:

1) Grant a pardon or commute the sentences of Jamie and Gladys Scott to time served, and

2) Grant Jamie Scott a “compassionate medical release” given the serious medical condition she is facing.

There is no greater form of violence than injustice. Please review this case and bring justice to the Scott Sisters who have suffered excessive incarceration for a crime in which their participation is questionable.