Chopping Recidivism: Get Out and Stay Out - Part 2

On August 25th, 2009, The-Slammer.org published Part 1 of a commentary by Mark Goldsmith, winner of a $100,000 Purpose Prize for his work to reduce the recidivism rate for young offenders serving time on Rikers Island, New York City’s largest corrections facility. Following is Part 2 of his commentary. - ED
By Mark Goldsmith
Following the [...]

Two Reentry Programs Prove Local Efforts Cut Recidivism

Santa Barbara County, CA
Every year 1000 to 1400 offenders are released back to Santa Barbara County from California state prisons. Most have no home, no job, and no skills, and no hope of making it. The vast majority have serious addiction problems; many are mentally ill. The state gives them a [...]

Chopping Recidivism: Get Out and Stay Out - Part 1

A major national philanthropic award program, named the Purpose Prize, each year awards five $100,000 prizes to individuals over the age of 60 who have demonstrated uncommon vision, determination and entrepreneurialism in addressing community and national problems. In 2008, Mark Goldsmith won one of these prizes for his efforts “cutting recidivism rates through comprehensive [...]

1 in 11 Inmates Are Serving Life Sentences

The Sentencing Project, a national non-profit organization engaged in research and advocacy on criminal justice policy issues, has issued a 48-page, detailed report titled: No Exit/The Expanding Use of Life Sentences in America. Following are three selected key excerpts from this document, which was written by Ashley Nellis and Ryan S. King (July 2009).
The report’s [...]

How to Keep Your Kids Out of Prison

By Dick Witherow, Author “The Modern Day Leper”
I know what you’re thinking: “My kids will never have to go to prison!” I certainly hope not. However statistics tell us that in today’s society, it is a very strong possibility. The Pew Report of March 2009, titled “One in 31,” tells us that the population of [...]

Recidivism: Work-First Programs May Help

SaSreFrom CITY JOURNAL
By Kimberly Hendrickson
Mayors Put Work First: Reentry programs for ex-prisoners show promise
About 700,000 federal and state prisoners return home each year in America, and most soon commit more crimes. A 2002 Department of Justice study found that over 67 percent of released prisoners are rearrested within three years; about half, in [...]

State Budgets Dictate Alternative Sentencing

According to an article in The Washington Times, over half of America’s states are attempting to reduce the growth rate in their prison populations by either experimenting with alternative sentencing methods, or by employing new probation and parole methodology, with some states doing both. Is this a revival of altruistic thinking? No, it’s [...]

Government Takes Aim at Prison Rape

photo by ecpark
From an NPREC press release dated June 23, 2009.
Calling sexual abuse of people in government custody “totally incompatible with American values,” the bipartisan federal National Prison Rape Elimination Commission issued a landmark report dated 6/23/09 on sexual abuse in U.S. correctional and detention facilities, and proposed the first comprehensive blueprint to prevent [...]

Release Geriatric Prisoners to Save Money?

From change.org 6/17/2009, The Aging Prison Population

While some proponents of prison-budget trimming have recently suggested early release of long-incarcerated inmates that have only one year remaining in their sentence, other lawmakers are looking at a cost-cutting approach attained through the early release of elderly inmates.
According to a blog article “The Aging Prison [...]

SLAMMER Mission Statement

To be the online forum where all individuals, advocacy organizations and political entities actively involved or impacted in the corrections systems can meet to air their opinions, concerns, ideas, and recommendations aimed at system reform, such as improved rehabilitation and reentry programs for inmates, all directed to reduce recidivism rates while also optimizing staff work environments, and at minimized cost to taxpayers. Input from related law enforcement and judicial entities, inmates and inmate families, as well as the general public are to be encouraged.

To keep participants abreast of all local, regional and national news and commentary potentially impacting or relating to corrections.

To provide helpful contact information for all in-system entities and for the general public.