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December 22, 2006
Minnesota Catholic Conference responds to the immigration raids in Worthington
WORTHINGTON, MN: As the Catholic Bishops of the State of Minnesota, we are distressed and disheartened by the work place raids that took place in Worthington, Minnesota and other communities this past week. To add insult to injury, immigration officials chose the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patron saint of the Americas, as the day to target these workers and their families.
Read more >>

December 16, 2006
New book published to help criminals transform their live
SACRAMENTO, CA: The Criminal’s Search for God has just been published by the Lampstand Foundation. This is the first book in a series of publications that will focus on creating and developing the tools that “deep knowledge” leaders need to transform criminals. You can receive the book as a gift by becoming a LampStand member.
Read a section of the book >>
Learn more about the LampStand Foundation >>
Join LampStand and receive the book free >>

December 16, 2006
Battered-women’s syndrome can be used in murder defense cases
SAN DIEGO, CA: A 2-1 decision Thursday by the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego granted a new trial to a woman serving a life sentence for a 1998 murder, and appeared to represent an expansion of the battered-women’s syndrome defense that California courts first recognized in the early 1990s. The syndrome offers a rationale for violent actions committed by someone who has suffered sustained domestic abuse. Defendants accused of murdering their abusers have cited the syndrome to seek acquittals or reduced charges. The appeals court said the same rationale could apply to a defendant who said she was so terrified of her partner that she followed his orders to help him commit a murder.
Read more >>

December 15, 2006
A judge says California's injection procedure is cruel and unusual
SAN JOSE, CA: U.S. District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel issued his ruling on the constitutionality of California's lethal injection protocol. The ruling follows a moratorium imposed in February on executions in the nation's most populous state when he declared that the state's method of lethal injection runs the risk of violating the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. This ruling comes at the same time that Florida also suspends executions because of lethal injection protocol concerns.
Read more about rulings >>
Read LA Times article >>
Read Criminal Justice blog commentary >>

December 7, 2006
Inmates work to create halfway house for other inmates
SHREVEPORT, LA: LifeHouse for Women is being created in a renovated bank building. The work is spearheaded by New Foundation Ministries and male inmates are volunteering to provide the labor.
Read more >>

Alternative to juvenile court
BRAINERD LAKES, MN: Restorative justice volunteers work with schools to help offenders and victims heal.
Read more >>

Salt Lake City is a finalist in international criminal justice award
SALT LAKE CITY, UT: Salt Lake City's take on criminal justice captured international attention this week as the city's restorative-justice program was a finalist for a World Leadership Award.
Read more >>

November 16, 2006
Crime, punishment: an ancient approach
MONTEREY, CA: Community leaders gathered at the Inn at Spanish Bay to explore how county and city justice systems might implement a program known as “restorative justice.” Politicians, judges, attorneys, police chiefs, nonprofit officers, educators and religious leaders from around the county were told how society benefits from the restorative approach, how it is being implemented, and how its absence is a major reason why crime and incarceration rates in the United States are among the highest in the world.
Read more >>

November 15, 2006
Justice needs to make room for compassion
KANSAS CITY, MO: Speaking here last month, Sister Helen Prejean, author of Dead Man Walking, said, “We are all worth more than the worst things we have done in our lives. Our world must be a place in which forgiveness, service to others, respect, love, compassion and overcoming the hurt reign.”
Read more >>

November 7, 2006
CBS13 explores the prison overcrowding crisis
Prison overcrowding is a political hot potato, but apparently it's not something the average Californian cares much about. So CBS 13’s Pallas Hupe went to prison to see how bad it really is and why we might pay if something isn't done to fix it.
View the video >>
Followup story on flu epidemic in California prison >>

November 4, 2006
Justice program funded through property tax
NANAIMO, B.C.: Taxpayers in this British Columbia town are shelling out a little bit of cash for alternative justice. In the program offenders deal with their crimes outside of the courts by having the victim, the offender and a mediator sit down and talk about the crime and a way to make amends in a controlled setting. The cost to each homeowner is 20 cents/$100,000 assessed value on their home.
Read more >>

October 31, 2006
Governor Rendell praises changes in juvenile justice system
HARRISBURG, PA: The face of juvenile justice is changing in Pennsylvania, Governor Edward G. Rendell said. Today, other states are following the commonwealth's lead as young offenders are paying restitution to victims and contributing hundreds of thousands of hours of community service in a system that is as concerned about victims as it about rehabilitating the young who have committed a crime.
Read more >>

October 26, 2006
Immediate opening for Catholic chaplain
Click on links below to access application and salary information.
Chucawalla Valley State Prison >>

October 24, 2006
Out of sight, out of mind
For most vulnerable young people, imprisonment will compound rather than resolve their difficulties.
Read more >>

October 22, 2006
Domestic violence victims celebrate prison releases
Women who went to prison for murder or crimes related to the death of their abusers have won their freedom. A unique state law allows redress for some found guilty of murdering their abusers before 1992, when the state began allowing battered woman syndrome to be used as a defense.
Read more >>

Stories of redemption at Marin’s parish behind bars
Brian Cahill writes moving stories of redemption and hope from San Quentin
Read >>

October 12, 2006
Federal sentencing roundup for 2006
WASHINGTON, DC: Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM)
has published a detailed summary of pending legislation in the
109th Congress related to mandatory sentencing laws. FAMM is a national nonpartisan, nonprofit organization founded in 1991 in
response to inflexible and excessive penalties required by mandatory sentencing laws.
Read the summary >>
Learn more about FAMM >>

October 11, 2006
State felony voting laws move toward reform
WASHINGTON, DC: The Sentencing Project has just published A Decade of Reform: Felony Disenfranchisement Policy in the United States. The report discloses that U.S. disenfranchisement laws remain among the world’s most severe despite public opinion polls showing 80%
support for restoring the vote to those who have completed their sentences. The trend is toward change, however. During this year alone, 73 bills on felony disenfranchisement were introduced in 22 states, and 85% of these initiatives sought to expand voting rights.
View the full report >>
Learn more about the Sentencing Project >>

Get on the Bus highlights 2005-06 activities
LOS ANGELES, CA: Hundreds of children reunited with incarcerated parents, the first ever Father's Day visitation and a new, full-time director. Get on the Bus is growing and able to reach more children every year.
Read the update >>
Learn more about GOTB >>

October 4, 2006
Faith in forgiveness tested by tragedy
ALBANY, NY: Recent slayings of Amish children caused academics who study the concept of nonviolence and restorative justice to re-examine those notions in an increasingly violent America. Read more >>

October 3, 2006
Father’s heartbreaking story brings registry to Canada
PETERBOROUGH, ONTARIO: The murder of Jim Stephenson’s 11-year-old son has led to the birth of the sex offender registry in Canada, also known as Christopher’s Law. Read more >>

October 2, 2006
Prayer Services for Times of Transition
The Catholic Conference of Kentucky has published a series of 10 prayer services that celebrate human life at important stages, from birth until death. One has been written especially for Vigils at Executions.
View or download the services >>

September 25, 2006
New book explores forgiveness, not forgetting
Walking After Midnight chronicles Katy Hutchison’s journey from aching widow to compassionate advocate for restorative justice; and the path of her husband’s young murderer from angry teen to repentant anti-violence activist. Read a review >>

September 22, 2006
Giving juvenile offenders a second chance
DES MOINES, IA: The Community Restorative Justice Program allows youth to change their behavior rather than build a court record that may come back to haunt them in later years. Read more >>

September 21, 2006
Governor Richardson designates Day of Peace for New Mexico
SANTA FE, NM: In a proclamation declaring that "humanitarian efforts to foster brotherhood and justice& are key to our national security," Governor Bill Richardson dedicated September 21st as New Mexico's official Day of Peace. By doing so he pays homage to the 2001 resolution of the United Nations declaring September 21st to be the International Day of Peace. Read more >>

September 20, 2006
The Game: Restorative community supervision for adult offenders
NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA: Grahame Chaseling, a 20-year veteran of corrections, critic of traditional criminal justice and restorative practices has developed a unique model for supervising adult offenders in community-based programs. He calls it The Game. The game, complete with playing board, rules and a game master, aims to engage participants restoratively rather than punitively. Read more >>

September 18, 2006
CA Catholic Conference urges governor to continue work on prison reform
SACRAMENTO, CA: “Right now, the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spends $8.7 billion a year on punishment, not justice and not security. ...We urge you to use this opportunity to bring the correctional system under control.”
Read the entire statement >>
Learn more about California legislation >>

September 12, 2006
Youth Justice teaches forgiveness, accountability
SOUTH BEND, IN: According to Tim Hudak of the Youth Justice Program, kids who are sent through the juvenile justice system rarely have the opportunity to try to right their wrongs by apologizing to their victims. The Youth Justice Program is an alternative to prosecution where kids are held accountable through the restorative justices process.
Read more >>

September 8, 2006
New annual report from Families of the Incarcerated
LOS ANGELES, CA: Updated information from this organization that works to keep families together.
Read the report >>
Read the reflections >>
Learn more >>

September 6, 2006
St. Vincent de Paul issues new position paper on restorative justice
ST. LOUIS, MO: The United States Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is taking a major step with this position paper on Restorative Justice, which encourages our Society to be inventive and reach out in new directions of service. This document challenges members to stand up for their vocation and to be present to all of God’s children.
Read the paper >>

September 3, 2006
Success in holding youth accountable
LANSING, MICHIGAN: Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) has been making headlines of late in the Greater Lansing area due to its success in holding youth accountable for illegal or harmful behavior.
Read More >>

August 29, 2006
L.A.’s Homeboy Industries intervenes with gang-involved youth
Through its Gang Reduction Program (GRP), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention supports a number of local gang prevention and intervention programs. One such program is Homeboy Industries, which is partnering with the GRP demonstration site in Los Angeles, CA. Learn More >>

August 23, 2006
Job Opening: “Our Place, DC” seeks Deputy Director
WASHINGTON, DC: “Our Place, DC” is seeking a Deputy Director to oversee the day-to-day operation of a small, non-profit organization serving women who are or have been incarcerated and their families. The Deputy Director will be responsible for implementing efficient and effective operations, quality programs and services, and information and management systems. Individual will work closely with the President to ensure that programs and initiatives respond to the needs of the community. Responsibilities will include supervising Program, Finance and Administration, and Outreach and Development Teams. Desired qualifications include graduate degree in law, social work, or public health, minimum of three years management and supervisory experience, experience and knowledge of women in prison, addictions, HIV/AIDS, excellent writing and communication skills, and interest in managing a highly talented, diverse staff. Please send resumes to Susan Galbraith, Founder and President, Our Place, DC, 801 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, Suite 460, Washington, DC 20003 by September 8, 2006. No calls or e-mails please. Learn More >>

August 18, 2006
"Beyond Zero Tolerance” Aims to Provide New Paradigm for Educators
San Francisco, California: Here’s a drug education for young people that is honest and science-based, approaches the kids in an interactive and participatory manner, and employs restorative practices instead of punishment.

Learn more >>
Register for conference >>

August 11, 2006
Prison theater program enacts restorative justice
NORTH NEWTON, KAN. – For the second time in less than six months, John McCabe-Juhnke, Bethel College professor of communication arts, directed a play with the U.S. penal system as an important theme or sub-theme. Read More >>

July, 2006
Oasis in the Desert
An Office of Restorative Justice Publication. In this issue read about Peace in Prison, Searching for Victims Reconciliation Process and more. Download PDF >>

July 30, 2006
Summit focuses on informing and empowering young women
Shreveport, Louisiana: "Nobody is a failure. They told us today that it's better to think of mistakes as stepping stones to a better future." Read more >>

July 27, 2006
Circles of support and accountability
East-Central Iowa: A prophetic ministry for communities of faith using value-based process called restorative dialogue. Read more >>

Confronting confinement
After a year-long inquiry, the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons released Confronting Confinement, a report of the Commission's findings and recommendations. Read and download the report >>

July 26, 2006
Grant will aid family support program
Council Bluffs, Iowa: A $10,000 grant from the Iowa West Foundation will help the Fourth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services start a new program for families of offenders in the criminal justice system. Read more >>

July 24, 2006
Nun is ‘angel’ for man who carjacked her
A mere 15 months ago, on a darkened side street on Milwaukee’s south side, a hooded Raul Fernandez and an accomplice demanded Sister Mary Jo Kahl’s car keys and money, threatening the Franciscan Sister of Mary’s life if she didn’t comply... Read more >>

Justice with dignity for the wounded >>

July 18, 2006
Saving our next Martin & Malcolm
Centre County, Pennsylvania: Restorative Justice is our answer. Yes, we must develop the economics of the inner city to create jobs, we must improve the quality of our public schools... Read more >>

July 14, 2006
“Life” in a Parish: stories of redemption at Marin’s parish behind bars
San Quentin: Some would say that taking a life should mean life in prison, period. Read more >>

July 13, 2006
Restorative Justice and other community programs are underused
Bennington,Vermont: A former deputy state’s attorney is running
against her old boss. Erica Marthage believes community and state programs are underused, such as the Center for Restorative
Justice, United Counseling Service and Project Against Violent Encounters. Read more >>

June 19, 2006
Teen Court jurors get training to offer peers restorative justice
Decatur, IL: High school students learn what sorts of cases they might face and the kinds of restorative justice the court hands out to young offenders. Read more >>

Inmates celebrate Father’s Day
Tehachapi, CA: CCI Tehachapi became the first male prison to participate in the statewide outreach program titled, Get on the Bus. Read more >>
Image of father and son
June 16 and 25
Get on the Bus: Father’s Day visits
On Friday, June 16, 2006, a lone bus completed the three hour journey from Los Angeles to California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi, a 5,100 inmate huge sprawling state prison… Read more >>

Find out more about Get on the Bus >>
Job opening: Get on the Bus Program Director >>
View GOTB coverage by Craig Spector, Hollywood filmmaker >>

June 15, 2006
Seminar will explore restorative justice >>

Promoting a U.S. Department of Peace
Larchmont, NY: The U.S. Department of Peace would promote nonmilitary conflict resolutions as well as domestic violence prevention. According to a concept called “restorative justice,” if someone steals from another person, you don’t just put the person in jail.
Read More >>

June 12, 2006
The beginnings of restorative justice >>

June 9, 2006
If one person grieves, we all grieve >>

June 8, 2006
Grand opening of the Restorative Justice Ministry Family Service Center's community mediation center >>

Diverse Commission Reaches Consensus >>

Federal judges pledge cooperation in California inmate care cases >>

June 7, 2006
Rehabilitation or restoration for juvenile parolees? >>

Larry King Show Live from San Quentin Part I >>

Larry King Show Live from San Quentin Part II >>

June 5, 2006
Utah judge was first to see how drug court could restore lives >>

Sister Carmel Crimmins' ambition is to brighten lives >>

June 2, 2006
Changing sides on the death penalty
A chaplain reflects on his three years at a state prison >>

May 2006
Oasis in the Desert >>