News
Sharing my thoughts and experiences
Scary times
We are living at a time where violence seems to be the new normal. It is also a time when human connection seems non-existent. We want to register and watch people and feel justified in doing so. Donald Trump wants to register all Muslims. This is a scary thought...
Do we make a difference?
After an exciting afternoon of football and having a conversation with my wife, I sit at the computer and wonder how to make a difference. Sometimes it is hard to see the progress being made, but simply staying active, being the advocate for those in need, and...
Coming Home
Someone that I see at a 12 step group is having a challenging situation. While he was incarcerated his wife purchased a home so they could live together when he was released. Shortly thereafter a day care opened nearby and he can not move there. They have purchased...
Mandatory Reporting of Abuse
This is a concept which makes all the sense you can imagine. None of us wants to see anyone being abused. It sounds just the right thing to do to intervene by reporting abuse. I am starting to wonder if there are hidden problems with mandatory reporting. For example,...
Transparency
Our criminal justice system operates with impunity largely because no one pays attention. We are living in a lock um up society. We also are living in such a security conscious world that our criminal justice system is able to craft procedures that limit scrutiny. I...
Re-entry is challenging
Yesterday I learned that a man getting released for a sex offense had his placement denied and is required to enter a half-way house miles from his home. There was no explanation provided and no means of changing the decision. It is another example of the prison...
How to Build a Business
I have been so fortunate to receive feedback on the importance of Prison CONversation. Yet I am still without a referral. I know this service can be useful and help reduce recidivism but it is so hard to get that word to those who need it most
Meditation Helps Inmates
The John J. Moran Prison in Rhode Island is one of the last places one would expect to find a thriving meditative community. “We have everybody here,” says Roberta Richman of the Rhode Island Department of Corrections. “Murderers, Rapists, sex offenders, drug...
Foster Kids Get New Bikes Thanks to Inmates
A remarkable number of foster children will be getting a brand new bike this Christmas thanks to the "bike lady." Kate Koch-Gatch's started a charity to give bikes to foster kids across Ohio. But, the program really exploded when she made a call three years ago to...