Incarceration

We are pleased to announce that the following will be performing during a three-hour show at the Kennedy Center. This free event is part of a weekend Page-to-Stage festival at the Kennedy Center celebrating the performing arts. We thank FAMM, Drug Policy Alliance, NORML, VOMA, Justice Policy Institute, Grace Episcopal Church, First Trinity Lutheran Curch, Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, Govrn.Net, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, ACLU, Art Appreciation Foundation, DC Public Defender Service, and other outstanding organizations for their support.

Check for local listings at http://www.pbs.org/pov/local_broadcast_v3.html. In the 1990s, at the height of the prison-building boom, a prison opened in rural America every 15 days. "Prison Town, USA" tells the story of Susanville, one California town that tries to resuscitate its economy by building a prison ­ with unforeseen consequences.

We are pleased to announce that the Prison Art Gallery, in conjunction with its parent organization the Prisons Foundation, will be presenting a three-hour show at the Kennedy Center. The show, entitled "How Music Helped Me Escape from Prison," consists of singers and musicians who put their interest in music to productive ends while behind bars. Everyone is invited to attend this free event.

Please join us in Washington, D.C. for a meeting bringing together criminal justice advocates from around the U.S. to discuss racial discrimination in the U.S. criminal justice system as it relates to the UN Convention for the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). The U.S. Government has just filed a report to the UN Committee that oversees the treaty on its efforts to end racial discrimination in the U.S. Non-governmental organizations now have an opportunity to provide input to the Committee regarding U.S. compliance through "shadow reports."

The Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy is pleased to invite you to a report briefing entitled Through A Different Lens: Shifting the Focus on Illinois Drug Policy, An examination of states’ solutions and applicability to Illinois

The Prisons Foundation, sponsor of the Prison Art Gallery in Washington, DC, is a long-time supporter of the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA). We invite you to join us in attending the NOVA National Awards Ceremony. Free reception immediately following ceremony. For more information, contact [email protected] or 1(800) 805-3976.

Atkinson Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist, will host the Oregon premiere of Perversion of Justice, by filmmaker Melissa Mummert that documents one woman’s story of redemption behind bars. Through the story of Hamedah Hasan, Perversion of Justice examines the legal system that calls for excessive prison time for crimes of association.

Reports of a nationwide increase in violent crime—the largest in 15 years—may soon have lawmakers calling for tougher measures to protect the public. But putting more people in prison may not be the best way to cut crime rates. According to a new Vera report, Reconsidering Incarceration: New Directions for Reducing Crime, further increases in incarceration are subject to diminishing returns in effectiveness and come at substantial cost to taxpayers.

On Saturday, January 27, the Miami-Dade Green Party and The Wallflower Gallery is going to be hosting a Forum on the Drug War. This educational event is going to gather various proponents for drug law reform and work to enhance some communication between various organizations and individuals. As part of this Forum, there will be panel discussion, information tables and question & answer sessions. In addition, there will be musical and spoken word performances by a selection of independent artists including Sweetbone.

NYCTJ Monthly Meeting Meetings are open to all friends and family members of people incarcerated in NYS prisons, ally organizations, and anyone concerned about this critical issue. Light refreshments served. Email Lauren Melodia at [email protected] or call 212.614.6481 to RSVP.