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Sunday, December 21, 2014

VBW Justice Archive: ((Mysterious Minds))



For more information on this track featuring VBW participant Sam aka Mousey, please view the track information at the Soundcloud post: click here


About the VBW Justice Archive

The Voices Behind Walls (VBW) Justice Archive is a collection of audios, artworks, photographs, and writings archived on the following:

VBW Research Network Blog: vbwresearch.blogspot.com
VBW YouTube: youtube.com/voicesbehindwalls
VBW Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/vbehindw
VBW Website: voicesbehindwalls.blogspot.com

The purpose of the archive is to document VBW program history, specifically the creative expression of its participants and program partners.  Files of the VBW Justice Archive are resources for educators, youth, and the public to share.  We hope these files inspire new ideas and other creative expressions in all learning spaces.  The archive is especially to acknowledge the existence of its participants, a majority incarcerated youth,  who recorded into the VBW microphone between the decade of 2004 to 2014.  Hopefully you all find your way back to our page to reflect on your contribution to the VBW program.

The VBW Justice Archive began documenting its program history in 2014.  Audios will be posted periodically.  Updates will be posted at the links above including twitter.com/vbehindw.


Keywords + Tag = Mousey | Sam | juvenile prison | beats | keyboard | piano | New Mexico | Las Cruces | music | outreach | Hip Hop | creative expression | Dona Ana County | life | Soundcloud | Voices Behind Walls | VBW | adolescent | Boyz in the Hood | Ricky | thought | experience | struggle | mystery | mind

Monday, December 8, 2014

VBW Justice Archive: ((Honey))





For more information on the ((Honey Instrumental)) by Avoid the Lyricist please visit the Soundcloud and read the track information: click here


About the VBW Justice Archive

The Voices Behind Walls (VBW) Justice Archive is a collection of audios, artworks, photographs, and writings archived on the following:

VBW Research Network Blog: vbwresearch.blogspot.com
VBW YouTube: youtube.com/voicesbehindwalls
VBW Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/vbehindw
VBW Website: voicesbehindwalls.blogspot.com

The purpose of the archive is to document VBW program history, specifically the creative expression of its participants and program partners.  Files of the VBW Justice Archive are resources for educators, youth, and the public to share.  We hope these files inspire new ideas and other creative expressions in all learning spaces.  The archive is especially to acknowledge the existence of its participants, a majority incarcerated youth,  who recorded into the VBW microphone between the decade of 2004 to 2014.  Hopefully you all find your way back to our page to reflect on your contribution to the VBW program.

The VBW Justice Archive began documenting its program history in 2014.  Audios will be posted periodically.  Updates will be posted at the links above including twitter.com/vbehindw.


Keywords + Tag = Avoid the Lyricist | Avoid | Bird | ¡Aqui Se Puede! | Wanderer's with a Cause, Our Words, Beats and Rhymes | New Mexico State University | NMSU | El Paso | Metatron | beats | instrumental | Hip Hop | VBW Justice Archive | Texas | soul | Soundcloud | Voices Behind Walls | VBW

VBW Justice Archive: 'Wordsworth'



VBW Justice Archive: 'Wordsworth' by Carlos Andrés Gómez
VBWJA-audi0-20141207-CG1

VBW Justice Archive ((Audios)): click here

When Mr. Acosta aka Groove asked for recommendations of poetry, song, or literature related to tone & mood for his class at Jefferson High School, the first recording that came to mind was one I recorded years ago with award winning poet, actor, and writer Carlos Andrés Gómez.  The recording was conducted over a lanline phone at Cervantes Village for rotation on KRUX 91.5FM at New Mexico State University.  

I got the opportunity to do the recording thanks to poet activist & journalist, Monte Smith.  Having also conducted recordings & interviews with Monte, he had an army of other voices to recommend for our radio program.  As we continue to archive, recordings & interviews with Monte Smith will also be posted.  Much respect and thanks to Monte for his support during our radio dayz.

We've archived the 'Wordsworth' poetry recording on our VBW YouTube which you can listen to by clicking on the embedded player above, or the links.

For more information on Carlos Andrés Gómez please visit carloslive.com



About the VBW Justice Archive

The Voices Behind Walls (VBW) Justice Archive is a collection of audios, artworks, photographs, and writings archived on the following:

VBW Research Network Blog: vbwresearch.blogspot.com
VBW YouTube: youtube.com/voicesbehindwalls
VBW Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/vbehindw
VBW Website: voicesbehindwalls.blogspot.com

The purpose of the archive is to document VBW program history, specifically the creative expression of its participants and program partners.  Files of the VBW Justice Archive are resources for educators, youth, and the public to share.  We hope these files inspire new ideas and other creative expressions in all learning spaces.  The archive is especially to acknowledge the existence of its participants, a majority incarcerated youth,  who recorded into the VBW microphone between the decade of 2004 to 2014.  Hopefully you all find your way back to our page to reflect on your contribution to the VBW program.

The VBW Justice Archive began documenting its program history in 2014.  Audios will be posted periodically.  Updated will be posted at the links above including twitter.com/vbehindw.


Keywords + Tag = Carlos Andrés Gómez | Voices Behind Walls | VBW Justice Archive | archive | justice | words | Wordsworth | Monte Smith | creative expression | spoken word | performance poetry | KRUX 91.5 fm | Jefferson High School | New Mexico State University | NMSU | powerful | tone | mood | lessons

Saturday, November 1, 2014

VBW Justice Archive: ((4 A.M. Cody Brown Remix))


VBW Justice Archive: ((4 A.M. Cody Brown Remix)) by Cody Brown
VBWJA-audi0-20141101-CB1 ((mp3)) | Download

Original Post / Cody Brown Soundcloud: click here

Cody Brown is an alumni of Voices Behind Walls.  He brought a lot of creative ideas to VBW with his knowledge of music production, not only as a Hip Hop beat maker, but also someone who knows how to play instruments.  He's also a brilliant song writer and lyricist MC/poet.  In many ways, like key players before him, he changed the course of our workshop and opened up the technical possibilities for how we recorded and what we could do with the limited equipment and software we had available.  Through Cody we were able to dream big in what was our goal for the youth themselves to have input along with others on the development of a studio inside of the detention center.

Upon his release from incarceration Cody continued with his music including the instrumental project featured above that Cody produced and uploaded onto his Soundcloud.  It is a remix of the Melanie Fiona single 4 A.M. off of The MF Life released in 2012.

Along with our own recordings, the VBW Justice Archive will feature audio downloads from participants and affiliates of the program.  You can download the 4 A.M. Cody Brown Remix by clicking on the links above or by clicking on the following: MP3.

About the VBW Justice Archive

The Voices Behind Walls (VBW) Justice Archive is a collection of audios, artworks, photographs, and writings archived on the following:

VBW Research Network Blog: vbwresearch.blogspot.com
VBW YouTube: youtube.com/voicesbehindwalls
VBW Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/vbehindw
VBW Website: voicesbehindwalls.blogspot.com

The purpose of the archive is to document VBW program history, specifically the creative expression of its participants and program partners.  Files of the VBW Justice Archive are resources for educators, youth, and the public to share.  We hope these files inspire new ideas and other creative expressions in all learning spaces.  The archive is especially to acknowledge the existence of its participants, a majority incarcerated youth,  who recorded into the VBW microphone between the decade of 2004 to 2014.  Hopefully you all find your way back to our page to reflect on your contribution to the VBW program.

The VBW Justice Archive began documenting its program history in 2014.  Audios will be posted periodically.  Updated will be posted at the links above including twitter.com/vbehindw

Keywords + Tag = Cody Brown | Lyric | remix | Melanie Fiona | mp3 download | download | mp3 | Trap | Hip Hop | Rap | 4 A.M. | alumni | Voices Behind Walls | beats | Las Cruces | New Mexico | The MF Life | soundcloud | VBW | audio archive | VBW Research Network | Moose    

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Young People’s Experiences in the CJ System

In Their Own Words: Young People’s Experiences in the Criminal Justice System
and Their Perceptions of Its Legitimacy

More Information including Download Report: click here

"While there is a growing consensus that the country needs to re-examine the criminal justice system’s prosecution of serious young offenders, there is little documentation of how this population experiences and perceives the laws, policies, and practices that are intended to hold them accountable.

To address this shortcoming, the John Howard Association, Illinois’ only non-partisan prison watchdog, has completed a provocative new report, In Their Own Words, (PDF) that chronicles six young serious offenders’ journey through Illinois’ criminal justice system, from arrest to incarceration.

Based on this work, JHA's report offers four steps that policymakers should take to improve the fairness and effectiveness of the criminal justice system’s response to youth prosecuted for serious crimes:

1. Empower judges to determine whether serious young offenders should be tried in juvenile or criminal court, regardless of the crime they are accused of committing.

2. Provide young offenders with greater access to counsel during police encounters and pre-trial custody.

3. Ensure that attorneys and judges who deal with this population are trained in adolescent brain development and how to effectively communicate with young people.

4. Establish separate correctional facilities, treatment programs, and a sentencing scheme that takes into account young offenders’ mental immaturity and ongoing development.

Alongside these specific policy recommendations, In Their Own Words focuses on the root causes of violence that plague some of the country’s poorest minority communities, from parts of Chicago's South and West Sides to Ferguson, Missouri. Instead of over-relying on severe criminal penalties, JHA argues that the justice system must build the kind of civic trust that will promote safer communities by meeting people where they are and listening to them in their own words." 


John Howard Association of Illinois (JHA). "In Their Own Words: Young People's Experiences in the Criminal Justice System and Their Perceptions of Its Legitimacy." John Howard Association of Illinois. (2014). Web. 9 Oct 2014. http://thejha.org/words


Keywords + Tag = John Howard Association of Illinois | Criminal Justice | juvenile justice | words | experiences | out of sight out of mind | empathy | minority | unnatural environment | nothingness | degradation | devalued | second chance | children | prisons | understanding | civic trust | youth | listening | communication | brain development | adolescence | correctional facilities | treatment | expression | CJYO | NMSU | legitimacy | next generation | future | think | Voices Behind Walls

U.S. Attorney to ID Wrongful Convictions


Washington U.S. Attorney Sets Up First Unit to ID Wrongful Convictions
Full Article: click here Posted by Reuters

Notes from the article:

"The U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington has set up the first federal unit in the nation to identify and investigate cases that ended in wrongful convictions..."

That unit is called the Conviction Integrity Unit

"The unit will review cases in which defendants convicted of violent felonies can offer new evidence, such as DNA testing, that may establish innocence."

A quote from U.S. Attorney Ronald E. Machen, Jr. "This new unit will work to uncover historical injustices and to make sure that we are doing everything in our power to prevent such tragedies in the future.”

Who is U.S. Attorney Ronald E. Machen, Jr.?


There are prosecuter's offices that have created similar initiatives.  Two of those referenced in the article include the Dallas County District Attorney's Office click here and the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office click here.  

The story of Donald Gates




"The U.S. Attorney's Office is sharing its results with defense lawyers and the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, a nonprofit at George Washington University Law School in Washington which fights wrongful convictions."  More information on the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project visit exonerate.org.

This article was published on September 12, 2014 and accessed October 9, 2014.

Keywords + Tag = Ronald Machen | U.S. Attorney | Washington | United States | federal | convictions | Reuters | Conviction Integrity Unit | DNA | innocence | evidence | defendants | court case | historical injustice | justice | Dallas County District Attorney's Office | Manhattan District Attorney | law | United States District of Columbia | Donald Gates | exoneration | Innocence Project | innocence | guilt | The New Jim Crow | proof | DeoxyriboNucleic Acid | compensation | Unjust imprisonment law | adjustment | freedom | lifetime | Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project

Sunday, September 21, 2014

VBW Justice Archive: ((I Write))


VBW Justice Archive: ((I Write)) by Will Roy feat. Avoid the Lyricist
VBWJA-audi0-20140902-WR1

VBW Justice Archive ((Audios)): click here


Most recently, all audios posted on VBW's YouTube page were removed for editing to re-post under the VBW Justice Archive.  ((I Write)) is a recording conducted in 2003 of Will Roy.  Roy is an alumni of The Beat Within who I interviewed back in 03'.  Later I'd transcribe the interview which you can view, download, and print here TBW Will Roy Interview.  At the time Roy also agreed to record a few poems he wrote.  The poetry recording was digitized from the cassette tape and sent to producer Avoid the Lyricist of Metatron from El Paso, Texas who revised the audio by adding effects to the vocal and his own original beat production.  Another instrumental produced by Avoid closes the video titled ((Honey)) which was a beat donated to the VBW program for community programming.

This is the first of many audios I look forward to adding to the archive in effort to document the history of the program and to share these files as resources that maybe will inspire new ideas, writing, or overall creative expression in detention and everywhere.  This recording also embodies how folks like Avoid could work around the imperfections of quality to prioritize the delivery of a message.  For us at that time, it didn't have to sound perfect, it just needed to be heard.

Peace.


About the VBW Justice Archive

The Voices Behind Walls (VBW) Justice Archive is a collection of audios, artworks, photographs, and writings archived on the following:

VBW Research Network Blog: vbwresearch.blogspot.com
VBW YouTube: youtube.com/voicesbehindwalls
VBW Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/vbehindw
VBW Blog: voicesbehindwalls.blogspot.com

The purpose of the archive is to document VBW program history, specifically the creative expression of its participants and program partners.  Files of the VBW Justice Archive are resources for educators, youth, and the public to share.  We hope these files inspire new ideas and other creative expressions in all learning spaces.  The archive is especially to acknowledge the existence of its participants, a majority incarcerated youth,  who recorded into the VBW microphone between the decade of 2004 to 2014.  Hopefully you all find your way back to our page to reflect on your contribution to the VBW program.

The VBW Justice Archive began documenting its program history in 2014.  Audios will be posted periodically.  Updated will be posted at the links above including twitter.com/vbehindw.

Monday, September 1, 2014

15 to Life, Kenneth's Story | Theatre


15 to Life, Kenneth's Story

A film produced and directed by Nadine Pequeneza, cinematographer Stefan Randström, sound recordist Paul Adlaf, editor Ricardo Acosta, and music composer Alex Khaskin (HitPlay Productions).  The documentary takes viewers inside the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse in Tampa, Florida during Kenneth Young's hearing for a reduced sentenced in front of Judge Daniel Sleet.  He's a judge who's expression throughout the film is one of a man who left their discretion in never never land.  Florida is home to 77 youth of the 128 with the opportunity to be freed from their life sentences after the Supreme Court ruled life sentences for children illegal in 2010 for crimes less than murder.  More than 2,500 have been condemned to die in prison.  The United States is the only country in the world to sentence it's children to die in prison.

For information on the film check out the links below.

POV Documentaries with a Point of View / 15 to Life: click here

HitPlay Productions / Vimeo: click here

15 to Life Facebook: click here

Website: 15tolifethefilm.com 


Keywords + Tag = Nadine Pequeneza | 15 to Life | Kenneth Young | Stefan Randstrom | Paul Adlaf | Ricardo Acosta | HitPlay Productions | George E. Edgecomb Courthouse | Judge Daniel Sleet | Florida | Hillsborough | Tampa | United States | Sandra Christopher |  life imprisonment | robbery | POV | point of view | Twiggs Street | decision | Graham v. Florida | Florida State University's Children in Prison Project | Public Interest Law Center |  Paolo Annino | Corinne Koeppen | Bryan Stevenson | Equal Justice Initiative | Montgomery | Alabama | justice | America | United States of America | Jennifer Norman | death penalty | PBS | public broadcasting service | Stephanie Young   
 

Monday, August 25, 2014

Implementing Evidence-Based Services | CJJ


Webinar: Implementing Evidence-Based Services Webinar
September 17, 2:00 PM (Eastern Time)
12:00 PM (Mountain Time)
Register: click here

"Is your jurisdiction looking to adopt evidenced-based programs to better serve juvenile justice youth?  Are you a provider looking to improve agency buy-in towards the evidence-based services you provide?  Are you interested in learning how other jurisdictions implemented evidence-based services?"

This webinar will explain how jurisdictions and providers can successfully implement evidenced-based services in their juvenile justice system. Participants will learn about creating agency and customer buy-in; strategies to address funding and fidelity challenges; hear about lessons learned from other states; and how to embed evidenced-based services in juvenile justice systems. 

Presenters include:

Beth Ann Rosica, Ph.D., Vice President of Administration for VisionQuest National Ltd and President of the Board of Directors for Advancing Evidence Based Practice

Francis Mendez, JD, MSW, Project Director at ICF International for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention's National Training and Technical Assistance Center project, former Deputy Secretary of Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services and former Chief of Staff for the Connecticut Department of Children and Families Juvenile Services Bureau

For more information on the Coalition for Juvenile Justice visit: juvjustice.org


Keywords + Tag = juvenile justice | webinar | Beth Ann Rosica | Vision Quest | evidence based practice | Francis Mendez | delinquency | Coalition for Juvenile Justice | juv | juve | training | CJJ | strategies | fidelity | funding | lessons learned | criminal justice | justice

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Is Social Justice Driven by Emotion or Reason?

Is Social Justice Driven by Emotion or Reason?
Tuesday, 08 July 2014 09:53 By Kate Aronoff

Read the full article at Truthout.org: click here

"It follows that regardless of the inherent logic of a concept, the logic by which a given person finds that logic compelling is rooted in their personal experience."

..........

"The study, then, presents a dual challenge for organizers looking to communicate with the broader public: engage self-interest in a given issue and then—crucially—provide those activated with the means to tap into the logical, reasonable and arguably strategic parts of their brain. Why do so many people sign petitions or attend demonstrations and then drop out of movements entirely? The study seems to suggest is that the appeal is working, but the follow-up isn’t.

Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for effective follow-up. On the local level, at least, forging strong relationships is hard to beat. In my own student organizing, we were most effective when we equipped as many leaders as possible with the tools they needed to run their own projects that fit within our most basic strategic vision and theory of change. As the study shows, people want to act strategically. It’s just up to organizers to give them the tools and framework to do so."


Aronoff, Kate. "Is Social Justice Driven by Emotion or Reason?" Truthout.org 8 July 2014. Web. http://truth-out.org/news/item/24833-is-social-justice-driven-by-emotion-or-reason.


Keywords + Tag = Social Justice | Truthout | Kate Aronoff | Emotion | Reason | University of Chicago | Erin Brodwin | Saul Alinsky | Swarthmore College

Friday, May 30, 2014

OJJDP Journal Vol. 3 Issue 2 Spring 2014


OJJDP Journal of Juvenile Justice
Vol. 3 Issue 2: click here 

A journal I recommend students/teachers of justice review from time to time.  At least to reference the Table of Contents for any content that may be relevant to your area of interest.  We've included the link to the Journal of Juvenile Justice under our Learning links to the right.  Below is the write up that was included with the news blast from the OJJDP.  Highly recommend signing up for their mailing list!

OJJDP has released the spring 2014 issue of the online "Journal of Juvenile Justice." This issue features articles on a study that examines the extent to which system-involved youth had been exposed to trauma, studies that examine pathways to delinquency by gender, and a commentary on the state of mentoring programs.

Access previous issues of the semi-annual, peer-reviewed journal or submit manuscripts to the journal: click here


Keywords: Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP, Juvenile Justice, juvenile justice, journal, trauma, pathways, gender, mentoring, peer reviewed journals, manuscripts, Department of Justice, DOJ, research, knowledge, resource, justice resource, justice research, criminal justice research, reading

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Advocates: Nancy Placencia, El Paso Foster Parent


Nancy Placencia
El Paso Woman Has Given Kids a 'Safe Place to Land' for 12 Years
By Victor R. Martinez / El Paso Times

Nancy Placencia loves children.

There is no doubt about that.

For the past 12 years, she has welcomed children with emotional and trust issues into her East Side home.

Some of them only stayed a few days while others for more than a year.

Placencia is a foster parent who is currently fostering two girls — Loreanne Rojas, 11, and Victoryanne Carreon, 7.

She adopted 7-year-old Nicole Placencia two years ago after fostering her for four years.

"I came in to foster to find my adopted child," Placencia said. "It took me a long time but I found one. Nicole is the one who stayed. Most of these children go back to their biological parents or to other family members which is called kinship."

Placencia, who does not have biological children, started fostering in 2002.

"I had a neighbor and she was a foster parent," she said. "I would help her out by taking the kids to school and doing whatever needed to be done."

Her neighbor eventually left El Paso.

"Her case worker said since I've taken classes and I went through the training, why not just be a foster parent myself," she said. "I've fostered about 12 children from four to 16 years old for several years at a time. There have also been plenty who have stayed only for a few months."

As of March this year, there were 381 children (0 to 17 years old) in foster care and — as of March 2013 — 165 foster homes (39 Texas Department of Family and Protective Services homes and 137 private child placing agency foster homes).

Foster care is in the news in May as it is National Foster Care Month.

"We've averaged 300-plus children a year in foster care in El Paso over five years," said Paul Zimmerman, spokesman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. "We do have a foster home shortage and are always actively looking for more qualified, loving foster homes to help care for children, whether temporary or long term, who have entered the foster system due to abuse or neglect."

In order to become a licensed foster parent, parents must attend an informational meeting that educates potential parents about the required criteria.

The next step is to fill out a parenting application where background checks are run on everyone in the home.

Parents must then go through "Pride Training," which consists of 30 hours through a 5-week training course. It's through this training that parents become familiar with common situations they will face as foster parents.

All this is followed by a home visit where everybody in the home is interviewed. Also, CPR, first aid and trauma training are required. Potential foster parents also enlist in Star training, which informs them about the specifics of the health care their foster children will need.

"Quality foster homes provide structure, safety and peace for kids who just need a safe place to land for a little bit," Zimmerman said.

He said when considering the best foster parent placement for any child, CPS first looks for a placement that matches the individual needs of each child.

"Generally, the best foster parents are caring, financially stable adults who understand the unique needs of children who have experienced abuse or neglect at the hands of their parents or caregivers and its unsafe for them to remain in their homes," he said. "The best (foster parents) understand it's not just about providing room and board, it's about nurturing."

Last month, the Department of Family and Protective Services Council approved a set of new safety-related rules designed to more thoroughly screen potential foster parents and other caregivers and more adequately protect foster children by closely monitoring foster homes for major changes in the household, including job losses, marriages, divorces, or the addition of any household members or frequent visitors.

"These rules significantly strengthen protections for our foster children," said Judge John Specia, DFPS Commissioner. "Our focus is ensuring that we know who is in these homes and who may be around these children that could pose an unacceptable risk. These children deserve complete protection and safety."

The rules, which are expected to take effect Sept. 1, apply to new and existing foster homes in Texas. It's the first substantive revision of CPA rules since 2007.

The new rules are the result of a collaboration between DFPS and foster care providers following eight foster children deaths in 2013. There were two deaths in foster homes due to abuse or neglect in 2012. So far in fiscal year 2014 (which began on Sept. 1, 2013) one child has died from abuse/neglect foster care.

"Fortunately, we do have a very strong kinship program (placing children with appropriate relatives instead of foster care) in the El Paso area which helps us make up for any lack of available foster home placements we might experience at any given time," Zimmerman said. "But again, we're always recruiting more qualified, loving foster parents in El Paso."

Victor R. Martinez may be reached at 915-546-6128.

If you're interested in becoming a foster parent, you can attend the following informational meetings:

•May 14: 6 p.m., Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Office, 501 Hawkins.
•June 11: 6 p.m. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Office, 501 Hawkins.

For more information, contact Vera Robinson at 521-3961. www.dfps.state.tx.us/Adoption_and_Foster_Care/Foster_Care/default.asp

Martinez, Victor. "El Paso Woman Has Given Kids a 'Safe Place to Land' for 12 Years." El Paso Times 4 May 2014. Web. http://www.elpasotimes.com/living/ci_25695479/its-about-nurturing.


Advocate, advocacy, advocate, hero, family, Nancy Placencia, DFPS, Department of Family Protective Services, CPS, foster care, National Foster Care Month, children, DFPS, Texas, El Paso County, El Paso, Child Protective Services, child protective services, Paul Zimmerman, El Paso Times, child safety

OJJDP Online University


OJJDP Online University 

OJJDP has launched a new Web site for the OJJDP Online University, a central source for the juvenile justice community to easily connect with training and technical assistance. The Online University is a one-stop shop for training courses, Webinars, training and technical assistance events, and materials that OJJDP’s training and technical assistance providers and partners have developed.

The key new features:
A calendar consolidating all the upcoming training and technical assistance events in the juvenile justice field.
“Quick links” to training and resources, including Webinars, online and classroom trainings, and publications.
New browse capabilities.

Resources:
Access the Online University for juvenile justice resources and trainings.

View FAQs about the OJJDP Online University.

Learn more about the Online University at OJJDP’s National Training and Technical Assistance Center.


Juvenile Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention, OJJDP, National Training and Technical Assistance Center, NTTAC, learning, university, OJJDP Online University, Department of Justice, DOJ, technical assistance, webinars, training, juvenile justice field

Friday, May 23, 2014

Theatre: Prison of Oz

Article: Prison of Oz: Staying Human in an Ohio Prison

Ross Correctional Institution rendition of the Wizard of Oz.

Faherty, John. "Prison of Oz: Staying Human in an Ohio Prison." Cincinnati.com 22 May 2014. Web. http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2014/05/22/prison-wizard-of-oz/9406369/.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Nichole Pinkard on Digital Literacy



Nichole Pinkard on Digital Literacy

Digital Literacy Channel on VBW YouTube: click here


Nichole Pinkard on Digital Literacy
. Edutopia, 2013. YouTube Web. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aya43MnWTxQ&list=PLG4cvvOamWXvoCA4Z01f2AmTbxFA1EMCa&index=2.

Friday, May 9, 2014

Emotional Access through Art / Queens Journal

Emotional access through art
Art therapy has been used in Kingston prisons to help inmates access suppressed memories and emotions

Artwork can have more than just an aesthetic effect.

Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses the creation of art to facilitate self-exploration and understanding. Participants use colours, shapes and imagery to express their feelings on subjects they can’t verbally articulate.

Beth Merriam worked in the Kingston Prison for Women as an art therapist from 1992 until the prison’s closure in 2000.

According to Merriam, in verbal therapy inmate’s words would sometimes become jumbled as they spoke about experiences.

“A lot of them were suffering from mental illnesses or they weren’t receiving adequate treatments so they were unable to participate in verbal therapy,” she said.

While Merriam’s services were sometimes requested, often the prison’s nurses and psychologists would tell her which inmates would likely benefit from art therapy.

Her contract only required her to work a few hours a week, but as art therapy became more popular through word of mouth, she worked up to 20 hours a week.

Merriam said her job was initially overwhelming due to the wide range of personal conflicts among inmates, issues stemming from mental illnesses, sexual and substance abuse, self-injury and suicidal thoughts.

“Most women in prison had experienced a lot of trauma and grief in their lifetime. It had piled up over the years so they had difficulty managing their emotions, so they would turn to using substances or other things to escape from society,” she said.

Merriam was hired by Corrections Canada to work in the special needs unit after several prisoners committed suicide in prison.

Working at the prison was Merriam’s first job after graduating with her art therapy degree from the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, a private career college

There are no professional art therapists on staff in Kingston prisons now, but Correction Services Canada runs volunteer-based arts and crafts programs with inmates.

Merriam said art therapy allows individuals to reconnect with their emotions in a safe way while she looks for themes in patients’ artwork. Art therapy can reveal issues associated with trauma, eating disorders and parents’ divorce, she said.

The use of colours like black and red are indicators of anger.

“A lot of them had experienced a lot of anger,” said Merriam, adding that many inmates were mothers and would draw happier times with their families.

“Even in drawing images of the outside world, there would be a window with bars.”

Painting, drawing and clay sculpture can all be used in art therapy, and patients can choose what type of artwork they’d like to work on.

Merriam said something as simple as a patient’s choice of tool can indicate their thought processes. For instance, women with eating disorders often choose pencils, markers or other forms of restrictive art mediums to create straight lines. This demonstrates a need for control, Merriam said.

“Over the years I have observed a lot of art and it’s not the symbols or images people draw, it’s the way people go about art,” she said, adding that someone with psychosis may create disorganized piece.

Therapeutic value is found through informal conversation between an art therapist and patient as the patient creates a work, Merriam said.

“Often in a conversation people share some lighter … things that is helpful therapeutically, so in a following session we will talk about the theme as they are working,” she said, adding that oftentimes the theme will appear in the patient’s creation.

In a 1998 article published in the Women and Therapy journal, Merriam reveals her memorable interactions with inmates.

Merriam writes about a 24-year-old woman named Grace who was diagnosed with a personality disorder. Merriam describes the inmate as violent and self-destructive. Grace also assaulted a staff member and attempted to murder a fellow inmate, resulting in the patient’s placement in isolation.

According to Merriam, prison isolation contributed to the patient’s depression, despair and anxiety about social contact.

Although the patient was unable to recall any childhood memories in verbal therapy, her artwork in art therapy always had a childlike theme, suggesting a desire to return to simpler times, Merriam said.

Group therapy sessions allow isolated inmates to be in a social setting, Merriam said.

“This way art was able to sort of normalize the situation,” she said. “It’s a different atmosphere. The women there were quite isolated from the world, from each other.”

According to Merriam, the biggest misconceptions about conducting art therapy in a prison setting are safety-related.

“For the most part, I felt that the inmates were excited to try it out … I never had an incident. I think they valued art therapy and felt like they were being heard,” she said.

Merriam said her attention and interest in inmates’ artwork ultimately allowed her to connect more with them.

“Someone was willing to sit with them for an hour or so and listen to them and take interest in what they had to say,” she said, adding that she noticed small aesthetic improvements in inmates’ artwork over time.

Though many of her patients used art therapy for self-exploration and understanding, Merriam said several enjoyed creating art for art’s sake. Many inmates chose to keep the artwork they created in prison.

“It wasn’t always about a symbol or the meaning of something. You want to be able to bolster their confidence and not break it down and make it vulnerable as it happens in therapy sometimes,” she said.

Merriam said she saw the benefits of art therapy for inmates.

“The goal was to increase their level of functioning so they could manage the day-to-day tasks in prison,” she said. “There were certain improvements in that aspect, they became interested in things because art gave them feedback on their decisions and peaked their interest.”

A different kind of therapist

Sister Kay Morrell is a licensed art therapist and currently practices at The Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul on Princess Street. She said though there’s a need for the profession, it doesn’t pay well and there aren’t a lot of jobs available.

When she first moved to Kingston in 2005, Morrell said she sent over 100 resumes out and had approximately 50 responses.

“They would say, ‘Oh we would love to have you, can you volunteer?’ So there weren’t a lot of fulltime opportunities,” she said, adding her previous experience as a secretary, teacher and T’ai Chi Chih instructor helped her secure her first job at a hospital.

According to Morrell, art therapy offers a different kind of emotional outlet than verbal therapy.

“We are so used to using words that often they become a barrier in expressing oneself because we’ve built our own defense mechanism into our verbal presentation,” she said.

Art therapy allows patients to express their inner psyche on paper or canvas, Morrell said, adding that people of any age can use the practice for recreational purposes or self-healing.

“Art therapy works well for people who don’t have artistic skills … the purpose is that you are using a different channel [than speaking],” she said. “They are not trying to make it look good or pretty, they are just letting it out on the page.”

Morrell’s clientele range from age 20 to 80, who come to her for everyday problems like anxiety and stress.

Morrell’s art therapy sessions last for 75 minutes each. There are different types of art therapy to choose from, she said.

The program Atop the Mountain asks clients to reflect on their life and make an artwork in a landscape setting as a metaphor of how they see themselves. As the artwork is created Morrell observes how the client creates their artwork and conducts a therapeutic conversation, she said.

“I like to connect with them through the art as opposed to words,” she said.

Because art therapists don’t receive government funding, patients have to pay for the service, Morrell said. But since art therapy is growing in recognition and seen as a successful form of psychotherapy, this might change.

“The Ontario government has decided to regulate the profession,” she said. “In a couple of year’s time art therapists will have to be registered with the government.”

Citation:
Haque, Labiba. "Emotional Access through Art." Queens Journal. N.p., 18 Oct. 2011. Web. <http://queensjournal.ca/story/2011-10-18/postscript/emotional-access-through-art/>.