tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10440884914026915602024-03-05T13:55:58.232-08:00prison librarianPrison librarians provide information that meets the information, recreational, lifelong learning, and transitional needs of prisoners, preparing them to be successful ex offenders.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-2339373798106304422017-06-06T04:19:00.003-07:002017-06-06T04:20:53.176-07:00New Book by a Formerly Incarcerated Woman<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;">The recently published book, May 2017:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #282828; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt;"><b>Becoming Ms. Burton<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt;"><b>From
Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women, by </b></span></i><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://thenewpress.com/authors/susan-burton">Susan Burton</a> & </span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 10pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="color: #282828; font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="http://thenewpress.com/authors/cari-lynn">Cari Lynn</a> is getting good reviews. It is on my reading list.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-28521619014501771422017-02-02T15:36:00.000-08:002017-02-02T15:39:36.077-08:00In A Place of Monotony and Despair<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 16px;">I now have my copy the book, ADVANCES IN LIBRARIANSHIP, edited by University of Maryland iSchool, that includes a chapter I wrote about Maryland prison library services. The Title is from a letter I received from a prison library user, thanking me for information services. His letter began with the words. In A Place of Monotony and Despair... <a href="http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/S0065-283020160000042008">http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/S0065-283020160000042008</a></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-32719397704198190722016-10-21T04:54:00.000-07:002016-10-21T05:05:16.677-07:00Formerly Incarcerarted Chris WilsonGreat to see how libraries help incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. Recently, I attended an event in Baltimore where a panelist of successful individuals shared their stories. One panelists was Chris Wilson who was incarcerated at age 17, spent 16 years in the Maryland prison system, and shared how he used the prison library constantly. Now back in the community, he is using the skills learned in prison to maintain his business, Barclay Investment Corporation. <a href="http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2015/9/29/chris-wilson-lifts-ex-offenders-into-the-workforce">Second Life</a> details his life story to date.<br />
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http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/2015/9/29/chris-wilson-lifts-ex-offenders-into-the-workforce<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-33229784829973451102016-09-27T13:27:00.000-07:002016-09-27T13:40:15.021-07:00Formerly Incarcerated and VotingThe 2016 election campaign drama reminds me of what I used to tell the prisoners when they said their family did not vote since their social situations never changed - no matter who won the election. I would respond that if their family members did not vote, then the voters would always be the winners. I urged them to encourage family members to vote because that at least meant they had a seat at the table, even if sometimes their party of choice did not win.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-69182568357726568692016-06-17T20:07:00.000-07:002016-06-17T20:07:05.157-07:00Enoch Pratt Free Library Writers Live<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">It was a real pleasure this Wednesday to introduce EPFL Writers
Live Guest speaker, Mikita Brottman, author of, <b>Maximum Security Book
Club:Reading Literature in a Men's Prison.</b> After the presentation that was held
at the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Baynard Woods, of the City
Paper, moderated a lively discussion with Mikita, Vince, one of the
original participants in the book club, and the audience. Baynard visited and reported on one of
Mikita’s sessions in 2014.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.citypaper.com/bcp-cms-1-1677169-migrated-story-cp-20140430-featu-20140430-story.html">http://www.citypaper.com/bcp-cms-1-1677169-migrated-story-cp-20140430-featu-20140430-story.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsSBa_3tzYiZFDzzu166JvzRRXIoAWL_jS9QW9lCMghJf_mPPWfaEkPau7shWJaedJvcoPbNJMZBzml5aqWWYYQopa_chl9QSA5btF74tgqTCdUzZ_arZocn4WkA5qRslFR4vMDK2dkY/s1600/WritersLiveMikita1+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsSBa_3tzYiZFDzzu166JvzRRXIoAWL_jS9QW9lCMghJf_mPPWfaEkPau7shWJaedJvcoPbNJMZBzml5aqWWYYQopa_chl9QSA5btF74tgqTCdUzZ_arZocn4WkA5qRslFR4vMDK2dkY/s200/WritersLiveMikita1+%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a>Vince, Baynard, Glennor, Mikita</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRQV8gzPMxNCI1WplGTJ4d-WRxryZiBLr9qyqrYllkh6sSvzfH7LSrYlz9HSe2MrxIiWAPnpbTmd0jwTmiNsORnkt7FZ_pLPrhXeLxI9ONnNxpa3u8_NCQzYDDHUyAJ7C0R9z1dY1njE/s1600/WritersLiveMikita1+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRQV8gzPMxNCI1WplGTJ4d-WRxryZiBLr9qyqrYllkh6sSvzfH7LSrYlz9HSe2MrxIiWAPnpbTmd0jwTmiNsORnkt7FZ_pLPrhXeLxI9ONnNxpa3u8_NCQzYDDHUyAJ7C0R9z1dY1njE/s320/WritersLiveMikita1+%25283%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-26591061602959518602016-06-14T14:25:00.002-07:002016-09-27T13:12:44.465-07:00Maximum Security BookclubI have just finished reading Mikita Brottman's recently published book:<a href="http://mikitabrottman.com/"> Maximum Security Book Club:Reading Literature in a Men's Prison.</a> http://mikitabrottman.com/ Her honesty in describing the behaviors and reactions of the 9 men who participated in her book club at the Jessup Correctional Institute throws more light on the life of those confined to prisons, not only in Maryland but in the United States.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-69437069686921166142015-07-15T03:50:00.001-07:002015-07-15T03:52:26.196-07:00• America’s Slave Empire <div class="MsoListParagraph" style="line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 13pt;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;">America’s Slave Empire </span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">Posted on
Jun 21, 2015 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By </span><a href="http://www.truthdig.com/chris_hedges/"><b><span style="color: #aa4444; font-family: "Verdana",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chris
Hedges</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><b>http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/americas_slave_empire_20150621<a href="http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/americas_slave_empire_20150621">America's slave Empire</a><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-52387050879271687602015-06-13T07:00:00.000-07:002015-06-13T07:00:07.567-07:00Anonymous Donor<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">Acting as intermediary for a generous donor, this week I purchased and delivered </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">over $1800.00 worth of new books to Maryland Transition Center, that was known at Maryland Penitentiary when I worked in the prison system. I bought books on self-help, job interview techniques, fund source to start your own business, gardening, landscaping, family relations, and some leisure reading for the inmates who are transitioning back to society. Sheer pleasure for me to purchase, than to sort through donated books from well meaning persons who "cant bear to throw books away" so they clear out their deceased ancestors book shelves to donate to the "poor prisoners" then ask for receipts for tax purposes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px;">We should bear in mind that if we do not prepare inmates for reentry, the recidivism rate is higher, and we as tax payers pay a higher price.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObYOmtlo5-j1vC0LPCygVDhKiFlFrnJN6nEaDRuLuyMfFQSHsGp3qNwSN3gWAcN7JRfENp8WaIeLKLJIxq7n8rOuxhKI-JcyPmSPYFAqvTS_ysSZO1o-CL3AAj1sG5FTcCOyxhm4f9II/s1600/MDPENentrance.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObYOmtlo5-j1vC0LPCygVDhKiFlFrnJN6nEaDRuLuyMfFQSHsGp3qNwSN3gWAcN7JRfENp8WaIeLKLJIxq7n8rOuxhKI-JcyPmSPYFAqvTS_ysSZO1o-CL3AAj1sG5FTcCOyxhm4f9II/s640/MDPENentrance.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: start;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;"></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: start;">Entrance to MTC- MRDCC on Right. Inmates get classified and sent to prison from MRDCC</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4U3E9pLeF4c6lj4YYwGooxntZuvRq2GfeLwFRvXj94Ua21gfWigZ8teTiyxJsph7Q8AsZYIBH6AnxoiRRxJLbiWxk6TkDwIevVp7cIuSrBy9yLgF8Mge2n5EvcHjvIHwgtdZleMkXnk/s1600/Prison+donationunloading.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4U3E9pLeF4c6lj4YYwGooxntZuvRq2GfeLwFRvXj94Ua21gfWigZ8teTiyxJsph7Q8AsZYIBH6AnxoiRRxJLbiWxk6TkDwIevVp7cIuSrBy9yLgF8Mge2n5EvcHjvIHwgtdZleMkXnk/s320/Prison+donationunloading.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaaDy83XylCHkm6BybnhDkWuZTNVO1gwQ8sFbTOdcm7IA4V7opG9exrmO5_N6WNwQ4pEq6baiFnK__J6Ja2m3inet60vVQKqIfMNKZF3g1EntUiykB_UjJYXeO-5JFuVls9TDqiRvGYI0/s320/MTCdonationunloading.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unloading books with the help of inmates</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoZE4_7YlKrw-HtM8JA9fJ_QhJbQCAhzqxoosa8SFJjPuE_fklTSbWnzXr1n5SuOtbAhez-eii-Ww0YEql3ILh2U098KbJwZxfWtlzNYU48gTgL12SUHXj9XcnswhMI987g4DwVD2Cl0/s1600/MTCdonation1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoZE4_7YlKrw-HtM8JA9fJ_QhJbQCAhzqxoosa8SFJjPuE_fklTSbWnzXr1n5SuOtbAhez-eii-Ww0YEql3ILh2U098KbJwZxfWtlzNYU48gTgL12SUHXj9XcnswhMI987g4DwVD2Cl0/s640/MTCdonation1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.3199996948242px; text-align: left;">L to R): MTC Warden Solomon Hejirika; former librarian Glennor Shirley; Asst. Warden Dionne Randolph; Chief of Security Linda E. Cottie.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSGYdhAGvbohe-5rQdJt0dQp_fTBsGuh9fdZyUz9buQb_u6GU0_UE7b96-BS-zHoF4MNwx8OhlxtW7sTvm5H8jHwtbufodQjWi7YO7xFwGAfAaT_h7riRzkLmcJ3ywxx0Ub6bZ7BVO0g/s1600/MTCinmatesdonation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdgUEc3gwYvOjHRoCi1KWhSYlP7-LKqGJiNrZ4SJA2a8IETrxUvmZ9jLFDWtu_EUppwJ2cut8z0PniI7FLtT9R-OlfrnN2M0QieftkwrtBTDnAM88h-jGaatDbyuVoVK41MzVSZprLZY/s1600/MTCinmatesdonation1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">I</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inmates taking donated books into the institution</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-46886723856366210332015-03-20T09:59:00.004-07:002015-03-20T09:59:41.305-07:00Second Chance Act Solicitation<span style="color: #222222; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, Georgia, serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">Only a few days left to apply for grant from the <a href="http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/announcements/second-chance-act-solicitation-smart-supervision-grants/">Second Chance Act </a></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;">The Smart Supervision program seeks to improve probation and parole success rates and reduce crime committed by those under probation and parole supervision, which would</span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"> in turn reduce admissions to prisons and jails and save taxpayer dollars. Make a difference!</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/announcements/second-chance-act-solicitation-smart-supervision-grants/">http://csgjusticecenter.org/reentry/announcements/second-chance-act-solicitation-smart-supervision-grants/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: LiberationSerifRegular, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 24px;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-13401118673397509842015-03-19T13:29:00.001-07:002015-03-19T13:29:24.967-07:00Juvenile IncercerationMore and more we read of reports of children being taken out of school and placed in juvenile prisons for the slightest misdemeanor. One article stated the police was called because the child did not have the correct uniform. As a nation we must begin to protect and educate our children, not scar them for life by sending them to prison. <br />
<a href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-NoPlaceForKidsFullReport-2011.pdf#page=7">No Place For Kids </a><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-NoPlaceForKidsFullReport-2011.pdf#page=7">http://www.aecf.org/m/resourcedoc/aecf-NoPlaceForKidsFullReport-2011.pdf#page=7</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-91244104368986187982014-12-09T20:16:00.000-08:002014-12-09T20:16:00.702-08:00Dictionaries for PrisonersDictionaries are among the most requested items from prisoners. This is important because many inmates come to prison illiterate. The dictionaries help them with spelling, grammar, and the meaning of words when they write to family members on the outside, or as they try to get their GED. This year, <a href="http://www.safestreetsarts.org/"> Safe Street Art</a>s is collecting dictionaries for indigent inmates. Check their website at: <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.safestreetsarts.org/">www.SafeStreetsArts.org</a> </span></span></span></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-79044381597235368272014-11-30T14:59:00.000-08:002014-11-30T14:59:09.391-08:00Children of Incarcerated ParentsI was very happy to come upon this link where <a href="http://www.upworthy.com/sesame-street-made-a-clip-for-kids-who-have-a-parent-in-prison-itll-break-your-heart?c=reccon2">Sesame Street</a> did a short video of children visiting their parents in prison. The video reminded me of the lost look I saw on the faces of children each time I passed through visiting rooms when I worked in the prisons. It was this look that prompted me to start the program, <a href="http://prisonlibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/family-literacy-and-incarcerated-adults.html">FAMILY LITERACY @ YOUR LIBRARY</a>.http://prisonlibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/05/family-literacy-and-incarcerated-adults.html It also prompted me to write an article titled "<a href="http://olos.ala.org/columns/?p=121">Reflections...".</a> <a href="http://olos.ala.org/columns/?p=121">http://olos.ala.org/columns/?p=121</a> Children with parents in prison sometimes drop out of school, end up in gangs, in poverty, and become addicted to drugs. The USA has over 2.7 million children with a parent in prison. As taxpayers, we pay a tremendous amount for mental health, drug addiction, incarceration.. I wonder when we as a society will get it that prison is not always the answer.<br />
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Inmates reading to their ChildrenUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-23629459330450335642014-10-10T21:36:00.000-07:002014-10-11T11:15:51.422-07:00Salim released The <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/md-prisoners-freed-2012-court-ruling-154920866.html">Baltimore Sun's article about Sadiki's release</a> made me go to my prison journal where I had recorded a conversation with him in the 80s. Excerpts of the conversation are below:<br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">"It started with petty
thievery when we steal because we were hungry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then it became easy and we took more things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we were daring one another as to who
could take the most under the most challenging situation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Later it gave us a certain sense
of power. I could walk into a store and come out with a thousand dollar coat in
a matter of minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It did not make
sense to work at some job at McDonalds for about $4 an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">Dressed in my expensive coat,
clothes and with all my ring and chains, Miss S" He paused, opened his
eyes wide, emphasizing the next words to show the power those clothes gave him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">"I could have any girl or
woman I want."<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He sat quietly for
a moment, as if he had nodded off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
he roused himself and continued.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga55cn0_cc4z3XXlicEFWHJVMQ2UR8NckIPi5_kH01oif-L0Qw0FwxCa6hyphenhyphenvRNTEO7yb9RnuWWtbk-dOiNLfpe1b6K-NQaBc88ccf99so7z0p0_On3i5Yadbk70SaxIJQ5Z5vpyjwcJmw/s1600/Salim's%2B%2Bcard.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga55cn0_cc4z3XXlicEFWHJVMQ2UR8NckIPi5_kH01oif-L0Qw0FwxCa6hyphenhyphenvRNTEO7yb9RnuWWtbk-dOiNLfpe1b6K-NQaBc88ccf99so7z0p0_On3i5Yadbk70SaxIJQ5Z5vpyjwcJmw/s1600/Salim's%2B%2Bcard.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">"Yes the women were there
just ready for me and the other guys, the more expensive you look, the more
choices you had.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">I was young, that was the life,
I had no incentive to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The future
was so far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the sixties, I
joined the civil rights movement, and did everything the young people did in
those days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried every form of drugs."<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">His tone became reflective; his
eyes took on a faraway look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly he
continued.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Courier New;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">"I think that a lot of the
things I can't remember now is the result of my experiments with all those
drugs.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">He said in a tone as if he had
expected me to contradict him,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.15pt;"><span style="font-family: Courier New;">"It must have affected my
brain Miss Shirley.</span></span></div>
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<span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p>Salim gave me the card on the right for Kwanzaa. </o:p></span></span></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-81676680099725815602014-08-10T13:10:00.000-07:002014-08-10T13:10:29.741-07:00Books Behind BarsA few weeks ago, I participated in a forum organized by some community activists in Washington DC. They were advocating more access to books behind bars- Restorative justice. Chief organizer, activist Sam Jewler, brought in speakers from different backgrounds, including <a href="http://freemindsbookclub.org/">Free Minds Book Club</a> to share experiences either as ex offenders, or as advocates for access to education and library services in the DC jails. Through Sam's advocacy, the DC council recently placed funds in its budget for jail library services. See report in <a href="http://capitallibrarian.tumblr.com/post/87259511331/books-behind-bars-building-a-community-of-action">The Capital Librarian.</a><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">http://capitallibrarian.tumblr.com/post/87259511331/books-behind-bars-building-a-community-of-action</span></u><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-72290350497269662052014-08-01T18:55:00.000-07:002014-08-01T18:55:06.063-07:00Adult Literacy, Incarceration and Re-entryYesterday, I attended a Forum on Adult Literacy, Incarceration and Re-entry, organized by<a href="http://www.aohdc.org/"> Academy of Hope</a> <a href="http://www.aohdc.org/">http://www.aohdc.org/</a><br />
Among the Panelists were two formerly incarcerated individuals. One is now a director of an organization that helps returning residents, and also helps with providing support for abused,neglected, and homeless youths by assisting them to obtain marketable skills.<br />
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The other shared her struggle with surviving on the outside after 15 years spending time in and out of jail.She spoke about feeling unworthy, not completing high school, giving up on the GED several times, drug use. fear of learning computer when she returned to society. One thing she said resonated with the attendees. When she said she could not do maths, mentor helped her see the light by using the analogy of her use of crack. "How much crack do you use... If you get only one piece.. If you get several... how much is that. etc. etc." She was quick with computing her responses to the crack math count.<br />
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She is still struggling with obtaining the GED at age 40, is also concerned about her children, hoping they are not inhibited by her behaviors.<br />
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Everyone complimented her on still trying.<br />
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Another speaker was a passionate advocate for incarcerated youth, Director of Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop. <br />
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It was great to see community advocates working to improve the lives of the incarcerated and concerned about the biggest problem- that of support on re-entry. <br />
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I asked about community collaboration because I think this is what will help improve the efforts. Too often I see each group working in silo, competing for the same source of funds, duplicating efforts. I am hopeful this group will do some collaborative work towards helping returning residents, to re adjust to society and become productive citizens.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-38500615916608681272014-05-19T12:22:00.002-07:002014-05-19T12:22:52.097-07:00Sending prisoners to college will save you money<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5uRTiMg5BEYGn0W41oD0ftjMRijEDc3S8xQcssNxyiheMDnI_3RM9ch0_TROW07EmYsV0iIM23WA2D-iTvw-fTeYejURNud21FyzM8p1lbsobNNx6H2NHHr5W_uq4eDw0fmEOfVTkts/s1600/Prisonfence.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW5uRTiMg5BEYGn0W41oD0ftjMRijEDc3S8xQcssNxyiheMDnI_3RM9ch0_TROW07EmYsV0iIM23WA2D-iTvw-fTeYejURNud21FyzM8p1lbsobNNx6H2NHHr5W_uq4eDw0fmEOfVTkts/s1600/Prisonfence.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><br />
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Interesting article in <em><a href="http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/sending-prisoners-to-college-will-save-you-money-lois-davis-and-jennifer-steele-1.7658934">Newsday</a> </em>on college and prisoners. Even more interesting are the controversial comments on the topic. Check out the comments on the article.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/sending-prisoners-to-college-will-save-you-money-lois-davis-and-jennifer-steele-1.7658934">http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/sending-prisoners-to-college-will-save-you-money-lois-davis-and-jennifer-steele-1.7658934</a></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-84560352971170098142014-05-13T05:06:00.000-07:002014-05-13T05:11:05.855-07:00Criminal Justice Collaboration Many organizations and groups that work for or with prisoners or ex offenders operate in silo, duplicating efforts as they seek funds for doing almost the same thing. We spend more on Public Safety than education. (Approx. $12,000 - education and $30,000- $60,000 for incarceration) <br />
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It is great therefore to see some collaborative effort: <a href="http://csgjusticecenter.org/nrrc/announcements/second-chance-act-and-justice-and-mental-health-collaboration-program-conferences-convene-this-week/">Second Chance Mental Health Collaboration</a>
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in an upcoming workshop. We should remember that for every one incarcerated or denied employment because of their criminal past, there is loss of another possible taxpayer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-87861042356818417682014-04-02T15:30:00.001-07:002014-04-02T15:32:23.795-07:00Walter Lomax Wrongfully ConvictedWalter Lomax, released from Maryland prison system about 8 years ago, continued his fight to prove his innocence. The 6pm news today showed a triumphant Walter at the courthouse step, finally vindicated. Walter was one of the inmates who worked with me on the Family Literacy Program where prisoners read to their children. I remembered my blog post when I first saw him on the street in 2008.
<a href="http://prisonlibrarian.blogspot.com/search/label/ex%20offender"> Waiting to Hear Barak Obama</a><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://prisonlibrarian.blogspot.com/search/label/ex%20offender"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://prisonlibrarian.blogspot.com/search/label/ex%20offender</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Congratulations to WalterUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-14634171882871694602014-03-29T20:24:00.000-07:002014-04-02T14:46:50.865-07:00Ex Felons and VotingThe Supreme Court recently stated Maryland's prisoners for census purposes should be counted at that their last address, instead of the prisons where they are housed. Approx. 75% of Maryland's prisoners are from Baltimore city and Prince Georges County. See <a href="https://www.blogger.com/Read%20more:%20http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/jun/25/supreme-court-rules-maryland-can-count-inmates-the/#ixzz2xPXU67Hc">Washington Times</a> article. California, Delaware, and New York, and Maryland up to this point, are the only states that allow this.<br />
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States and ex felons voting status. <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rock The Vote site <a href="https://www.blogger.com/:%20%20%20http://www.rockthevote.com/election-center/voting-ex-felon/">: http://www.rockthevote.com/election-center/voting-ex-felon/</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-76091774653971563462013-12-04T06:23:00.000-08:002013-12-04T06:23:23.062-08:00Liberal Arts Classes in PrisonsThe years I worked in prisons and with prisoners, opened my eyes to the necessity for community groups to go inside the fence to help show prisoners other ways than the path that led them to prison.<br />
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Traditionally outside help had a mainly religious focus. It is encouraging more recently, to see a broader spectrum of community support with programs that will broaden prisoners' experience and help direct them to be more successful when they return to society. <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/selective-goucher-college-brings-liberal-arts-into-maryland-prisons/2013/12/02/a9b3a058-5772-11e3-ba82-16ed03681809_story.html">The Goucher Liberal Arts Program </a> reported in the Washington Post is showing inmates another way.<br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/selective-goucher-college-brings-liberal-arts-into-maryland-prisons/2013/12/02/a9b3a058-5772-11e3-ba82-16ed03681809_story.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/selective-goucher-college-brings-liberal-arts-into-maryland-prisons/2013/12/02/a9b3a058-5772-11e3-ba82-16ed03681809_story.html</a><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-30317856839977182022013-10-08T10:09:00.000-07:002013-10-08T10:10:04.279-07:00High cost of inmate phone calls Prison phone companies make huge profits from inmate phone calls. An inmate phone call to a family member, that includes his/her child can cost up to $17.00 for 15 minutes. The <a href="https://www.aclu.org/global-tel">ACLU</a> is trying to get the FCC to pass some regulations to reduce the cost. Link to the ACLU site:<br />
<a href="https://www.aclu.org/global-tel">https://www.aclu.org/global-tel</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-12546399429087872582013-09-02T18:40:00.000-07:002013-09-30T03:46:36.729-07:00Safe Street ArtFunded by NEA and concerned citizens, the Safe Street art was established to help, create, and sell prison art.<br />
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According to the information on their site, while in prison, there is not much mentoring of prisoners to help prepare them for successful reentry. They are located in Washington DC and seek volunteers. <br />
Their latest post highlighted the book by someone incarcerated for 38 years.<br />
See their post:
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">"Huck's Picks is written by Charles "Huck"
Huckelberry who spent 38 years in prison before his recent release. He used his
time on the inside very productively, honing his writing skills and
accumulating numerous awards and honors. If you've seen our annual prisoner
dramatizations at the Kennedy Center, you're familiar with some of his work". Check out the Safe Street Art Website. <a href="http://www.safestreetsarts.org/">Safe Street Art</a> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-17391591901003748082013-06-14T09:12:00.000-07:002013-06-14T09:12:30.796-07:00Conversations with a Prisoner
Going through my prison library journal, I came across this entry from the 90s. One day I will include it in the book that everyone is encouraging me to write.<br />
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<strong><u>JT the Prisoner</u></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">JeyT had tattoos all over his arms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said each one represented some philosophy,
theology, or some girl he dated or with whom he was in love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He said that among the many things he did for a living, he
also did tattoos on people for $100 per hour. He cited doctors, lawyers, and
other professionals among his customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You just don’t see it because sometimes it’s a small symbol and it’s
hidden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many people with tattoos wear
long sleeves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat from the sun will
drain the dye, so it’s better to cover it. “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">JT was an avid science fiction reader who declared that most
of the books I had in the prison library, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>were rereads for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said on this day he would not borrow many
books because he felt he was leaving soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought he was leaving for his freedom, but he said no, he was leaving
for a state prison, and a long sentence.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I expressed surprise, when he informed me he had been in
prison for 15 years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘You must like it, I said why you commit another offense to
return.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“No.” he said, “The prison
system does not prepare you to go back into society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You spend the greater part of your life in
prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There everything is done for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People tell you what to do every
step of the way. You don’t have to worry about rent or any other form of
expense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you are placed back in
society.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are confronted with the
pressures, people’s behavior, expenses, and so many negative forces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were never taught or prepared to cope
with these.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very easy to find the
easiest way out.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“You articulate the problems very well, so having identified
them I expect you would have been one of those who could cope.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He laughed. “The judge said the same thing, but you have to
understand it is one thing articulating, it is another thing to actually deal
with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">He would have continued, but it was time to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had chosen to spend his allocated
recreation time in the library, and now he must return to his cell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-1360286518459377542013-03-03T15:42:00.001-08:002013-03-03T15:44:15.070-08:00Prison Education<br />
Below is an Article and comments from the web site : <a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/03/01/americas-inmates-education-denied-everybody-pays-price?upw"> Social Justice </a><br />
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U.S. Prisons Don’t Fund Education, and Everybody Pays a Price </div>
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After
a murder charge at 13, Xavier McElrath-Bey earned a college degree
behind bars and now saves lives. All convicts should have that chance.</div>
By <a href="http://www.takepart.com/author/matthew-fleischer">Matthew Fleische</a><br />
http://www.takepart.com/article/2013/03/01/americas-inmates-education-denied-everybody-pays-price?upw<br />
<br />
Working as a prison Librarian dealing directly with inmates, and later as the Coordinator for all Maryland state prison libraries, I found the library was a transforming place for inmates, majority of whom had never visited a library before incarceration.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1044088491402691560.post-16283922260688617692013-02-20T12:02:00.000-08:002013-02-20T12:02:19.499-08:00Private Prison and Florida Atlantic UniversityA University and a for profit prison company,<a href="http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/michael-mayo-blog/sfl-mayo-fau-geo-20130220,0,3225106.story"> GEO Group</a>, form partnership so the stadium bears the name of a private prison group? What kind of message is this?<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1