Healing Trauma Behind Bars: Mental Health and Incarceration
At Prison Yoga Project (PYP), our mission is to promote trauma healing and resilience through yoga and embodied mindfulness for those affected by the criminal justice system. In this blog, we will delve deeper into the critical intersection of mental health and incarceration, using statistics and information to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges […]
Ending 50 Years of Mass Incarceration: Urgent Reform Needed to Protect Future Generations
“Fifty years since the onset of mass incarceration, and despite recent downsizing of most state prison populations, the pace of decarceration is insufficient to undo the decades of unrelenting growth.” As always, The Sentencing Project is clear, precise, and accurate in their understanding, reporting, and research of our incarceration system in The United States. Here […]
Counting Down: Paths to a 20-year Maximum Prison Sentence with The Sentencing Project
The Sentencing Project released a new report, “Counting Down: Paths to a 20-Year Maximum Prison Sentence,” which examines opportunities to address the country’s high rates of incarceration and excessive sentences. Countries like Germany and Norway illustrate that sentences can be far shorter without sacrificing public safety. Criminological evidence shows that unduly long sentences are unnecessary […]
Millions Denied Voting Rights in Midterms Due to Felony Convictions
A new report released by The Sentencing Project estimates that 4.6 million people (one in every 50 adults) are barred from voting in the 2022 midterms due to a felony conviction. Most of these people have completed their sentences or are on probation or parole. You can find the report here. Key findings are on […]
At the Intersection of Justice and Climate Change
There’s more to say about the eminent effects of climate change than can fit in one paragraph. Below are two accounts of incarceration and abandonment in the face of natural disasters. FAMM is a national nonpartisan advocacy organization that promotes fair and effective criminal justice policies. FAMM is gathering more information about the treatment of […]
Women In Prison Are Struggling To Access Mental Health And Social Support When They Need It Most
” The continued lack of mental, emotional, and social health programming for women in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic may actually cause the virus’s most devastating and long-lasting health effects for this population. “ This long form article is on the front page of Women’s Health Online. Featuring women and leaders from TPW https://www.thetpw.org You […]
Addiction, Recovery, and Yoga
The following facts come from the article, “Online only: Report finds most U.S. inmates suffer from substance abuse or addiction” which references a report from 2009. 65% of incarcerated people (1.5 million) meet DSM-IV criteria for substance abuse 20% of those incarcerated have histories of drug or alcohol abuse Only 11% of prisoners receive substance […]
Reading through the lines: The correlation between literacy and incarceration
This article shines light on the school to prison pipeline and one of the factors adding to the struggles of youth; illiteracy. Read the whole article here: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2022/03/21/reading-through-the-lines-the-correlation-between-literacy-and-incarceration/
Eliminating Crack / Cocaine Sentencing Disparity
In July, the House Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly passed, 36 to 5, the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law (EQUAL) Act, which would finally eliminate the federal sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine offenses. The Sentencing Project dives deeper into this topic in a news article here: https://www.sentencingproject.org/news/race-justice-news-senate-hearing-crack-cocaine-sentencing-disparity/ For a deeper history of sentencing […]
