The Mental Competency Process On December 24, 2009, 24-year old Victor Carrero ran into two people on the corner of Central and Jefferson Avenues in Brooklyn. He proceeded to knock one of them to the ground, stabbing them in their head and shoulder before running away. Al Jazeera America reported that Carrero was later charged … read more
The Fight to Stop Solitary Confinement in Connecticut
The fight to end solitary confinement in Connecticut has taken decades. The PROTECT Act passed in 2022, but still awaits full implementation. We examine the progress that’s been made, and how much further there is to go.
Voting With a Record
The Struggle for Voting Rights by Formerly Incarcerated People In June of 2023, the Supreme Court declined to hear a Mississippi voting rights case about a law that prevents people convicted of certain felonies from voting. Two months later, a 3 judge panel from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down that same law, … read more
Fiscal Mismanagement, Natural Disasters Push Puerto Rico’s Prison System to the Brink
Fiscal mismanagement by Puerto Rico’s government, followed by a pair of devastating natural disasters in Hurricanes Irma and Maria have pushed the island’s prisons to the brink. A debt crisis, exacerbated by FEMA shortfalls and bills passed by the US congress, continues to impact living conditions for inmates, and any kind of prison reform.
Prisoner Education Offers a Way Out
The power of education programs for prisoners is illustrated by the story of Juan Lopez, a teacher in Argentine prisons, and contrasted with the struggle to fund and implement consistent prison education in America.
RL’s Story
“I am a 52 year old man that has been drawing since childhood. My first real attempt at something significant was at the age of around seven years old, which was of my father who had recently passed away. I loved my daddy and wanted to do the best that I possibly could with his portrait. To me, it turned out great. I was really proud of myself and a bit surprised, to be honest. I could actually draw, and I wanted to show everyone.Â
That portrait of my father sparked a drive within me that has grown stronger throughout my life, pushing me to continuously learn and better my artistic abilities. I took an art class in junior high school one year, hoping to learn more, but unfortunately, they taught me nothing about drawing. Frustrated, I never attempted to take another art class. I wanted to go to college for art, but it apparently wasn’t in the cards for me. So I was left to learn on my own.
Artists’ Time
Without change, there is no trace of creativity, innovation, or enticement for growth. Those ambitious individuals who galvanize transformation have a greater chance to control the change that is inexplicably inescapable. Heroic artists do not just reflect our past and present, they help to shape the future. Intellectual curiosity stimulates a deep, persistent ‘need to … read more
