Category: rehabilitation

What the Homeless Owe Us

Commentary We often hear about what “we”—i.e., society—owe the homeless. But we rarely discuss what the unhoused owe us. It’s time for that to change. This is a matter of great urgency. Some of our (once) most prosperous and beautiful cities—San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, etc.—are imploding under the pressure of squalid homeless squatter camps,…


From Prisoner to Barista, This Jail Offers Inmates a Chance to Find a Career in Coffee

By Benjy Egel From The Sacramento Bee Sacramento—Jamie Mason was more than 20 years into her career in specialty coffee when she got a call from an alarming source: the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department. The Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center was starting a coffee education and barista training program, a lieutenant told Mason, and they wanted…


Criminal Justice Disaster

Commentary Over the past decade or so, America has undertaken a radical experiment with criminal justice reform. The consequences have been devastating. The number of people arrested in America each year has fallen sharply over the past two decades. Public prosecutors now prosecute significantly fewer cases. Those that are convicted can generally expect shorter sentences….


Former Inmate Shows How Rehabilitation Is Possible | Alfred Lopez

“Prisons are a breeding ground, to become institutionalized and to learn, basically, how to do more crime and become worse.” Siyamak sits down with former California inmate, Alfred Lopez. Incarcerated at 18, Lopez spent almost 30 years in prison. Today he will talk about what he saw in the prison system, and why it is…


Why California Releases Molesters From Prisons Within a Year on Average | Samuel Dordulian

“These offenders will keep reoffending until they’re stopped.” Siyamak sits down with Samuel Dordulian, victims attorney and former prosecutor. Recent reports show that about 7,000 child molesters were released early from prison in California. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, these criminals are four times more likely to reoffend. Is rehabilitation instead of incarceration…


Why California Spent Billions and Still Can’t Fix Rising Crime | Douglas Eckenrod

“They’re hurting outcomes at nearly the rate that good program providers are delivering good outcomes. And all you’d have to do is just get rid of this part of the equation, and you would see some improvement over time.” Siyamak sits down with Douglas Eckenrod, retired deputy director of state parole. In California, we put…


Prisoner Rehabilitation: Why Australia and the United States are Struggling

The rehabilitation of offenders has become a globally adopted practice. However, certain countries such as Australia and the U.S. are struggling to achieve the success of countries like Norway, which have notably lower resentencing rates. Criminologist and senior research fellow from the Australian National University’s Research School of Psychology, Clarke Jones, PhD, told The Epoch…


OC Extends Program for Inmates to Rehabilitate Through Training Dog

The Orange County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 18 unanimously agreed to extend for three years a dog-training program that focuses on inmate rehabilitation. The program—operated by Cell Dogs, Inc.—has been conducted for about a year at the Theo Lacy Facility, a county jail in Orange. It was first started at the James A. Musick…


Cory Morgan: Canada’s Weak Justice System Cost Lives in Saskatchewan Tragedy

Commentary The extent of the government’s responsibilities and controls in the lives of citizens is debatable. From social engineering to business subsidies to funding public art, many people question whether or not the state needs to be involved in those matters. One realm where there is almost universal support for government action is the protection…


Boy Wounded in Parade Attack Moves to Rehab-Focused Hospital

CHICAGO—An 8-year-old boy whose spine was severed in the shooting at a parade on July 4 has moved to a rehabilitation-focused hospital after spending nearly a month in a Chicago pediatric intensive care unit. Cooper Roberts’ family said the boy was moved Sunday to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab from the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s…