Gabriel City » Children http://gabrielcity.com Gabriel City is a community for the tens of millions of Americans directly affected by our criminal justice system. We come together to share our stories and help to shape new ones. Inmates and the formerly incarcerated, family members of those serving time, men and women under community supervision, professionals in criminal justice and corrections, and the victims of crime; we support and respect each other as we work to break the endless cycle of crime and incarceration that afflicts our nation. Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:18:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Inside and Out: Women, Prison, and Therapy http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/inside-and-out-women-prison-and-therapy.html http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/inside-and-out-women-prison-and-therapy.html#comments Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:03:52 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=2260 Inside and Out

Elaine Leeder’s book Inside and Out: Women, Prison, and Therapy takes a look at the growing problem of female incarceration. Leeder’s uses her feminist perspective to dispel stereotypes about women offenders. The book also includes an in-depth analysis of how violence has affected women and led to increased criminality.

Inside and Out: Women, Prison, and Therapy can be purchased on Amazon.com.

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/inside-and-out-women-prison-and-therapy.html/feed 0 Children’s Prison Art Project http://gabrielcity.com/photography/childrens-prison-art-project.html http://gabrielcity.com/photography/childrens-prison-art-project.html#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:12:36 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=1643 The Children’s Prison Art Project is an innovative organization whose mission is to

introduce juvenile offenders in correctional facilities and shelters to an innovative educational theater and visual arts forum where they can express their thoughts and visions in constructive ways.

They currently have an art exhibition at the Greater Houston Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. Visit their website to see some of the art and to learn more about this organization.

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/photography/childrens-prison-art-project.html/feed 0 All Alone in the World http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/all-alone-in-the-world.html http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/all-alone-in-the-world.html#comments Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:37:42 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=1528 Nell Bernstein’s journalistic book, All Alone in the World: Children of Incarcerated takes the reader into the lives of children whose parents have gone to prison in the United States. The stories are heart-wrenching and are rarely heard. The book can be found on Amazon.com.

All Alone in the World

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/all-alone-in-the-world.html/feed 0 Use of Excessive Force in New York Youth Prisons http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/use-of-excessive-force-in-youth-prisons.html http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/use-of-excessive-force-in-youth-prisons.html#comments Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:14:05 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=1513 A new report by the US Department of Justice states that juvenile facilities in New York have been found to have used excessive force to discipline residents. A report from 2006 by Human Rights Watch and the American Civil Liberties Union rated New York youth centers some of the worst in the world.  Will the federal government have to take over New York state’s juvenile justice system? Read more in today’s New York Times article.

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/use-of-excessive-force-in-youth-prisons.html/feed 0 Kids Behind Bars http://gabrielcity.com/video/kids-behind-bars.html http://gabrielcity.com/video/kids-behind-bars.html#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:39:54 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=1218 Check out this documentary about young kids who have had to adapt to living in prison with other cell-mates who have committed more serious crimes. Juvenile incarceration is a serious issue and quite often contentious. Write in your thoughts on this topic.

Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/video/kids-behind-bars.html/feed 0 Kids Get a Reality Check in Jail http://gabrielcity.com/video/kids-gets-a-reality-check-in-jail.html http://gabrielcity.com/video/kids-gets-a-reality-check-in-jail.html#comments Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:08:43 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=1221 Eyewitness news 5 reports a program in which kids enter jail in order to experience and see the jail for themselves.

Click here to view the embedded video.

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/video/kids-gets-a-reality-check-in-jail.html/feed 0 Moms Behind Bars http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/moms-behind-bars.html http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/moms-behind-bars.html#comments Wed, 10 Jun 2009 15:29:19 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=944 Donnie Belcher grew up as a girl without a mother. At the young age of 4, Donnie was forced to live with her grandmother because her mother was incarcerated for armed robbery, which may have been fueled by her addication to crack-coaine.  This is not a rare scenario. Growing up with a mother in prison is more and more common each year. Because of the increasing number of children growing up without mothers, some prisons have actually begun to create programs that help bring mothers and their chldren closer together while behind bars.

Read the special report by the US Department of Justice on incarcerated parents.

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/moms-behind-bars.html/feed 0 Blog Talk Radio – Children’s Center in Prison http://gabrielcity.com/blog/blog-talk-radio-childrens-center-in-prison.html http://gabrielcity.com/blog/blog-talk-radio-childrens-center-in-prison.html#comments Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:42:42 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=809 Bedford Hills Correctional Facility has a children’s center, set up so women prisoners can interact with their children. This episode of Blog Talk Radio’s Family Life Behind Bars station interviews Bobby Blanchard, the Director of The Children’s Center at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.

blogtalkradio_4

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/blog/blog-talk-radio-childrens-center-in-prison.html/feed 0 Fathering Behind Bars http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/fathering-behind-bars.html http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/fathering-behind-bars.html#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 23:55:04 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=98 basketball_dad

Being a father behind bars is challenging. Its often hard to stay in contact, let alone form a close relationship. One dad in prison has written up a list of tips for other fathers. Here are the first 5 tips:

  1. Even if your relationship with the mother of your children is over, you need to establish and maintain a positive relationship with her. For the sake of your children try to find ways to connect with her respectfully.
  2. Don’t expect big changes right away from your family members. Take your time.
  3. Find out about policies regarding how you can connect with your child-visitation, letters, telephone calls, audio tapes, etc. Ask your prison chaplain, counselor or other staff.
  4. Develop a plan and follow it on how often you will connect with your child.
  5. When explaining to your children why you are not living with them, be honest but respect their ability to understand it according to their age.

Check out the full list here.

And check out the Families and Corrections Network – an organization that focuses on the needs and concerns of families of prisoners: http://www.fcnetwork.org

]]> http://gabrielcity.com/news-and-journalism/fathering-behind-bars.html/feed 0 Youth in the Community http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/youth-in-the-community.html http://gabrielcity.com/poetry-and-spoken-word/youth-in-the-community.html#comments Mon, 27 Apr 2009 18:57:29 +0000 hcdmedia http://gabrielcity.com/?p=39 skaterkidsCommunity-based supervision organizations can be very effective in reducing the use of detention and custodial placement for youth in the criminal justice system.  A very impressive example of this work is the Center for Community Alternatives, serving New York City, Kings County, and Syracuse, NY.

The CCA accepts referrals at any stage in the juvenile/criminal justice process: bail, plea, sentence and disposition. They provide court advocacy for youth that includes the development of a client-specific plan as an alternative to detention. This plan is based on a review of the case and an investigation of the case using interviews with the youth, relevant family members and others.

When a young person enters the program, CCA works with them and with and their parents to stabilize their family life, to establish safe and appropriate housing, to arrange reentry to school and to ensure their health needs are being met.

Here is a list of CCA’s other services:

  • intensive community-based supervision
  • individual case management
  • curfew monitoring
  • supervision of school attendance and performance
  • home visits
  • educational and vocational counseling
  • weekly group attendance
  • health and HIV/AIDS prevention education programs
  • life skills groups
  • after school arts enrichment and tutoring
  • volunteer work in the community
  • referrals to community based services as needed.

The arts enrichment portion of CCA’s after school program produces some very good writing.  Read on for a beautiful poem written by one of the young people involved with CCA Youth Services:

LOVE by S. Gary

Love is quite and humble

Love can be a riot or a rumble

Love is like holding a football

hoping not to fumble

With Love you can’t be afraid

to stumble

Love can be so beautiful or

can crumble

People without love are like

bees without the bumble

CCA also puts out a literary magazine with writing by the young people in their program.  You can check out excerpts, or read the entire magazine online.

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