News: 5/3/2007 (AM)

• Two federal judges hold key to California prison reform (California)
• Referee to make recommendation on inmate case (Oklahoma)
• Prison officer charged with murdering inmate (Guyana)
• £1M-A-DAY JAILS SCANDAL (UK)
• Inquest into boy's suicide hears of overcrowding at secure unit (UK)
• Drugs in prison on the increase (UK)
• Campaigners optimistic over plans for women in prison (UK)
• McDowell addresses Prison Officers conference in Sligo (Ireland)
• Nigeria: Legal Aid Boss Decries Prison Congestion
• Inmates on hunger in Gobustan jail can be held accountable (Azerbaijan)
• Juvenile facility runs out of room (Wyoming)
• Counties board 46 state prison system inmates (Maine)
• SAFETY IN PRISONS (New Jersey)
• Prison health committee bill heads to House (Maryland)
• Mendota to get $115m to finish federal prison (California)
• Prison program makes good on training dogs for adoption (Colorado)
• Corrections Corporation of America Announces 2007 First Quarter Financial Results
• Prison will need help with funding (Mississippi)

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News: 5/2/2007 (AM)

• A plea for help for Coalinga prison (California)
• Inmate who had seizures dies in lockup (Illinois)
• Short notice triggered riot (Indiana)
• Bill to alleviate local jail overcrowding clears House (Texas)
• State drops surgeon used for lethal injection (Missouri)
• Wanted: Indispensable, Disposable Workers (Colorado)
• Teen sex offender bill goes to governor’s desk (Arizona)
• Sweeney says sex offenders are coming to South Woods (New Jersey)
• Board named to consider sex offender residency in Green Bay (Wisconsin)
• Jails awash with drugs, says Opposition (Australia)
• Guards back in jail (Canada)
• McDowell orders inquiry into prisoner's call to radio show (Ireland)
• Women's prison will get day in court (Canada)
• Package lobbed over wall ignited jailhouse melee (Canada)
• Prisoners Could Get More Credit for Good Behavior (Kansas)
• Guards armed with new riot gear (Pennsylvania)
• Jail expansion still top council priority (South Carolina)
• Prison closer to getting water (Mississippi)
• Sing Sing, dance, dance (New York)

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Church leaders see opportunity in proposed prison facility

Joan Gandy of the Natchez Democrat interviews local clergymen on a proposed commercial facility for federal prisoners in their area. Fr. David O’Connor, pastor at St. Mary Basilica and Assumption Catholic Church, responded that prisons are a part of society and must be accepted as such:

“It’s an amazing opportunity for ministry, as well," O’Connor said. "I’ve been to Woodville many, many times. Those people need ministry in a big way. We can help them find direction with their lives." O’Connor referred to the federal prison built in Wilkinson County near Woodville, where several Natchez churches have regular ministries among the inmates.

The Wilkinson County facility is a Corrections Corporation of America prison. CCA is seeking a site to build a prison in Natchez, estimating that it will house 1,500 mostly nonviolent inmates.The prison is estimated to be a $90 million construction project. When completed, it would employ about 300 people.

O’Connor said the jobs are important. "If a prison brings jobs to the community, I’m in favor of that," he said. The Rev. Steve Pearson, pastor at Community Chapel Church of God, agreed. "I’m for the prison for several reasons — first of all, for all the job opportunities," he said. "The economic opportunity is tremendous, and it’s long term." Pearson also believes a community that has a prison has a chance to offer special ministries within the prison.

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News: 4/24/2007 (AM)

• Wednesday rally will focus on supporting victims of crime (Michigan)
• Local agencies to honor crime victims (Missouri)
• Study questions first drug dose in executions (California)
• Corrections Officer Says He Didn't Know Girl Was Only 15 (Florida)
• Rep. Waters Introduces Bill That Would Require Federal Prisons To Provide HIV Testing, Treatment and Counseling (US Federal)
• Restorative justice offers unique advantages (Guam)
• Prisoner found hanged in cell (UK)
• Howard League: Optimistic about changes (UK)
• Mum’s the word for pregnant prisoners as volunteers ‘mother’ them (UK)
• Prison plan remains up in the air (North Dakota)
• Union presses prison staffing, safety (New Mexico)
• Officials say bent fence at prison not a security issue (Iowa)
• Utah County Jail Inmates May Be Charged Rent
• Students gain career experience teaching prisoners to train dogs (Indiana)

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News: 4/23/2007 (AM)

• Prisons benefit from tough advocate (California)
• Massachussetts to review its prison system after at least 14 inmates confined in error
• Race riot at honor farm; 25 are hurt (California)
• Community awaits justice (Florida)
• Minister: New report clears Corrections over van bashing (New Zealand)
• Mysterious Deaths Mount in High Security Prison (Azerbaijan)
• EDS Helps Her Majesty's Prison Service with offender assessment system (UK)
• Corrections overtime costs rising (New Zealand)
• Dozens of inmates struck by stomach bug (New Zealand)
• Texas COs to Lege: Don't Build New Prisons
• Corrections Committee considers progressive sanctions (Texas)
• Sex Offender Residency Restrictions Getting Another Look (Oklahoma)
• Correcting Corrections: Part 1, Part 2 (Colorado)
• Corrections chief wants to discuss jail with Hinds (Mississippi)
• Most voters favor new prisons (Nevada)
• 5 Camco Jail guards criticize residency policy (New Jersey)

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News: 4/6/2007

• Mother Sues Youth Detention Center For Son's Suicide (Illinois)
• TYC Roundup (Texas)
• Talks over prison conditions resume in June (Mississippi)
• Prison doc arraigned in Brooklyn court (New York)
• Lingle plans to spend $2.6 million repairing prisons (Hawaii)
• Young offenders turn criminals in Lebanon prisons
• Jail security winning war (Australia)
• Washington state prisoner receives liver transplant
• Dorothy Nash Holmes Resigns From Department of Corrections (Nevada)

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News: 4/3/2007

• Supreme Court: prisons liable for lewd inmates (California)
• Dallas County jail OT still running into millions (Texas)
• 'They broke his jaw, busted his eye' (Texas)
• Destructive Washington County Jail inmate requires special jail cell (Wisconsin)
• To Help Rikers, City Wants More Prisoners in Brooklyn (New York)
• Knox County Jail detainee threatens lawsuit over injuries (Maine)
• Additional award in inmate death (Arizona)
• California EMS crews at greater risk on prison calls
• Prisoners continue hunger strike in Gobustan jail (Azerbaijan)
• More services needed at San Mateo County jail, report says (California)
• Convict on the run from "open prison" (UK)
• Inmate Awarded $20,000 for Harsh Conditions (Russia)
• Alcohol Treatment and Rehab > Lack Of Substance Abuse Treatment Options For Offenders
• Bronson unsure about felons' rights (Florida)
• Former Pennsylvania prison guard accused of kissing inmate
• Prison staff vacancies in Wyoming called danger
• Regional jail project moving on (Mississippi)
• Getting screwed at the school for crime (Australia) - opinion piece by former inmate
• Commissioner of Correction pledges help on local issues (Maryland) - local editorial
• Basic humanity (Pennsylvania) - editorial

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Paul Davison, jail minister

The Grenada County, Mississippi Daily Sentinel Star profiles their 2007 Person of the Year, jail minister Paul Davison:

The success rate of his work is low, he said, and also hard to measure. He has
even thought about quitting. It's especially disappointing for him when the
inmates are repeat offenders."Many nights I can't sleep because I'm concerned
for someone in jail. One time I was so worried about a particular person that I
said I was going to quit as soon as he got out. He's been out a year. I can't
quit, so I just try not to worry so much. I obviously need my beauty sleep,"
laughed Davison.Davison said if he's helping others in the jail, it ultimately
benefits Grenada."Most of the people in the prison are from Grenada. That means
they are our neighbors. I'm trying to make our community a better place," said
Davison.He does tell the inmates that they owe him. They are obligated, he said,
to help someone else.He also knows that he may never see the successes until
years later when a person comes to a crossroad and has to make a decision and
says, 'now I remember that old man saying....

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