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Obama bans solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prisons
By Juliet Eilperin January 25 at 8:00 PM
President Obama on Monday announced a ban on solitary confinement for juvenile offenders in the federal prison system, saying the practice is overused and has the potential for devastating psychological consequences.
In an op-ed that appears in Tuesday editions of The Washington Post, the president outlines a series of executive actions that also prohibit federal correction officials from punishing prisoners who commit "low-level infractions" with solitary confinement. The new rules also call for expanding treatment for mentally ill prisoners.
The president's reforms are expected to affect about 10,000 inmates.
The reforms come six months after Obama, as part of a broader criminal-justice reform push, ordered the Justice Department to study how solitary confinement was being used by the federal Bureau of Prisons.
The move is another example of the extent to which the nation's first African American president now seems willing to tackle delicate questions of race and criminal justice as he closes out his presidency. Obama has also been focused on trying to put in place programs to help ex-offenders reintegrate into society once they have left prison.
"How can we subject prisoners to unnecessary solitary confinement, knowing its effects, and then expect them to return to our communities as whole people?" the president wrote in his op-ed. "It doesn't make us safer. It's an affront to our common humanity."
He said he hoped his reforms at the federal level will serve as a model for states to rethink their rules on the issue.
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Rep. La Shawn K. Ford speaking at the Gun Town Hall Discussion.
CHICAGO - Illinois State Representative La Shawn K. Ford (D-Chicago) will hold a viewing of Obama's live interview on CNN with Anderson Cooper on Thursday January 7 th . After the viewing, Rep. Ford will hold a town hall discussion on guns in America.
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Sanders Discusses Criminal Justice Reform in Chicago
CHICAGO - U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders discussed criminal justice reform during a round-table meeting Monday at the Village Leadership Academy on the city's near West Side. Illinois State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford of Chicago led the discussion.
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Support Bill allowing for recall of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel:
House Bill 4356
Mayor Emanuel has failed the city of Chicago, and it's time for the people to declare with one voice that we wish for him to be recalled from political office.
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ernest F. Hollings (Hollings) scholarship program is designed to:
- increase undergraduate training in oceanic and atmospheric science, research, technology, and education and foster multidisciplinary training opportunities;
- increase public understanding and support for stewardship of the ocean and atmosphere and improve environmental literacy;
- recruit and prepare students for public service careers with NOAA and other natural resource and science agencies at the federal, state and local levels of government; and
- recruit and prepare students for careers as teachers and educators in oceanic and atmospheric science and to improve scientific and environmental education in the United States.
The Hollings Scholarship Program provides successful undergraduate applicants with awards that include academic assistance (up to a maximum of $9,500 per year) for full-time study during the 9-month academic year; a 10-week, full-time internship position ($700/week) during the summer at a NOAA facility; and academic assistance (up to a maximum of $9,500) for full-time study during a second 9-month academic year. The internship between the first and second years of the award provides the Scholars with "hands-on"/ practical educational training experience in NOAA-related science, research, technology, policy, management, and education activities.
Awards also include travel funds to attend a mandatory NOAA Scholarship Program orientation, conferences where students present a paper or poster, and a housing subsidy for scholars who do not reside at home during the summer internship.
To be eligible to apply for Hollings
Scholarship, at the time of application (annually September through January) you must:
- be a U.S. citizen;
- be currently enrolled or accepted as a full-time 2nd year student in a four-year academic program or as a full-time 3rd year student in a five-year undergraduate program at an accredited college or university or university within the United States or U.S. territories;
- earn and maintain a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent on other identified scale) in all completed undergraduate courses each term and cumulative, as well as an overall GPA of 3.0 in your major field of study. The grade point average requirement applies prior to and at the time of application for a scholarship, for the period between application and award notification, and after award distribution; and
- have and maintain a declared major in a discipline including, but not limited to, oceanic, environmental, biological, and atmospheric sciences, mathematics, engineering, remote sensing technology, physical and social sciences including geography, physics, hydrology, geomatics, or teacher education that support NOAA's programs and mission.
Related discipline areas of study may include: biological, social, and physic
al sciences; mathematics; engineering; computer and information sciences; and teacher education.
For additional information regarding the Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship Program,
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Greencorps Job Training Position
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No Grand Jury in the Killings of Bettie Jones and Quintonio LeGrier
On December 28, a grand jury decided that the officers who killed Tamir Rice RIP, a 12 year old playing with a toy gun in a park and shot within "2 seconds" of officers arriving, would face no charges. A grand jury decided that 2 seconds is enough time to evaluate a situation and use deadly force against a child.
This process continues to fail our society.
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Meet Stetson
Stetson is an inquisitive, open-minded young man who is constantly willing to try out new things. He enjoys staying active and would love to have the opportunity to partake in various different sports, such as basketball, soccer and football. He also enjoys playing with remote controlled toys as well as building LEGO pieces. Stetson is caring towards others and is always there to lend a helping hand to someone in need.
CLICK PICTURE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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