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Recent Media Coverage of
Citizens Against Recidivism, Inc.
www.capitalnews9.com
Click link for video clip!
See news clip with coverage of event below!
Groups
help former inmates enter back into society
9/25/2007 5:08:01 PM
By: Erin Billups
MENANDS, N.Y. -- Mika'il DeVeaux and Eddie Ellis are
both former convicts who have successfully transitioned back into society
after serving 25 years each in state prison. They're among several at a
forum Tuesday discussing ways to keep inmates from returning to prison. And
both say it starts with education.
Ellis said, "I was educated in prison. I got my
undergraduate degree, as well as my post graduate degree. I think that made
all the difference in the world, particularly as it related to the ability
for me to find a job."
DeVeaux said, "Once people have alternative ways of thinking,
alternative ways of analyzing a situation, they will produce or find it in
themselves to respond differently to situations where they thought they only
had just a few opportunities and ways to respond."
Both men have at least one Masters degree which they earned
in prison before state and federal education funding was revoked for felony
convictions. They say Governor Spitzer is working to overturn this decision.
But Department of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Denise O'Donnell
says finding housing, health care benefits and jobs are other major keys to
a successful transition.
O'Donnell said, "Re-entry is a public safety initiative,
reducing recidivism reduces crime, and that's why we on the state level are
so focused on transitioning individuals back into the community."
State and local re-entry task forces are now working
together to eliminate these obstacles by providing resources to help former
inmates as they enter back into society.
But most at the meeting agreed it needs to be a community effort, starting
with how society views former convicts.
O'Donnell said, "We have to think about it differently. If
we are out there providing support for that individual, particularly those
who want to change, we'll reduce crime."
So far there are 11 counties in the state with re-entry
task forces. Rensselaer is the only Capital Region county participating.
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Copyright © 2007 TWEAN d.b.a. Capital News 9
The Muslim Reentry Initiative - News Bulletin
Never before in the history of Muslims living in America
has there been  an
event like this. On Saturday May 6, 2006 at
the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Muslims who spent time in prison ranging from
one day to 25 years were welcomed back to the community by community members.
It was a simple event hosted by Citizens Against Recidivism, Inc. and its
resident Soros Justice Fellow, Mika'il DeVeaux.
During the event, mostly African American men sat in the sacred
halaq ” the circle”
and praised and thanked Allah for bringing them home. Ayats of Qur'aan
were rehearsed when recounting rehearsed when recounting the struggle and trauma
of the prison experience. It was mainly a joyous occasion filled with emotion,
tears, hugs, and food. Wives and children looked on with prided
and gratitude as they too acknowledged how far their loved ones had come.
All were hopeful and filled with optimism about the future.
There was, however, some focus upon Muslims currently
incarcerated through
out the United States.
Recent
reports suggest that 5% of all Muslims in America,
and 12% of all African
American Muslims are in prisons or jails around the country.
Overall, 30% of
African Americans in prison around
the country are Muslims, while closer to home,
25% of African Americans in New York State prisons are Muslims. Despite these large numbers, about 350,000
around the country, 10,000 in New York State prisons (these figures do not
include the numbers in city or county jails), the
relationship between Muslims in prison and those on the out-sided is
precarious at best. The effect of Islam on the mindset of the
incarcerated person and the work of Muslims on the inside are well known.
Even so, Muslims as a community do not have positions, policies, or programs
related to issues of reentry and or the transition of their brethren in faith.
Moreover, Muslims have few links, if any, with community or other faith-based
organizations engaged in advocacy or services related to incarceration or
reentry. Those in the circle raised a host of questions and
asked how this might be changed.
Near
the end of the event, there was
the acknowledgment
and
remembrance of the story of Yunus (Jonah) and his crying out when inside the
belly
of the beast. Our brothers cried out to Allah for forgiveness and Allah
released them. And so we welcomed their
return and forgave them too.
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