JUSTICE NEST’s Post

Almost one percent of America is enslaved by our government. We may dress it up, call it by a different name, hide it behind legal jargon, but that doesn’t change the reality of what it is: modern-day slavery. A system that strips human beings of their freedom, their dignity, their worth. We like to think of slavery as something that belongs to the past, a chapter in our history that we’ve moved beyond. But the truth is, it’s here, right now, in our prisons, in the way we’ve institutionalized the destruction of lives, all in the name of justice. We have to confront this uncomfortable truth. To speak honestly about what mass incarceration has done to millions of Americans, disproportionately Black and brown men, is to see a system that echoes the very foundation of slavery. It is to see how, beneath the guise of law and order, there is a machinery designed to dehumanize, to exploit, to control. America was built on the backs of the enslaved, and while the chains may not be made of iron anymore, they are no less binding. Prison labor is modern-day slavery. Men and women forced to work for pennies, if anything at all, under conditions that offer no protection, no rights. We tell ourselves that these people are criminals, that they deserve what they get. But the truth is, this system preys on the vulnerable. It targets the poor, the marginalized, the people we as a society have failed long before they ever set foot in a courtroom. And once they are inside, they are treated as less than human, reduced to a number, a source of cheap labor. What kind of country allows this to happen? A country that has always been willing to look the other way when it suits its interests. A country that has yet to reckon fully with its own history of racial violence and economic exploitation. The truth is that America is still in the business of profiting from bodies, still eager to sacrifice lives for the sake of convenience and control. We must face this reality, not just with words, but with action. It is not enough to talk about reform, to make small adjustments to a system that is rotten at its core. We need to dismantle it, to reimagine what justice looks like, and to build something new. Because so long as even one person is in chains, none of us are truly free. We are all complicit in this, and until we confront that, until we demand something better, the cycle will continue. The question is not just who is in prison, but who we are as a nation that allows this to happen.

🎙️Statement Regarding Recent FCC Vote Reducing Costs of Phone and Video Calls in Jails and Prisons Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance commends the recent ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to lower the fixed costs of calls and video visits in jails and prisons across the nation. This decision is a step forward in making communication more accessible for incarcerated individuals and their families. However, while we recognize the progress made, we strongly advocate for further reforms. We believe that communication between incarcerated people and their loved ones should be free. The ability to maintain family bonds and support networks is not only essential for the emotional well-being of those inside but is also a critical component of successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society. Lioness Justice Impacted Women’s Alliance calls on policymakers, correctional facilities, and stakeholders to continue working towards comprehensive reforms that ensure all incarcerated individuals have the opportunity to stay connected with their loved ones without financial barriers. We remain committed to advocating for the rights and well-being of justice-impacted women, girls and gender-expansive individuals. We will continue to push for policies that promote dignity, rehabilitation, and successful reintegration. www.LionessJIWA.org

Our lecture series continues with Ulrich Weinhold M.A. MBA and his approach to rethinking prisons and penal systems as a new generation of greener, more inclusive, and sustainable prisons. Together, we will explore restorative justice, the challenges of peacebuilding, and the role of NGOs in failing states and societies as agents of peace, freedom, and sustainability. ☮ What does this mean when we talk about crimes, their victims, the perpetrators, and incarceration? What about our “habits and traditions” of “punishing the offender” by taking the conflict away from the victim – and partly from “society” – by simply sending people behind the bars of prison? What can we do to restore justice? And what about sustainability, when up to 70% of prisoners relapse into crime within the first five years of their release? What do we do with national conflicts and their consequences that are often and quickly referred to as “peace”, as in Colombia? 💬 About the speaker: Ulrich Weinhold is a development expert with three decades of professional experience. After studying law in Germany and the USA, he worked as a lawyer at the renowned Bavarian law firm Rödl & Partner. After his appointment in international development work, he worked in development projects in the post-war area of Eastern Congo in the reconstruction of a hospital and in the “Golden Triangle” between Northern Laos, China, and Myanmar in the fight against drug cultivation and trafficking with high-quality silk projects for the tribal community in the mountains. After disaster management in the Asian region following the 2004 tsunami, he took over the management of a Christian organization for relief and development work funded by the “BMZ”, which works in more than 80 countries with around 260 employees, often in “failed states” and in civil war or post-war situations. With his experience in Colombian post-crisis management, he was invited to work at Seehaus e.V., a free-form prison, as a restorative justice agent with a special focus on victims’ rights. He is a certified mediator in criminal matters. In addition, he is an in-house lawyer there and maintains his own law firm for international contracts, supply chains, and organizational development. 🗓️ Join us for an enlightening session tomorrow, July 3rd, Wednesday, starting at 6 p.m. 📍Technical University of Munich, Lecture Hall N 1189, Theresienstraße 90 (north area - main campus). 🖥️ Can’t make it in person? No problem! Join us online via Zoom: Webinar-ID: 685 3335 0085 🔑 Password: 17goals Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in important discussions about sustainability and the future of our planet! 🌱 See you there! #sdgs #getinspired #getinvolved #sustainability #EnvironmentalLectureSeries #tum

📣 Launching today - the updated online Hardman Directory The Hardman Directory has been the place for prisoners, prison leavers, their families and professionals to find quick, up-to-date information for the past 15 years. We're pleased to unveil our new digital look! What’s in the Directory? In its first phase, you’ll find funders offering financial support to people leaving prison. We aim to connect people with the services that can reduce poverty and improve financial independence, to help build a new life after prison. Soon we’ll be launching our second phase, with support services around employment, training, mental health, family connections, and more. Stay tuned for updates! How do you use the Hardman Directory? You can search for funding in specific prisons or local communities. You can narrow your search by gender, age, and funding type. An example could be a woman in prison in Liverpool seeking funding for a college course or a man in the community in Suffolk seeking funding for household items. Share far and wide, and let us know your feedback in the comments below https://lnkd.in/ewp8CTbF

As finanical aid is reinstated for incarcerated individuals, re-entry support is crucial for a successful transition to the outside. When successful, communities are restored, families are reunited, and people who work hard for a better future gain self-efficacy. In this article, learn about the journey of re-entry through the lens of Amber Galvan and Brandon Warren via Lee College’s Higher Ed in Prison program. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gsFdgyzh

Our Programs: Mothers Diversion Program Mending The Nest. 90%of imprisoned women in Kenya are single parents and breadwinners. Criminalizing vulnerable women makes it harder for them to access routes out of the issues driving their offences. This creates barriers for them to find or maintain employment and accommodation. Therefore, driving them towards crisis. That is precisely why pre-court diversion, which seeks to offer a swift and meaningful response to offending while reducing or avoiding harmful criminal justice system involvement is so important for women. The overuse of prosecution and imprisonment of mothers is leading to family disintegration and leaves women and children vulnerable. As such, this contributes to the cycle of generational involvement with the criminal justice system. Justice Nest aims to interrupt this cycle by prioritizing the well-being of families and advocating for restorative and holistic justice. Juvenile Justice Program Upholding the best interest of the child. The Juvenile Justice Diversion Program at Justice Nest provides support, intervention, and diversion opportunities for children who have come into conflict with the law. We understand that juvenile offenders often face complex challenges and vulnerabilities, and we are committed to offering alternative pathways that prioritize rehabilitation and positive outcomes. The Program offers a multifaceted approach while diverting the demographic away from traditional punitive measures. By addressing the root causes of juvenile delinquency and providing tailored interventions, we aim to prevent further involvement in criminal activity and promote long-term success for participating youth. Prison Paralegal Training Bridging the Justice Gap. Access to legal representation is a fundamental right, yet many prisoners in Kenya face significant barriers in obtaining adequate legal assistance. 90% of those in prison do not have access to legal services. To put it in perspective, with a prison population of over 55,000, about 50,000 of those barely have hope that they will leave the system. This problem is multifaceted and involves issues of availability, affordability, and systemic inefficiencies. There is no office of public defenders in Kenya to meet the demand at the state level. Justice Nest trains prisoners and prison officers as Paralegals to fill this gap and provide legal awareness within prisons.

No child should ever grow up in a prison cell. Children belong in schools and playgrounds, and need to be supported to learn from their mistakes, not locked in cages. Yet the current minimum age of criminal responsibility in the majority of Australian jurisdictions is just 10 years of age, which means that primary-school-aged children can be arrested, handcuffed, hauled before the courts and locked away in prison cells. The Victorian government spent millions of dollars building a new youth prison, and there are moves to build more youth prisons across the country. Imagine if rather than investing in locking up our children, we invested in caring for them instead? That is what would make our communities safer and give every child the best chance at a brighter future.

National Network condemns Construction of New Children's Prison in Darwin Construction is underway for a new children's prison in Darwin The Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities has announced that this new prison will supposedly meet the therapeutic and rehabilitative needs of children. However, this decision is deeply troubling and fundamentally flawed. A prison is a prison is a prison, and no matter the label, it remains a place of violence and trauma, entirely unfit for children. 'Prisons are inherently violent environments that perpetuate cycles of harm. Children belong in our communities, in their homes, and classrooms, not in cages. The focus must shift to building up the capacity of families and communities, ensuring safety and support for all, not just a few. We must move away from the warehousing of children and a focus on punishment, exile, scarcity, and harm. Our efforts should be directed towards repair, safety and wellbeing, fostering environments where children can grow and flourish. The construction of this new children's prison is a giant step backward, ignoring the urgent need for a transformative approach to justice. It is time to end the cycle of violence and invest in the future of our children by providing them with the support and opportunities they deserve - and it's time we put a moratorium on prison beds in this country. No new prisons, not now, not ever Read the full press release on the National Network website

"Creating a safer Louisiana can never be achieved through legislation that dehumanizes children, eliminates hope, and supports state-sanctioned violence and torture." With the regular legislative session currently underway, here's an important reminder from our ED, Kristen Rome of what our children realistically need from state policymakers compared to "tough-on-crime" policies that further cement #Louisiana as the incarceration capital of the world. https://t.co/QoNwlv3pco

The photo which I have posted was in 2018, not long after being released. Funny enough, it was taken in the Crypt Gallery at St Pancras New Church, Euston. I was going through a lot of struggles at that time, so I guess being in a subterranean crypt is appropriate to how I felt..buried under a weight of the past, present and future. The fantasy I created for myself about life after release quickly dissipated when I returned to a community fighting for its survival each day. The initial euphoria faded, and the little money I had was gone before I knew it - a path that has led many back into the cycle of criminality. But my story took a different turn. Prison was not the true challenge; it was the critical post-release phase that determined my future. The positive support I found allowed me to navigate this process successfully, despite the rarity of prison-earned certificates being enough on their own. I witnessed firsthand how this issue is rooted in poverty and cultural norms, where criminal subgroups exploit the desperation of impoverished individuals, leaving many formerly incarcerated people wandering with just their prison-issued bags and a maybe a tent. With decades caught in CJS cycle, over 7 years of lived experience as a prisoner, and Foreign National Representative for 3.8 years during my imprisonment, I gained invaluable insights into the worlds of crime and prison life. However, upon my last release, I broke free from that cycle. Today, I am a father, hold a university, and work as a peer mentor, social value manager, subject matter expert, and social entrepreneur. My mission is to challenge the status quo and create a more inclusive society that provides genuine second chances. Through my work in prisons, corporations, and communities, I strive to empower others with the skills, resources, and support necessary for successful reintegration. By addressing systemic issues of poverty and lack of opportunity, we must pave the way for ex-offenders to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society. It’s just common sense in the end of the day. Join me in this movement to transform the narrative surrounding imprisonment and reintegration. Together, with organisations such as Project ReMAKE, Anabranch Plus, Switchback and many others, we can create a future where second chances are readily available, and every individual has the opportunity to thrive. #ExPrisoners #LivedExperience #ReintegrationSupport #EmployabilityTraining #SecondChances #SocialImpact