Blog & News
The Post-Custody Journey: Understanding the Experiences of Women in Uganda
Introduction by Julie Truschel Worldwide, women face many obstacles unique to gender when reentering society after incarceration. They face escalated problems with economic hardship, social support, family relationships, and employment, just to name a few. However, in no location are these issues more apparent than in Uganda. The following guest article is offered by Nuruh Mbalyowere, Principal Rehabilitation and Reintegration Officer at the Uganda Prisons Service. Ms. Mbalyowere explains the
Punitive Populism: A Roadblock to Criminal Justice Reform
In recent years, the criminal justice system has been a topic of intense debate and reform efforts. As U.S. citizens now begin their process for next year’s elections, political conversations have developed and the term ‘punitive populism’ keeps arising. Perhaps like me, you have not been intimately familiar with this term. In this blog, I will delve into the concept of punitive populism, its consequences, and the need to steer
Celebrating National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week: Stronger Together
National Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week (#PPPSWeek) takes place during the third full calendar week of July, from Sunday to Saturday. In 2023, this week is recognized July 16 – 22 and serves as a special occasion to recognize and appreciate the invaluable contributions made by over 100,000 dedicated individuals who work diligently to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities. The theme for this year’s PPPS Week
Prioritizing Mental Health in Criminal Justice
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to shedding light on the significance of mental health and advocating for increased understanding, support, and resources. While mental health is a critical aspect of overall well-being for everyone, its importance within the criminal justice system cannot be overstated. This blog post aims to explore the vital connection between mental health awareness and the criminal justice system, highlighting the challenges faced
Second Chance Month
April is Second Chance Month, a time to bring awareness to the challenges faced by individuals who have been incarcerated and the need for policies and programs that support successful reintegration into society. One such policy is the Second Chance Act, which was signed into law in 2008 to help address barriers faced by people returning to their communities after incarceration. The Second Chance Act provides funding to state and
Excelling Beyond the ‘Old’ Normal
I recently had the good fortune to attend the 24th Annual General Meeting and Conference of the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) in Orlando, Florida. The theme was ‘Excelling Beyond the ‘Old’ Normal: Corrections After the Global Pandemic’. A host of workshops were offered that were detailed, informative, and inspiring. You may have seen our social media postings from a few of the many incredible presentations. There were also
Takeaways from My Interview with The Criminologist
Recently, the SAW Project had an amazing opportunity to be featured on The Criminologist podcast’s episode #114 “Our Interview with Julie Truschel of the SAW Project.” I spoke with Joe Arvidson on criminal justice careers, the American Probation and Parole’s International Relations Committee, and of course, the origins of the SAW Project. For those interested in listening, the full interview is available at the bottom of this blog. I also shared
Assisting LGBTQ+ Individuals in Criminal Justice
President Biden proclaimed June 2022 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month, which provides a fitting opportunity to review interactions of the LGBTQ+ community with correctional services. As identification terms have evolved, so has the acronym representing this group. Research reviewed from different periods is evident by changing terms, which is a dynamic process that becomes more inclusive through time. Regardless of the terms used, research shows
Supervised Women: Global Increases and How to Help
March is Women’s History Month, offering a great opportunity to review issues related to women in the criminal justice system. Criminal behavior does not discriminate by gender but women in particular have a greater lack of services upon entering this system. At the SAW Project, we promote changing supervision practices so that offenders can reside in their home, parent children, maintain jobs, and pay taxes; all while being held accountable
2021 Year in Review
What an interesting year it’s been! Like many others, the pandemic has challenged us at the SAW Project, but our goal of bringing positive change to the global supervision industry through international collaboration has continued. Thanks to supporters like you, we were able to achieve significant accomplishments. 2-Minute Insight Series This year we launched our series called ‘2-Minute Insights’ which now includes over 70 video interviews. Insights were gathered from