Blog & News
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
April is Second Chance Month
It is so exciting that President Biden agrees with the SAW Project mission! In his Presidential action dated March 31, 2021, he proclaimed April 2021 as Second Chance Month and stated: “After incarcerated individuals serve their time, they should have the opportunity to fully reintegrate into society.” We could not agree more. Our mission at the SAW Project is to share details of effective supervision practices so that we can
REDUCING TIME BEHIND BARS
A proposed policy by the Minnesota Department of Corrections would allow inmates to leave prison earlier if they show progress toward their rehabilitation. What a concept! Since the 18th century we have lived with a prison model for ‘correction’. In fact, America’s first prison was founded in 1790 by the Pennsylvanian Quakers. It was thought that prisoners would spend time being penitent, leading to behavior change, and thus, this place
Gary Hill: Expert in Action
Recently I was honored to interview Gary Hill, Chief Executive Officer of CEGA Services and President of Contact Center, Inc., a private, nonprofit, international information and referral clearinghouse. He tells us about the history and purpose of these important agencies and how they’ve impacted community corrections. We are lucky to have him as a SAW Project Advisory Board member. Gary works internationally on a regular basis. During our conversation, he shares