Topics outside of my dissertation that interest me: Part 1 of many

Awareness of several related issues has sparked an interest in prison reform. First, the lamentable condition of prisons worldwide deserves attention. Second, the predilection of those engaged in political campaigns in the United States to 'get tougher on crime' has contributed to prison overpopulation. There are many other related issues related to prisons that nag me, such as the perverse relationship between corporations and penal facilities. However, my dissertation rules my life (or at least I want it to), and I am trying to sideline my interest in prisons until I have completed my PhD. I am writing about it here because I have embarked on a new dissertation thinking/writing process that requires me to consider what distracts me from writing in order to improve and hasten the dissertation completion process.

Here, in honor of this distraction, I include 2 tidbits.

Criminal defense attorneys are often asked “How can you defend those people?” Here’s one attorney’s answer (from 1980):

Those guilty of serious crimes merit the wrath of our society. But almost no one deserves the hell holes that we call jails and prisons. There is almost no case I would not defend if that meant keeping a human being, as condemnable as he or she may be, from suffering the total, brutal inhumanity of our jails and prisons…

– John B. Mitchell, “The Ethics of the Criminal Defense Attorney–New Answers to Old Questions,” 32 Stanford Law Review 293, 320-21 (1980). Reprinted in Rhode & Luban, Legal Ethics, 5th ed. (Foundation Press), 305-6.Link here for those with HeinOnline access.

And...

HM King visits women's pavilion at Marrakech local prison

(I've included the full article here since I can't get the URL to work).

Marrakech - HM King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Prince Moulay Rachid, visited, on Friday, women's pavilion at Marrakech local prison where the Sovereign enquired about accommodation conditions of the women prisoners.

- The Monarch enquires about actions carried out by the Mohammed VI Foundation for women prisoners and their children.

- HM the King enquires about actions carried out for ex-prisoners as part of post-imprisonment monitoring.

- The sovereign enquires about construction of a centre for post-imprisonment support in Marrakech, worth 3.5 million Dirhams.

On this occasion, HM the King visited the vocational training centre for women. The centre prepares women prisoners for integration in labour market in dressmaking, bakery trade, cake-making and functional literacy.

The Sovereign also visited the day nursery set up to accommodate six children accompanying their mothers.

HM the King enquired about the different actions, carried out by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Prisoners, benefitting 27 women inmates in Marrakech prison and 32 children living with the prisoners' families and totaling 530,000 dirhams.

These actions include paying for the school and training fees of 12 minors, providing financial support for 8 guardians caring for prisoners' kids, and helping 8 children of working age have access to job market. They provide also for the necessary health care, income-generating actions benefitting 7 inmates who will be released soon, and regularizing administrative situation of 9 inmates and their children (15) not registered in the civil status records.

The Sovereign enquired also about actions implemented by the Foundation for the benefit of former prisoners as part of the post-incarceration follow-up, namely providing jobs for 7 former inmates and a 430,000 dirham-funding for 10 Micro projects.

The Monarch was given explanations on the Post-Incarceration Center to be built in Marrakech for an amount of 3.5 million dirhams. Stretching over 500 square meters in Hay Hassani neighborhood, the facility will comprise a reception hall, a computer room, a meeting room and seven offices for people in charge of psychological, administrative and social assistance.

Last modification 03/05/2011 07:26 PM.

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