Stories from North America and the Caribbean
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- PF Bahamas launches the Sycamore Tree Project®
- On 3 November, PF Bahamas held the first session of the Sycamore Tree Project®(STP) after six months of preparatory work. As a part of the programme launch, the national ministry, along with the Bahamas Prison Service, hosted an opening ceremony attended by the Commissioner of Prisons and the Minister for Social Development. With permission of the six victim and six prisoner participants, several press organisations also sent representatives to the opening ceremony.
- Creating Business Plans for a Better Future in Texas
- The InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) at the Carol Vance Unit in Richmond Texas offers participants many opportunities to build habits and skills to help them reintegrate into their communities. Among these is the Business Plan Competition, now in its eighth year.
- New report on reincarceration rates of IFI Texas graduates
- In April, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice released a report highlighting the two- and three-year recidivism rates of prisoners who completed one of nine different rehabilitation programmes during the 2007 fiscal year, including the Innerchange Freedom Initiative (IFI). With one exception, each of the programmes showed lower recidivism rates compared to a matched comparison group.
- PF Bermuda Explores Transformative Learning
- Sheridan Scotton plays role in establishing a breakout group on restorative justice at a November international conference focusing on "Reframing Social Sustainability in a Multicultural World."
- Recent News from IFI
- The InnerChange Freedom Initiative continues to operate in five U.S. states, serving both male and female prisoners. Currently, it is working toward its goal of becoming fully self-funding by the end of 30 June 2011. To this end IFI staff and volunteers from all the IFI programmes recently attended a two-day training session on local fundraising strategies.
- Inner Change for Freedom for Belize Turns Six
- On 11 February 2009, the Inner Change Freedom for Belize (IFFB) programme celebrates its 6th anniversary. The 18-month programme operating at the Belize central prison provides participants a structured environment in which to learn new ways of thinking and life skills.
- Connecting Children and Incarcerated Fathers in Texas
- In October 2007, the InnerChange Freedom Initiative (IFI) in Texas began a new programme called Storybook Dads. Managed by current inmates, this programme allows men in prison to record their voices reading children’s books.
- IFI Iowa Receives a New Blow
- In February, the Iowa Department of Corrections (DOC) announced that it will cancel the contract for the InnerChange Freedom Initiative. In making the decision, prison officials cited contract provision that allows the DOC to cancel the programme if the enrolment is less than 60 participants. With 27 participants graduating on March 14, 2008, this occurred.
- PF USA Receives Favourable Decision in IFI Lawsuit
- PFUSA has been defending their Community of Restoration, called InnerChange Freedom Initiative IFI), against claims that it violates the US Constitution’s provisions about church and state. Last year a trial court ruled that IFI’s contract with the Iowa Department of Corrections was unconstitutional and demanded not only that the program be closed down, but also that IFI reimburse the state government $1.5 million dollars). This was appealed to the federal appellate court and a decision was handed down earlier this week.
- IFI Update
- IFI in Texas celebrates its 10th anniversary, the Iowa programme loses funding and a new programme opens for women in Missouri.
