Nucleos Newsletter - Black History Month

Newsletter - Black History Month
In Honor of Black History Month last month, this month's newsletter focuses on racial equity and implicit bias, as well as covering timely topics in correctional education.

On Our Blog

Fighting Implicit Biases in Education and the Criminal Justice System

By April Mihalovich | Nucleos

In celebrating February's Black History Month, it is important to consider the systematic and individual racial aggression to which Black folks are subject. After learning about social worker Dameon Stackhouse's experience in both education and the prison system, here are some of the ways in which allies can gain understanding of their own perspective and how racial identity disproportionately affects Black individuals and people of color.

In The News

The Lifelong Damage We Do In Cook County When We Jail Kids As Young As 10

By Amanda Klonsky | The Chicago Sun Times

This piece discusses the Illinois appellate court decision striking down a law that would prohibit the imprisonment of children aged 10 to 13. Not only does the imprisonment of children so young cause lasting trauma, but Klonsky cites a number of secondary reasons why jail or prison for children is not an effective solution for community safety.

8 Facts You Should Know About Racial Injustice in the Criminal Legal System

By Daniele Selby | Innocence Project

Eight important facts and statistics outline the experience of being Black in the criminal justice system. Author Daniele Selby takes the reader through the racial disparity in the legal system that exists everywhere from pre-arrest to post-conviction.

Biden, Once a Warrior in the "War on Drugs," May Slowly Retreat

By Tim Craig | The Washington Post

Given the increased bipartisan support of the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana, the Biden administration has pledged to decriminalize the drug and expunge the records of those convicted for charges related to marijuana. Author Tim Craig speculates on the likelihood of legislative change or the administrative rescheduling of the drug and how that might change the framework of marijuana accessibility across the states.

Mass. Working to Educate Prisoners About Getting the Coronavirus Vaccine

By Deborah Becker | WBUR News

Becker reports on the efforts of the Massachusetts government to prioritize prisons and homeless shelters in the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine by putting them in the first group eligible to receive it. The importance of accessible education of incarcerated folks on the science behind the vaccine is another way in which the state has made strides to prioritize its prison population.

Biden Moves to End Justice Dept. Contracts With Private Prisons As Part of Focus On Targeting Racial Inequality

By Jim Tankersley and Annie Karni | The New York Times

Authors Tankersley and Karni outline Biden's executive order to stop the renewal of upcoming government contracts with private prisons and his order to condemn discrimination against Asian-Americans in response to escalated aggression during coronavirus pandemic. These two executive orders are intended to begin Biden's plan to "make progress to eliminate systematic racism."

Prison Education Bill Seeks to Provide Second - And First - Chances to Washington's Incarcerated

By Matthew Hipolito | The Daily

Expanding upon the efforts of a pilot program, this Washington state bill expands the education program in Washington state prisons and makes aid for post-secondary degrees more accessible for incarcerated individuals. Additonally, resources such as assistance with aid forms, program consideration in transfer orders, and education assistance will be put into practice and funded by the state under HB 1044.