The Buddha Dharma Group of San Quentin held its fifth ordination ceremony April 15. Preceptor and volunteer Zen Priest Jiryu (Mark Byler Rutschman) conducted ceremonies inducting eight new Bodhisattvas. The Zen Buddhist Lay Ordination Ceremony derives from an ancient ceremony that marked a person’s entry into monastic life. For laypeople today, the ceremony represents a way to publicly affirm a commitment to centering one’s life around benefiting others instead of pursuing self-centered desires. “Om Homage Shakymuni Buddha” (an invocation … [Read more...] about SQ Buddha Dharma group holds fifth ordination ceremony
Education
Report outlines domestic extremist-related killings in 2017
In 2017, extremists from a wide array of groups committed 34 “domestic extremist-related killings,” according to a report by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). “White supremacists were responsible for the majority of extremist-related killings in 2017, as is usually the case each year,” the ADL reported. That, however, was not true in 2016, when the numbers dipped to 13 percent. “Twenty of the 34 extremist-related murders in the United States in 2017, or 59 percent, were related to right-wing extremism,” the ADL reported. “Islamic … [Read more...] about Report outlines domestic extremist-related killings in 2017
Project Fresh Start helps parolees achieve their dreams
In New Haven, Connecticut, Amenzo King has a dream. He wants to own his own hot dog stand. It may sound humble, but for King this dream is a big one. He’s been in and out of prison for over 20 years, but now, through the reentry program Fresh Start, he feels success is on the horizon. “They changed my life,” King said in an article in The Politic by reporter Molly Shapiro. “Now I’m happy with myself. I’m happy that I’m moving along, doing something. Fresh Start showed me the way.” Project Fresh Start, a program founded by former New Haven … [Read more...] about Project Fresh Start helps parolees achieve their dreams
War correspondent and filmmaker reflects back on his fatal mistake
One thoughtless mistake traumatized many lives and landed Donovan Webster in prison, according to his account in AARP The Magazine. Webster was a writer, war correspondent and filmmaker, until he caused a fatal crash one night in August 2014. Webster was driving intoxicated down a curvy mountain road, when he sideswiped Wayne T. White’s car, causing it to be crushed by an oncoming 18-wheeler. Webster had an alcohol blood level of 0.10 percent, according to the article. The legal limit is 0.08. “We lived in a small town. Everyone knew who I … [Read more...] about War correspondent and filmmaker reflects back on his fatal mistake
Privacy advocates suffer setback with DNA collection
Privacy advocates suffered a major setback when California’s Supreme Court refused to throw out a law provision that allows the state to obtain and store the DNA of any adult arrested on the suspicion of a felony, reported the Los Angeles Times. “The DNA Act unlawfully invades people’s reasonable expectation of privacy in their personal genetic information,” said dissenting Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuellar. The 4-3 ruling was described as a victory for prosecutors by the Times. While this provision of Proposition 69 was upheld, Justice … [Read more...] about Privacy advocates suffer setback with DNA collection
Positive changes in the criminal justice system lead to prisoners adjusting to free society
Positive changes in America’s criminal justice system are exposing significant changes in helping long-term prisoners adjust to a free society. “It’s common to come out with untreated illness, chronic conditions due to age and neglect. How are they going to live?” asked Gretchen Newby, executive director of the Stockton-based nonprofit Friends Outside. Long sentences versus a thaw in the parole process resulted in releases of long-term prisoners with long-term consequences, wrote Joseph Rodriguez and Nell Bernstein in an opinion article in … [Read more...] about Positive changes in the criminal justice system lead to prisoners adjusting to free society
Norco program provides more than just an education
Prisoners at the California Rehabilitation Center in Norco are getting a higher education and earning time off their sentences through the Norco College program, reports the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. The new prison program started in February 2017. Norco’s original plan was to start the program in the fall of 2018, but that was not soon enough for prison officials. “They said, ‘We want it now,’” said Jason Parks, Norco College’s interim dean of instruction. Bryan Reece, Norco College president, added, “It’s right in our backyard and it’s … [Read more...] about Norco program provides more than just an education
Indiana hires more formerly incarcerated with state’s help
More and more employers are hiring former inmates with the assistance of Indiana’s state and local government reported the Indianapolis Business Journal. “We [aim to] better prepare our offenders for opportunities in today’s economy with more high-demand critical training that they need to succeed once they are out,” Gov. Eric Holcomb said in an interview with the Journal. One example of these efforts is Indianapolis’ HIRE program. The initiative started in 2012 with 300 employers and has since grown to nearly 1,140 businesses, with a 97 … [Read more...] about Indiana hires more formerly incarcerated with state’s help
Corcoran prison 30 years later
California State Prison, Corcoran has changed dramatically since it opened 30 years ago, according to an officer who has been there since the beginning. “It’s turned to the better,” Correctional Officer Rey Aguirre said, at ceremonies marking the 30 years of Corcoran history. Corcoran was the 19th of the current 35 prisons built in California. It opened in February 1988 with a cost of $262 million, the Hanford Sentinel reported March 29. The prison houses 3,202 inmates and comprises nine facilities. The prison was built on 942 acres and the … [Read more...] about Corcoran prison 30 years later
China teaches prison inmates e-commerce before reléase
More than 30 prisoners at Qiao Si Prison, the largest prison in China’s Zhejiang Province, received a training course in e-commerce last December, according to an article by Jenny W. Hsu for an Alibaba publication. Taobao University, which offers the e-commerce course, was established in 2009 as the educational arm of Alibaba, the Hangzhou-based tech giant. A team of e-commerce specialists and industrial players are involved with the university. The program’s primary aim is to teach online business methods and worldwide practical insight. … [Read more...] about China teaches prison inmates e-commerce before reléase