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Posts Tagged ‘Prison’

Ice-T’s TEDxSingSing Talk On ‘Surviving’ (Video)

Recent throwback TEDx talk from Ice T. Great insights and a very worthwhile watch. In fact, I should not have even mentioned the throwback aspect. Relevant to today. Hear some real life struggles from the former light-skinned, light-eyed little kid named Tracy who had to turn gangsta just to survive growing up.

@ojones1

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Victims Of Misfortune (Extended Trailer)

The American criminal justice system is more about addressing the ‘criminal’ part rather than the ‘justice’ part of its moniker. A quick search on ‘prison’ on here will tell you that. But this “Victims Of Misfortune” shows how deep the dung is; addressing what happens to the imprisoned after they have served their time. Facts and nearly two decades of research folks. Don’t argue with folks who disagree, as this is no longer a debate. This is a documentary that exposes truths and shares knowledge.

Victims Of Misfortune is a feature-length, social change documentary that will give a historical and current look at America’s criminal justice system and the discriminatory policies that people with a criminal background face, post conviction/release. Victims Of Misfortune will also take a closer look at America’s system of indentured servitude putting the practice in proper historical context. The United States has 5 percent of the world population, with around 25 percent of the world’s prisoners (over 2.4 million people behind bars). Nearly $70 billion is spent annually on probation/parole, prison and detention centers for immigration detainees. Once these people are released from prison or have a criminal record, they are then discriminated against for employment, housing, education, governmental benefits and some even deported.

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Stay Melo: Carmelo Anthony Goes To Rikers Island (Video)

Great stuff! VICE is keeping the heat on the prison industry by taking the cameras back inside. First President Obama does a special at a Federal prison; now Carmelo Anthony visits Rikers Island for this episode of “Stay Melo.” Impactful, especially for Melo, touring the jail facility and meeting a group of young prisoners. Growing up, he knew folks who’d done time and came back home. But being inside like this, even knowing he would eventually leave, was very different.

I’m not sure what I expected. I knew it wasn’t going to be pleasant. And, it wasn’t. At all. It was extremely disturbing.
Carmelo Anthony

Watch above.

WATCH: PREVIOUS EPISODES OF ‘STAY MELO’

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Inmates Watch And React To The VICE Special Report ‘Fixing The System’ (Video)

After finishing Fixing the System, our HBO special report about America’s broken criminal justice complex, VICE traveled back to El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in Oklahoma, to screen the documentary for inmates and staff. We then asked them about President Obama’s historic visit to the prison and their thoughts on the documentary. Watch their reactions above.
– VICE

PREVIOUS: FIXING THE SYSTEM (FULL EPISODE)

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California Cleared To Start Force-Feeding Inmates On Hunger Strike (Video)

You’d think once folks saw the atrocity that is force-feeding of inmates on hunger strike they’d stop the practice, right? But you probably guessed that officials would do just the opposite. But that was just at Gitmo – a military prison in Cuba. The United States would NEVER allow such to happen on its soil… right? Right…? WRONG! A California judge just cleared the way for force feeding of the state inmates on hunger strike given ‘certain conditions.’

‘US District Judge Thelton Henderson is allowing prison doctors in California to force-feed inmates who are participating in a hunger strike. According to the ruling, if a prisoner is near death then a doctor is allowed to step in and intervene in the matter. As of now, 136 inmates are protesting living conditions and policies in place at facilities in the Golden State.’

Sorry, Yasiin. It doesn’t seem that publicity surrounding your courageous effort was enough to change the hardliners’ hearts and minds. We posted the gruesome Yasiin Bey force-feeding demo on here a while back.

@ojones1

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Technology: JPay – the ‘Apple’ of the U.S. Prison System

The U.S. federal prison population has more than doubled over the last decade. While many see that as bad for society, Miami-based JPay sees it as good for business. The company made a lot of money handling money transfers, e-mail communications, and monitored video visitations for more than 1 million prisoners in about 35 states & now has begun marketing its own line of “prison-proof” MP3 players. Prison facilities generally forbid devices – like music players – that can be turned into weapons (by smashing them for glass shards, for example), concealing contraband, or to be used to communicate freely with the outside world. JPay, leveraging its experience servicing a prison population that it knows LOVES music, seems to have come up with a JP3 player that meets that music demand while satisfying prison officials’ security demands.

The JP3, which family or friends can buy for prisoners online for around $40, is virtually indestructible, Shapiro says. Inmates use it to browse JPay’s library of more than 10 million songs on electronic kiosks the company installs in common areas inside prisons. Downloads run from $1.29 to $1.99 a tune.

JPay charges are more than what iTunes typically charges for downloads, but JPay says it shares revenues with prison systems (giving back, so to speak). Plus they keep the tech coming. Next up: JP4, the first mini tablet designed exclusively for prisons.

@ojones1
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Beanie Sigel Speaks On New Albums, Prison, & More On NYC Radio Stations (Video)

In this extended interview with The Breakfast Club on Power 105, Beanie Sigel talks about his upcoming album with State Property, his respect for Meek Mill and Rick Ross, his upcoming ‘Al Capone’ bid (for tax evasion), his being ‘The Gooch’ for the Roc-A-Fella fam, and more. Check out more video of Beans below as he answers more questions on rival station HOT 97 with Angie Martinez.
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Top High School Basketball Prospect Collapses After Judge Gives Him 3 Years In Prison (Video)

Very, very sad situation all around. Tony Farmer, Garfield Heights High School basketball star, collapsed in court upon hearing Judge Pamela Barker pronounce sentencing that will take from him every opportunity afforded him by his on-court talent due to his violent acts off-court. His liberty and future at stake, Farmer’s assault victim and ex-girlfriend (Andrea Lane) was among those who pleaded that the judge not send him to jail; rather, that he be sent for help and counseling. We won’t retry the case in any way in this post. That is being done enough elsewhere. What is done is done. While it probably will not be headline news, Farmer will likely petition for early release after serving 180 days. Whether he should be released after 180 days, is a matter we will leave for you to debate. What we are most interested in is whether Farmer will be made to go to counseling once he is released. That much we KNOW he needs; as even he seemed surprised that his crime warranted a three-year sentence. Farmer must know (or learn) that his actions were inexcusable; whether he is down for 6 months or 36 months.
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