Highrock Beyond Bars invites you to gather with and on behalf of those affected by incarceration to encourage practitioners, engage with stories of change, and be equipped in the pursuit of justice, redemption, and restoration. This year’s conference will focus on being Locked in Solidarity with those who are currently and formerly incarcerated, particularly in relation to their… Continue reading Locked in Solidarity Conference
Repost from WBUR December 11, 2024 by Cristela Guerra and Stephanie Brown The story of FFIMI friend and supporter, Ernest Nate Benjamin, was told in an interview on WBUR 90.1 radio today. Nate is in a group of about 150 individuals in Massachusetts who were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole… Continue reading A year after Mass. high court ruled emerging adults should have parole, no one has been released
By Guest Blogger Ernest Nate Benjamin Hello again, friends, family, and supporters of Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness! Before I begin, I’d like to share a thought-provoking quote: “It becomes more necessary to see the truth as it is if you realize that the only vehicle for change are these people who… Continue reading Rehabilitation Over Profit: The Case for Meaningful Prison Programs
Wednesday, November 13, 7pm - Gasson Hall, Chestnut Hill MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow and University of Chicago sociologist Dr. Reuben Miller is the author of Halfway Home: Race, Punishment, and the Afterlife of Mass Incarceration. As a chaplain at the Cook County Jail in Chicago and as a sociologist studying mass incarceration, he has spent years… Continue reading Dr. Reuben Jonathan Miller – this week at Boston College
At FFIMI, we are committed to learning from global approaches that prioritize dignity, mental health, and rehabilitation for incarcerated individuals. The article we’re sharing today highlights the progressive Nordic prison model, which emphasizes humane treatment and rehabilitation—an approach that stands in stark contrast to the punitive conditions found in many U.S. prisons, especially for those… Continue reading Green Space in Prison: Rehabilitation through Beautification
By Ernest Nate Benjamin Hello, friends, family, and supporters of Family & Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness (FFIMI). I wanted to share another piece for the FFIMI blog. I wrote to the powers that be a while ago, hoping to secure funding and training for clinicians to learn about Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing… Continue reading From Trauma to Healing: Advocating for EMDR in Prisons
By Benjamin Walsh Years go by, and I don't understand my place here or what this is—what prison is. Is it punishment? Correction? Restoration? Hell? Just a warehouse? All those things at various times? The department is a living contradiction of aims. It needs strong leadership to bring it into becoming something that actually resembles… Continue reading A Reflection from the Inside: The Power of Leadership and the Opportunity for Cultural Shift in the Massachusetts DOC
What are the long-term effects of excessive sentencing on individuals, families, and communities? We are sharing this resource for those who might be interested in an event aimed at promoting restorative justice, something that FFIMI is passionate about. Join a panel conversation to explore the state of excessive sentencing in the United States as well… Continue reading Excessive Sentencing and Mass Incarceration in Context – at Tufts Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life
By Laura Walsh A couple of weeks ago, while sitting in the visitation room at Old Colony Correctional Center, my eyes wandered to the murals on the walls, something I've grown accustomed to during the hours spent here with my loved one. As the Project Youth mural came into view, I noticed it looked different.… Continue reading Together Becoming Better
FFIMI invites its community to support a meaningful cause through Just Detention International (JDI). JDI is a health and human rights organization committed to ending sexual abuse in detention. Kathy Dennehy, who serves on the Board of Directors for both Bethany House Ministries and JDI, has shared this opportunity to participate in JDI’s "Words of… Continue reading Words of Hope Campaign
Family and Friends of Individuals with Mental Illness ~ Advocating for those who are Justice Involved 