There are a million interconnected issues which have created our monstrous incarceration systems, and incarceration is just one more area where racial inequities become so glaringly obvious. This week on the Nonprofit Jenni Show, two Ameelio representatives come on the show to have a conversation with me about some of the specific failures of our incarceration systems. We discuss the solutions Ameelio offers to nonprofits, those who are incarcerated, and their loved ones.
How are people of color disproportionately impacted by the prison system?
There are probably dozens of statistics we could give you to show how people of color (and especially Black and Brown men) are disproportionately impacted by our country’s justice system. Emma Gray, Ameelio’s Outreach Coordinator, shares just a few:
Nearly 1 in 2 Americans has a family member who has experienced incarceration.
In 2017, there were 1,549 black prisoners for every 100,000 black adults – nearly six times the imprisonment rate for whites (272 per 100,000) and nearly double the rate for Hispanics (823 per 100,000).
If African Americans and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rates as whites, prison and jail populations would decline by almost 40%.
You can learn more about the other ways systemic racism negatively impacts Black people and encourage your community members to take action with Nonprofit Jenni’s free Racial Injustice Awareness Kit. A premium version of this awareness kit allows you to customize all awareness materials with your nonprofit’s brand colors, fonts, and preferred text.
What’s wrong with the US prison and jail communication systems?
Although the US Department of Justice has found that greater contact between incarcerated people and their loved ones reduces recidivism rates, prisons and jails are currently set up to make family communication very difficult or even impossible. Again, we could share dozens of statistics highlighting the problem, but here are a few key facts:
Visitation restrictions vary widely between states. Some states only allow a couple hours of visitation per week, and some allow visits every day of the year. Arizona even requires new visitors to pay a $25 background check fee before they can see their loved one.
63% of people in state prisons are located over 100 miles from their family, so expensive mail and phone systems are often the only realistic communication option.
Prison communication is worth $1.2 billion with 50% margins. Many states even share in the profits from the communications systems, which contributes to the high costs.
Where can you find data about US inmates and incarceration?
Gabriel Saruhashi, Ameelio’s co-founder, explains that it’s very difficult to find good data about US inmates, or about incarceration in general because there is no centralized data source to contain this information. Currently, every state has its own separate database storing information about their inmates, and each state chooses different types of information to track. For example, some states track an estimated release date for each inmate, but others only track the maximum release date.
Additionally, the current databases storing inmate information are bulky and difficult to navigate. If you want to retrieve specific data about inmates, most systems require you to manually search for one specific inmate at a time, and most require you to have the inmate’s ID or assigned number on hand to search for them.
What is Ameelio doing to solve prison communication and data search issues?
Ameelio’s mission is to create an ecosystem of free communication tools to connect those who are incarcerated with their loved ones. Currently, anyone with an incarcerated loved one can visit ameelio.org to send free mail communications back and forth. Ameelio is also developing a video conferencing system which would allow inmates to make free video calls with their loved ones.
They are also working to build a single, centralized interface which collects data about inmates from every state and the federal system. This way, uniform data can be available to the public and to policymakers who need information to inform their legislative initiatives.
How Your Nonprofit Can Partner with Ameelio
There two key ways your nonprofit can work with Ameelio to solve the incarceration problem:
If you serve people who are likely to have an incarcerated loved one (such as people of color and people living in low-income areas), tell them about Ameelio. Email emma@ameelio.org to get flyers and social media graphics to spread awareness about their free communication services.
If you offer services to people who have recently been released from prison or jail, email emma@ameelio.org to find out if Ameelio can help you share your nonprofit’s information with current inmates set for an upcoming release.
Your nonprofit may want to consider partnering with Ameelio if your mission involves:
Providing mental health services
Offering job training and/or placement services
Placing vulnerable individuals and/or families in secure housing
Providing education and other resources to current inmates
Reentry services to inmates who will be released soon
You can also listen to Jenni’s recent podcast episode about nonprofit advocacy to learn some different ways your nonprofit can advocate for a better justice system (without jeopardizing your nonprofit status and funding!).
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