Editing Article Page
Title
Content
<div id='article-page'><div id='article-content' data-media-url='//news-app-staging.s3.amazonaws.com' data-base-url='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/Prison_audio.m4a' data-capture-url='//staging.analytics.lingraphica.com/events/capture_news' data-article-title='Prison Watchdog Group Watching US Jails' data-article-id='266'><script src='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/javascripts/getscripts.js'></script><link rel='stylesheet' href='//news-app-staging.herokuapp.com/stylesheets/article.css' type='text/css' /><div class='article'><p><span data-start-time='0' data-end-time='10063'>The United States has almost a fourth of the world's prison population -- more than two million people, to be exact.</span> <span data-start-time='10063' data-end-time='16500'>That number comes from the International Centre for Prison Studies in London.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='16500' data-end-time='28354'>Among the groups working to improve conditions for prisoners and guarantee their rights is the John Howard Association of Illinois.</span> <span data-start-time='28354' data-end-time='33313'>The association's work was recognized last month. </span> <span data-start-time='33313' data-end-time='41063'>The group received a $500,000 award from the MacArthur Foundation.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='41063' data-end-time='51708'>The John Howard Association uncovers conditions that need to be changed and gives voice to prisoners' interests.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='51708' data-end-time='59521'>Ricky was jailed for murder, and spent almost 35 years of his life in prison.</span> <span data-start-time='59521' data-end-time='63938'>The 59-year-old is now free from jail.</span> <span data-start-time='63938' data-end-time='69063'>But he has troubling memories of his incarceration.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='69063' data-end-time='86458'>I would have to say psychologically, you know, trying to endure day after day, week after week, you know, and watching your loved ones pass as the years go on.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='86458' data-end-time='93375'>Ricky also had to deal with problems and issues that prisoners face each day.</span> <span data-start-time='93375' data-end-time='97833'>Ricky lived in a small room, with other inmates.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='97833' data-end-time='107625'>They would put you in a cell with someone you wasn't compatible with, but mainly I would have to say, not having a voice.</span> <span data-start-time='107625' data-end-time='112708'>And, uh, prison conditions, you know, you have over crowdedness."</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='112708' data-end-time='122104'>Jennifer Vollen-Katz is the acting Executive Director for the John Howard Association, or JHA.</span> <span data-start-time='122104' data-end-time='129500'>The group has been closely watching the prison system in the American state of Illinois.</span> <span data-start-time='129500' data-end-time='139583'>She says the system was designed for just over 32,000 inmates, but many more live there now.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='139583' data-end-time='145396'>"We're somewhere in the neighborhood of 47,000 inmates within the State of Illinois Department of Corrections."</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='145396' data-end-time='155292'>Jennifer Vollen-Katz says overcrowding, putting too many people in a small area, is a big problem.</span> <span data-start-time='155292' data-end-time='163188'>She says it can create unsafe conditions for both prisoners and people working at the jail.</span> <span data-start-time='163188' data-end-time='169688'>She says overcrowding leads to a lack of what she calls 'programing.'</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='169688' data-end-time='190896'>"A lack of programing means that inmates are not able to use their time productively, to gain skills, to do things that might increase their employment opportunities upon release, not to mention just sheer boredom and missing your family and all that being exasperated by lack of productive activity and engagement, which is certainly a problem inside our prisons right now."</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='190896' data-end-time='204042'>JHA watches over and reports on Illinois' prisons for adults and those for juveniles, where young people serve out their sentences.</span> <span data-start-time='204042' data-end-time='216375'>Ms. Vollen-Katz says the groups goal is to educate policy makers and the public about the truths of criminal justice policy.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='216375' data-end-time='234417'>"We believe that there is importance simply in showing up, and bearing witness and reporting our observations of what goes on inside prison to the outside world so that the outside world remembers that our citizens that are in prison are still our citizens, that these are still people and that these are people that will eventually return to our communities."</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='234417' data-end-time='241542'>Over the years, JHA has helped to influence major policy changes.</span> <span data-start-time='241542' data-end-time='248792'>For example, a recent report uncovered poor medical treatment of prisoners.</span> <span data-start-time='248792' data-end-time='260417'>The report led to public hearings on prison healthcare, and an investigation of the Illinois Department of Corrections healthcare system.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='260417' data-end-time='272313'>In 2009, JHA raised the importance of identifying and treating mental sickness among prisoners.</span> <span data-start-time='272313' data-end-time='282729'>One of its suggestions for preventing suicide was to do away with metal bunk beds in juvenile prisons.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='282729' data-end-time='286771'>"They posed a great danger to those experiencing suicidal thoughts. </span> <span data-start-time='286771' data-end-time='292146'>And in report after report, we pointed out how dangerous this kind of furniture was.</span> <span data-start-time='292146' data-end-time='303542'>And not 100 percent yet, but pretty close to, the furniture have been traded out to plastic molded bedding that doesn't pose the same danger that the old furniture did."</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='303542' data-end-time='317958'>The John Howard Association was one of nine non-profit groups honored this year with a MacArthur Foundation Award for Creative and Effective Institutions.</span> <span data-start-time='317958' data-end-time='329375'>Ms. Vollen-Katz says the award will help her group do its work, because JHA does not receive any government money.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='329375' data-end-time='349542'>"We received a $500,000 award, which is incredibly exciting for us in terms of our ability to build capacity, to increase our communications and outreach and get more support and to do more work; all that is incredibly exciting and important for an organization of our size."</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='349542' data-end-time='361646'>With this recognition and support, Jennifer Vollen-Katz says, JHA is set to continue working in support of prison reforms.</span> <span data-start-time='361646' data-end-time='370750'>The group is working to make sure that the Illinois justice system is both fair and caring.</span> </p><p><span data-start-time='370750' data-end-time='372813'>Im Anne Ball.</span> </p></div><div class='control-buttons-sticky' style='display:none;'><div class='control-buttons'><button title='Back' class='back' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Play' class='play' disabled='disabled'></button><button title='Pause' class='pause' style='display:none;'></button><button title='Forward' class='forward' disabled='disabled'></button><button class='finished-reading' style='display:none;'>Done</button></div></div></div><div id='article-media'><div id='media-image'><img src='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/jha_image.jpg'/></div></div><div id='question-content' style='display:none;'><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=1650 data-hint-location='190896' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/what_does_juvenile_mean.m4a'>What does juvenile mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='relating to young people'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/to_suffer.m4a'><span>to suffer</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/to_feel_very_angry.m4a'><span>to feel very angry</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/relating_to_young_people.m4a'><span>relating to young people</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/imprisonment.m4a'><span>imprisonment</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=1651 data-hint-location='69063' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/what_does_endure_mean.m4a'>What does endure mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='to suffer without yielding'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/to_suffer_without_yielding.m4a'><span>to suffer without yielding</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/relating_to_young_people.m4a'><span>relating to young people</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/imprisonment.m4a'><span>imprisonment</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/to_feel_angry.m4a'><span>to feel angry</span></div></div></div><div class='vocabulary_question question-container' data-question-id=1652 data-hint-location='63938' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/what_does_incarceration_me.m4a'>What does incarceration mean?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='imprisonment'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/imprisonment.m4a'><span>imprisonment</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/to_feel_very_angry.m4a'><span>to feel very angry</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/to_suffer.m4a'><span>to suffer</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/relating_to_young_people.m4a'><span>relating to young people</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=1653 data-hint-location='260417' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/jha_raised_awareness_about.m4a'>JHA raised awareness about the importance of identifying and treating what in prisoners?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='mental sickness'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/learning_disabilities.m4a'><span>learning disabilities</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/hiv.m4a'><span>HIV</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/mental_sickness.m4a'><span>mental sickness</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/measles.m4a'><span>measles</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=1654 data-hint-location='145396' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/what_is_one_of_the_major_p.m4a'>What is one of the major problems that prisons face?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='overcrowding'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/lack_of_personnel.m4a'><span>lack of personnel</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/lack_of_supplies.m4a'><span>lack of supplies</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/underfunded.m4a'><span>underfunded</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/overcrowding.m4a'><span>overcrowding</span></div></div></div><div class='multiple_choice_question question-container' data-question-id=1655 data-hint-location='122104' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/what_state_is_the_jha_watc.m4a'>What state is the JHA watching the prison conditions in?</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='Illinois'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/iowa.m4a'><span>Iowa</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/illinois.m4a'><span>Illinois</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/new_jersey.m4a'><span>New Jersey</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/idaho.m4a'><span>Idaho</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=1656 data-hint-location='163188' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/overcrowding_in_prisons_le.m4a'>Overcrowding in prisons leads to a lack of <span class='blank'>programing</span>.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='programing'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/attention.m4a'><span>attention</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/programing.m4a'><span>programing</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/funding.m4a'><span>funding</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/care.m4a'><span>care</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=1657 data-hint-location='204042' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/the_goal_is_to__blank__the.m4a'>The goal is to <span class='blank'>educate</span> the public about the truths of the criminal justice policy.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='educate'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/convince.m4a'><span>convince</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/berate.m4a'><span>berate</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/educate.m4a'><span>educate</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/reprimand.m4a'><span>reprimand</span></div></div></div><div class='sentence_completion_question question-container' data-question-id=1658 data-hint-location='41063' style='display:none;'><div class='question' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/the__blank__gives_voice_to.m4a'>The <span class='blank'>John Howard Association</span> gives voice to prisoners' interests.</div><div class='choices' data-correct-choice='John Howard Association'><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/john_howard_association.m4a'><span>John Howard Association</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/jj_association.m4a'><span>JJ Association</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/peta.m4a'><span>PETA</span></div><div class='choice' data-sound-name='https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/red_cross.m4a'><span>Red Cross</span></div></div></div><div class='question-buttons'><button class='skip-button'></button><button class='hint-button'></button><button class='speak-button'></button></div></div></div>
Sound name
https://news-app-production.s3.amazonaws.com/articles/17/Prison_audio.m4a
Show
|
Back