WISDOM Listening Session on DOC Experiences Thursday, February 4

Save the Date!!
February 4, 2016 5:00 to 7:00 pm
Grace Episcopal Church
116 W. Washington Avenue, Madison
for a LISTENING SESSION
regarding The Department of Corrections

People are invited to come to tell their own experiences related to:

  • Excessive Crimeless Revocations (being revoked back to prison for a “technical violation” of Supervision rules)
  • Denial of opportunity for parole for “Old Law” prisoners who have already been in prison longer than the sentencing judge required.
  • Excessive use of Solitary Confinement
  • Lack of “Compassionate Release” for elderly and ill prisoners.

The Department of Corrections has refused to meet with the community or to respond to legitimate concerns.  Legislators, media, and people of good will are invited to hear for themselves about many concerns regarding this unaccountable system.
With questions, please contact David Liners at 414-736-2099, or at david.liners1@gmail.com.  You can also contact him if you have a story to tell and want to be certain to get on the speakers’ list.

THIS WEEK: Resource Fair, Reform Now screening, and WISDOM presentations

Tuesday, November 10, 5-9pm – Central Library

  • Reform Now is a 45 minute collection of documentaries showcasing work Wisconsin residents are doing to challenge solitary confinement and incarceration practices. The film begins at 5:30pm, and filmmaker Tim Coursen will lead a discussion after the screening.
  • WISDOM will present their 11×15/Restoring Our Communities Wisconsin campaign to decrease Wisconsin’s prison population to 11,000 by the end of 2015. WISDOM is an interfaith grassroots network. Presentation starts at 7:30pm.
  • resource fair will be available on a drop-in basis from 5-9pm for visitors to meet members of community groups who are addressing racial inequalities and working for social justice.  Groups present include WISDOM, MOSES, Madison Groundwork, Urban League of Greater Madison, Justified Anger, YWCA, and Madison Urban Ministry.

Experience Solitary Confinement

Wednesday, November 11, 7-9pm – Central Library

Former inmate Talib Akbar, Reverend Jerry Hancock, Reverend Kate Edwards, and Jean Feraca, formerly of Wisconsin Public Radio, will share their experiences with solitary confinement and their involvement with prison reform.

  • A lifesize, walk-in model of a solitary confinement cell, based on drawings made by Mr. Akbar, and a soundtrack of a real unit will be at the library during the event and also available for anyone to experience at the library from November 7 through November 12.

 

library flyer

Upcoming MOSES and WISDOM Events!

Reposted from Madison365 by Robert Chapell:

Criminal Justice Reform Community Meeting Set for Monday

“The Dane County Board of Supervisors will host a community conversation regarding potential reform of the county’s criminal justice system on Monday, October 12, from 6 until 8:30 pm on the second floor of the Alliant Energy Center.

The conversation will feature small-group discussion of more than 30 recommendations put forward recently by three community workgroups who addressed needs in the areas of: Alternatives to Arrest and Incarceration; Length of Stay; and Mental Health, Solitary Confinement and Incarceration.

“The three workgroups addressed critical issues with a great deal of dedication and commitment.  I have high expectations for criminal justice reform and furthering our unique partnerships with the criminal justice stakeholders and the Dane County community,” County Board Chair Sharon Corrigan said in a statement today. “Monday will provide an opportunity for those who have not yet been involved to join us at the table. I hope people will come together, learn the issues and help us prioritize the next steps.”

Community members are encouraged to attend, Corrigan said. The workgroup report is available here.”

ROC Wisconsin: Restoring Our Communities — Beyond 11×15

Kick-off on November 3, at 9:30 am.  We will be meeting at Bethel Lutheran Church in Madison (the same place as the Madison Action Day last April).  This will inaugurate the new phase of our criminal justice reform campaign.  We will continue to work on the same nuts and bolts areas (e.g. TAD funding, Solitary Confinement, Old Law Parole, Crimeless Revocations, etc.).  But, it will be done with an eye on the larger picture we strive for, which includes these main aims:
  1. For Wisconsin to invest in the programs and strategies that will end the racial and economic disparities that fuel mass incarceration
  2. For Wisconsin to reduce it prison population to 11,000, and to reduce the number of people on extended supervision
  3. For Wisconsinites to view people who have been convicted of a crime as human beings and members of families.
  4. For formerly-incarcerated people to be restored to full participation in our communities, our economy and our civic life.

Annual Celebration will be Saturday, October 10, 2015

Join us for the MOSES Annual Celebration! Click here for more information or email mosesticketsales@gmail.com.  You can also promote your business and support MOSES by purchasing an ad in the 2015 Yearbook. Click here for more information on how to purchase an ad or email yearbook@mosesmadison.org.

moses annual celeb flyer

Experience Solitary Confinement at Edgewood College

During the week of March 9th, stop by The Stream in the Theatre Arts building at Edgewood College in Madison WI to experience life in a solitary confinement cell. This experience is contemplative in nature and campus-wide participation is encouraged. The Solitary Cell can be reserved for an individual over a 30 or 60 minute time period. Please contact Tony Garcia, tgarcia@edgewood.edu, for group/classroom visits.
solitary at edgewood

Save the Date! April 29: Madison Action Day 2015

10980174_10103996077670197_1487870611916962618_oPeople of Faith United for Justice
Madison Action Day
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Bethel Lutheran Church
312 Wisconsin Avenue, Madison, WI

Cost: $25 per person includes lunch, childcare and transportation. Registration deadline is April 15. Please download and complete this form and or email info to mosesorganizer@gmail.com to register.

All contributions are welcome!  Scholarship requests will be honored on a first come-first served basis. Make checks payable to MOSES and deliver during a monthly meeting.  You may also mail checks to: MOSES, PO Box 7031, Madison, WI 53707

Keynote Speakers:
Reverend Everett Mitchell, Director of Community Relations of UW-Madison and Pastor at Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Madison.
Hannah Rosenthal: CEO and president, Milwaukee Jewish Federation

Agenda

  •   8:00 Check-in & Refreshments
  •   9:00 Morning Plenary & Issue Briefing
  • 12:00 Lunch
  •   1:00 Legislative Visits at Capital
  •   4:00 Action Day Concludes

Please indicate if you are:

  • volunteering for childcare or requesting childcare and the number and ages of children.
  • if you are interested in carpooling, whether you are driving or riding, and the area of town for pick up/drop off.
  • requesting a scholarship or donating to scholarships that create opportunities for more disenfranchised advocates to participate.

For more information, email info@mosesmadison.org or call 608-622-2360.

CO-SPONSORS: Wisconsin Council of Churches, Faith Voices for Justice, Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee, Lutheran Office for Public Policy, Madison Area Urban Ministry, Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Jewish Federation of Madison, Wisconsin Jewish Conference and WISDOM

 

Solitary Confinement Cell Replica & #ReformNow Video

The replica of a solitary confinement cell will be installed at First Congregational Church in Madison, WI from January 4 – January 10, 2015.

The cell will be available for viewing during the following times:

  • solitary-confinement-flyerSunday, Jan 4: 10am worship service
  • Tuesday, Jan 6: 1-4 pm
  • Thursday, Jan 8: 1-4 pm and 6-8 pm
  • Saturday, Jan 10: 9-noon (Tour before or after the monthly MOSES meeting!)

 

Also, view the Reform Now video on Solitary Confinement including footage from the October 1 rally at the State Capitol:

 


WISDOM Launches 11×15 Blueprint Details #11x15blueprint

On Wednesday, December 10, it was standing room only in the State Capitol as WISDOM announced its blueprint for achieving the goal of cutting Wisconsin’s prison population in half (to 11,000) by 2015. YOU are a critical part of bringing this plan to reality. If you missed the event, you can watch a recording by Wisconsin Eye.

Click here to check out a presentation you can share with your friends, family, and colleagues about the 11×15 Blueprint. (Click here to download the Power Point presentation.)

You can also click here to read the detailed executive summary for more details about the approach WISDOM and its affiliates are taking to end mass incarceration in Wisconsin.

BluePrint ppt 12 10 14

11×15 Blueprint to End Mass Incarceration Announced Wednesday, December 10, 2014!

Wisconsin can cut its prison population in half.  Actions taken in 2015 can make it happen.  Learn how action by people of faith and good will can be the decisive factor.

11×15 Blueprint to End Mass Incarceration
Wednesday, December 10
10:00 am
State Capitol, Room 411S

Following the presentation, anyone interested in being part of the solution is invited to nearby First United Methodist Church for lunch and to meet in groups to work on strategies to continue to demand:

  • Increased resources for Treatment Alternatives and Diversions (TAD) programs that can keep thousands of people out of prison.
  • The Second Chance Act, which will keep most 17 year-olds out of adult courts
  • Sentencing Reform
  • Parole for more than 2,500 eligible prisoners who have been denied a fair chance for release, even after they have served the time intended by judges.
  • An end to the torture that is Solitary Confinement
  • “Compassionate Release” for prisoners who are elderly and/or very ill
  • Alternatives to Revocation for many of the 4,000 people whose Supervision or Parole is revoked for “technical violations”
  • Audit and reform of a faulty GPS Monitoring system
  • Transitional Jobs opportunities for thousands of long-term unemployed Wisconsinites, including many with conviction histories
  • Ban the Box legislation and reform of the CCAP on-line data base

For more information, contact David Liners at 414-736-2099, or at david.liners1@gmail.com  Or, contact any local WISDOM organization.

Experience Solitary Confinement in Madison

A replica of a solitary confinement cell will be installed for one week at the Madison Christian Community, 7118 Old Sauk Road, beginning this weekend.
As part of the installation, there will be a forum held on Tuesday evening, November 18th. Reverend Jerry Hancock will be leading the forum, which will include speakers and a talking circle.
The cell will be available for a few hours during the week for viewing and/or for spending some time sitting inside of it, in meditation or prayer or simply deep reflection about the reality of what we are doing inside of our prisons to our brothers and sisters. If you’re interested in this opportunity, please see the contact information on the flyer below.

solitary confinement flyer