Sex offenders sue over Facebook restrictions

Registered sex offenders who have been banned from social networking websites are fighting back in the nation's courts, successfully challenging many of the restrictions as infringements on free speech and their right to participate in common online discussions.

The legal battles pit public outrage over sex crimes against cherished guarantees of individual freedom and the far-reaching communication changes brought by Facebook, LinkedIn and dozens of other sites

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80 Percent Of Male State Inmates Released In 2005 Arrested Again By 2010

Of the 14,400 men released from Connecticut prisons in 2005, nearly 80 percent were rearrested by 2010, and just under half returned to prison with new sentences, according to a just-completed report that contains the most detailed data ever compiled on the state's recidivism rate.

The report, by Office of Policy and Management statistical guru Ivan Kuzyk, is scheduled to be released Wednesday. It also separately tracked sex offenders within the group and found that only a small number committed new sex crimes.  Read more...

Eligibility and Capacity Impact Use of Flexibilities to Reduce Inmates' Time in Prison

BOP’s use of authorities to reduce a federal prisoner’s period of incarceration varies. BOP primarily utilizes three authorities—the Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP), community corrections, and good conduct time.

(1) Eligible inmates can participate in RDAP before release from prison, but those eligible for a sentence reduction are generally unable to complete RDAP in time to earn the maximum reduction (generally 12 months). During fiscal years 2009 through 2011, of the 15,302 inmates who completed RDAP and were eligible for a sentence reduction, 2,846 (19 percent) received the maximum reduction and the average reduction was 8.0 months. BOP officials said that participants generally do not receive the maximum reduction because they have less than 12 months to serve when they complete RDAP.  Read more...

Safety Net Catches those Freed by New Guidelines

Mark Geralds was a pretty good running back at Sikeston High School in the late '80s, and he dreamed of going to college on a football scholarship. But he got no offers, and things slipped away. He dropped out of school the second semester of his senior year.

He was a smart kid, but not above trouble. He had two juvenile convictions — first-degree tampering for stealing a motorcycle and forgery involving two checks for a total of $225. He was given probation for each offense.  Read more...

New APAI Facebook Page

The Executive Committee of the APAI voted last week to make our APAI facebook page public!  You can now find our page at www.facebook.com/apaintl.

Check it out and let APAI know you are there!

National Parole Resource Center Announces Training Opportunity

The National Parole Resource Center (NPRC) announces a new training opportunity to be offered immediately prior to the APAI Annual Training Conference. To learn more visit the APAI website at http://www.apaintl.org/conference/ or NPRC webite at http://nationalparoleresourcecenter.org/

Sheriff slams prison overhaul

Gov. Deval Patrick wants to build two to three assisted-living centers with bars for golden-ager inmates to serve their time in comfort, as part of an ambitious overhaul of the state’s prison system due to be released today, the Herald has learned.

The 400-page Corrections Master Plan obtained by the Herald, though years in the making, was only shown to sheriffs for the first time yesterday by the Division of Capital Asset Management and the Executive Office of Public Safety. It drew immediate criticism.  Read more...