Last August, the Obama administration pledged to overhaul how those entering the U.S. illegally would be held and treated at detention centers across the country. Many who enter illegally but have not committed other crimes, are housed at Level 1 facilities run by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or ICE while those here illegally who have committed crimes are at more secure ICE detention centers classified as Level 2 or 3.

According to ICE, sometimes facilities provide housing for both but these populations are never mixed. The non-criminal, lower risk detainees could soon see the biggest changes in living conditions– 28 changes proposed in total – while even those at more secure detention facilities could see some, like improved access to legal libraries and other changes that will not however, according to ICE, put the public at risk.

News of the proposed changes came when The Houston Chronicle published a leaked, internal email from Corrections Corporation of America or CCA, a private contractor working for ICE. Check out the email below that lists the changes proposed. ICE confirms to Fox these are the improvements proposed by CCA that it is now considering.

The ACLU and other immigrant activist groups say upgrading conditions for detainees is a start, but most working on behalf of illegal immigrants want more sweeping reform. ACLU staff attorney Vanita Gupta tells Fox “some of them actually will make a difference in the living conditions of detainees, who I have to remind everyone, are not criminals.”
But Chris Crane the president of AFGE 118 Council, the union representing ICE officers says “we have to take every precaution possible to make sure that they are safe and that our employees and officers inside these facilities are safe”. Again, ICE tells Fox it hasn’t decided yet which of the CCA proposals will be approved and any that are, ICE insists will not put the public at risk. How about the cost of making these upgrades to detention? CCA picks up the cost, not taxpayers.

My producer Kathleen Foster and I were granted access to a Level 1 ICE facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey to observe both current conditions and some of the changes that are being tried out there. The healthcare provided was extensive, special meals are already available for those with dietary or religious needs, there’s a hair salon for the female detainees, a library including law books and access to lexis nexis legal cases as well as fitness and movie nights.

The ICE administrator that took us on our tour explained in his experience keeping detainees calm and healthy reduces the risk of disturbances. Take a look at what we observed and tell us what you think.

Around the county, over 1 million individuals are incarcerated in Federal or State institutions.  The number of people behind bars is staggering, and the impact that separation has on the people around them can be catastrophic. Prisoner family support groups play a vital role in helping these mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, and family of all kind adjust to this trying time.  There are organizations who are solely offering a helping hand or just a caring ear.  Help lines, like the one at www.prisonersfamilieshelpline.org assist in helping you address personal and heartbreaking concerns.  Often times prisoner’s families just need information on their loved one.  Locator services are also a helpful and positive resource.  The prison population has increased exponentially over the past 10 years, and that trend doesn’t seem to be coming to an end any time soon.  With more and more families feeling the pain of this sort of separation, it’s good to know that there a folks out there to answer questions, and share topics with.  You are not alone in your struggle.  Many companies, like JPay are on your side.  JPay offers much needed services to help with money transfers to inmates, video visitations, and eMessaging services.  JPay is available in many facilities across the country.  Go to www.jpay.com for more information.

Once life behind those bars becomes a reality, one quickly realizes that this is a whole new world. Like starting the first day of a new school, or moving to a different town, prison life takes some adjusting to. Building friendships, behind those walls is vital for keeping spirits high and for building a comfortable bubble around you, while in a tough place. These alliances are made in quite the same way we do it on the outside, through common interests and communication. Prison talk is much like normal talk, except it is done in the confines of an institution, and your choice of friends is limited to your target audience. At any rate, inmates need to create these bonds, hopefully to better each other while doing their time. At minimum, having friendships will make your time go faster, and feel more comfortable. Many inmates don’t have family on the outside, with which they can connect, and this is a healthy way to survive, even maybe thrive in prison. Building a trusted friendship can be a lifesaver. If you do have friends and family who want to keep in touch, remember to go through JPay for assistance. JPay offers much needed services to help keep those lines of communication open.

So, then add to the scenario a prison riot and all the turmoil, extra security and debris this causes and who is going to pay for that? The lucky people that live and pay takes in California of course.

A recent racially motivated riot in San Bernardino County, CA cost taxpayers as much as $6 million to clean up and make needed repairs. The prison riot damaged housing units, causing debris, and the forced transfer of more than 1,100 inmates. In addition to the seven housing units that were destroyed, another burnt down in a fire, causing injury to 175 inmates.

If the California Institution for Men in Chino decides to rebuild this unit, then the $6 million estimate will likely rise.

The cost to transfer the 1.155 inmates to other facilities was not expected to be high and officials said they would look within the existing budget to pay for this. Employees of the damaged facility would be sent to monitor the inmates at whatever other facility they were being transferred to.

The hard part is figuring out how and where to get the money to pay for prisoner hospital bills, eight of whom were hospitalized and two who remained in critical condition, and to clean up the mess left after the riot.

In the transfer of who’s going where and how long they will be there until they are returned to their originally assigned jail, inmates can get lost in the mix.

If you happen to know of these inmates that was involved in this recent riot and do not know how or where they have gone, perhaps a service like those offered by JPay.com can help. Whether you are simply trying to locate a prisoner or trying to contact one through prisoner email or whether you want to send prisoner money, let JPay assist you.

“He was found with a charger for an MP3 player and unauthorized earphones,” in his Rikers Islan cell, a source said.

The items were seized, and a subsequent search found another inmate in the same wing with the accompanying music player. The paper says a prison rat tipped off officers. Weezy and the other inmate will be charged with an infraction for contraband. He is currently serving a one year prison sentence stemming from a weapons possession charge from 2007.

Rikers guards and inmates last night rumbled in a wild brawl triggered by some prisoners’ refusal to go back in their cells. Corrections Department spokesman Stephen Morello said two captains were among 13 correction officers injured when they went up against 20 out-of-control inmates. The fight began at 11 p.m. — lights out at the jailhouse.

“A few inmates were encouraging others not to lock in,” he said. “So we sent a response team to maintain order and get inmates locked in.” But when the team of guards arrived, the almost two dozen obstinate inmates pounced — still seething over a search of some of their cells earlier in the day, a law-enforcement source told The Post. A short and furious fight ensued at the George R. Vierno Center, where inmates are held while awaiting trial, the source said.

“This was not a prolonged, prolonged battle,” this source said. “Officers used defense holds and used defensive spray to get them handcuffed and back into their cells.  Morello insisted order was restored within minutes — but the damage was considerable. Two captains and 11 guards were rushed to New York Hospital, Queens, for treatment.

The most serious injury was a captain who had face and head wounds. The rest of the officers’ injuries were described as bumps, bruises and small cuts. Three inmates also had minor injuries, including a broken hand and a fractured wrist, the source said. “Officers responded quickly, responded very well and utilized all their training skills and equipment,” Morello said.

Charges were expected to be filed against inmates in the case, he added.

The woman who was formerly an inmate in a Washington State correctional facility said that while she was in labor she was tied up and shackled. Aside from the uncomfortable position to be in while going through labor, she argued that it was not safe and could have had detrimental effects on her baby.

Advocates for prisoner rights have previously raised awareness in many states, contending that the chance of a prisoner in such a situation being a risk to jail guards or a potential escapee was so slim. The safety of the prisoner comes first they said.

The new bill restricts the use of shackles and handcuffs for pregnant inmates and prohibits the use of restraints on prisoners who are in labor or post-delivery.
The bill was passed in the house 95-1 and is now awaiting approval from the governor.
There are so many who are not aware of their rights, and unlike the woman who fought, they would sit by silently. JPay can help prisoners sitting to take advantage of all their rights and to ensure that they are not being ignored or abused.

Their hearts are very often soft; many prisoners are simply humane and good people. And their rights are sometimes tampered with. JPay has a range of services from easy and convenient money transfers to prepaid phone calls to help facilitate the assurance of the safekeeping of prisoners’ rights.

In Nebraska, the Department of Correctional Services says it was bombarded with inquiries on how to go about making the donations.

Donation amounts varied from prisoner to prisoner, going as low as a dime to as high as $150.

Prisoners earn money through the work they do in prison. The amounts are meager, ranging from $1.21 to $3.78 for a day’s work in the prison industries.

Many prisoners use the money they earn to help their families back at home, to pay for child support, to buy personal amenities or other personal expenses. What is impressive said a director of a state corrections service was that many of them sacrificed their personal expenses in order to be able to give to this cause.

A total of $2,015.31 was sent from the Nebraska States Department of Correctional Services to the American Red Cross for Haiti.

Their hearts are very often soft; many prisoners are simply humane and good people. And their rights are sometimes tampered with. JPay has a range of services from easy and convenient money transfers to prepaid phone calls to help facilitate the assurance of the safekeeping of prisoners’ rights.

In Louisiana, it is legal to erect chapels on prison property. In fact it is the only state that allows it. The chapels are built from outside funds and not a penny of taxpayer money is used, state officials assure. Statistics show that when the drug abuse treatment is coupled with religious belief and introspection, the results bear more solid results than without them.

These sanctuaries are non-denominational and are therefore welcoming to people of all faiths or no faith at all.

The most recent building of the chapel in Forcht Wade Correctional Center came coincidentally at the same time as the commencement of the drug abuse program. Officials translated the timing as meaningful; that one needs both religion and counseling to overcome.

Generally it is believed that family support is always effective for prisoners.

Many prisoners have support from their families but lack the means to know the extent of their rights as prisoners and their rights to keep in touch with their families who support them in such important ways. JPay has many services which help prisoners and their families realize their rights and assist in safeguarding them.