As Democrats captured a majority in the state senate for the first time since 1964, beating out Republican incumbents in two districts, the new political landscape has many reformers anticipating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to influence longstanding legislation.
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The holidays are traditionally a time for families to be together. That message is in the songs, the movies, and even displayed in storefront windows. What happens when your family is separated by more than distance but by the physical and psychological barriers imposed by incarceration? How then do you cope with the holidays?

We recently sat down with Dr. Harland Kessaris to talk about how to cope with the absence of a loved one during the holiday season and other questions asked by you. As a psychologist who specializes in re-entry of incarcerated individuals back into family and society, he was able to provide some insight into handling this potentially alienating time of year. (more…)

Makeba Lavan, the first columnist for Family Life Behind Bars, and I appeared on a television Talk Show on Wednesday to discuss this project and the larger issues of incarceration.

The show, Brian Lehrer Live, is a cutting-edge program that focuses its lens on conversations on the Web and  beyond:

The show examines the affect that internet has had on our daily lives, from candidates fund-raising online to community groups e-organizing, and we want you to come participate in carving out a niche in how the web affects the news.

Brian also has a fantastic radio show on WNYC (93.9 FM, 820 AM and at WNYC.org) called the Brian Lehrer Show. I know that WNYC has a great lineup of radio shows, but I would continue to support them even if the Brian Lehrer show was the ONLY show on that station.

Take a look at the segment Makeba and I were on:

Just a few days before the election Particia Wysock, 42, was confused as to where should go to vote: do people vote by their office or home address? The uncertainty was understandable: this would be her first time voting since Ronald Reagan was in office. She has spent much of the past two decades in and out of prison – eight years total – for forgery and fraud charges.

Over 12,000 New Yorkers are released from prison each year and many of them wrongly assume that a felony conviction prohibits them from voting, according to the NYCLU. To address the problem various advocacy groups throughout the city have held voter registration drives aimed at former felons.

Patricia, who now works Fortune Society, an advocacy center for formerly incarcerated people, sees voting as an important step in her rehabilitation.

“Participating in voting is esteem-able” Patricia said, “and it makes me feel like I am more of an esteem-able person. It shows that my voice matters and I have opinions and they are being recognized.”

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Did you just regain your right to vote after spending time in prison? How did you feel voting again?

Or are you still struggling to regain your voting rights? How did you feel missing out in voting during the historic 2008 election?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646) 867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

Joel Schectman attends the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. His focus is economic and international reporting. He graduates in December 2009.

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Lives in Focus filmed a monthly support group meeting in Albany, New York, at which the mothers, sisters and wives of incarcerated family members sought support from among their peers.

They shared their daily tribulations and discussed long-terms concerns about their lives and relationships.

Last time we met Devon who described how having two imprisoned family members had both drawn her kin closer while also stirring tensions.

This week, we meet Lorraine who shares how she no longer wants to hide the fact that her son is in jail:

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: What makes you decide to tell someone that you have a loved one in prison?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646) 867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

November 4, 2008–Casimiro Torres, 41, joined millions of Americans today to vote in the general election.  Like many during this historic election, he is voting for the first time.  But unlike most new voters, Mr. Torres is formerly incarcerated.
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[This interviewed was rescheduled for Monday, Nov. 10. You may submit your questions through Nov. 9.]

The holiday season is meant to be a time for joy and celebration. But for many, it is difficult period when their separation from an incarcerated family member is magnified because of the relentless message that this is a time for families to be together.

Often people do not know where to turn to learn how to cope with this period. What do you tell your children when they are sad that their parent is not there? Do you engage them in this conversation or not? Who can you turn to? How do you express what you are feeling to your spouse or children? What is the best way for children to handle this period?

To answer some of those questions, I have arranged an interview with Dr. Harland Kessaris, a psychologist who specializes in helping families adjust to life when a member is in prison.

You have an opportunity to ask Dr. Kessaris your own questions to him. I’d like to hear from you - what questions do you want to ask Dr. Kessaris?

Submit them before Nov. 6 Nov. 9 and I’ll include them in the interview on Friday, Nov. 7 Monday, Nov. 10. You’ll be able to see the answers when we post the article on Monday Wednesday, Nov. 12.

You have three options:

1. Post a question in the comments section below,
2. Send an email to questions@livesinfocus.org,
3. Call (646) 867-1891 to leave a message.

Solitude (click image to enlarge)

REMINDER: DEADLINE TO ENTER IS DEC. 1, 2008

People who have an incarcerated family member naturally cycle through a range of difficult emotions as the years slowly pass. Some express their sadness, anxiety and fear or hope for the future through art, music or poetry.

To honor that great artwork, Family Life behind Bars is launching its inaugural Annual Arts Celebration & Competition.You are invited to enter the artwork you have produced that reflects the emotions you are feeling during your loved one’s incarceration. (more…)

We’re about 72 hours from election day and here’s an article by the New York Times on the presidential candidates’ stance on crime. This article follows the article we published earlier in the week that reported that the candidates’ stance has not been clearly articulated and discussed during the campaign.

In past elections, bringing up the “tough-on-crime” card spurred Republican support. During the 1988 campaign between Vice President George H. Bush and Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, for example, notorious attack ads depicted Dukakis as weak on crime by showing prisoners going in and out of jail. The most controversial element of the ads was the story of Willie Horton, an  African-American prisoner  who committed a terrible crime while furloughed. The ad played to mainstream America’s racial prejudices and fear.

The Times article takes a look at John McCain’s and Barack Obama’s history on the crime and why, 20 years after the “Willie Horton” ads, it has not been discussed much:

But compared with many past presidential elections, Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain have paid little attention to issues of criminal justice as they compete for the White House.

The change is a reflection, experts say, of 15 years of declining crime rates, an electorate less anxious about public safety and the fact that crime and law enforcement issues are less partisan than they used to be.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Are you considering the candidates’ views on incarceration and criminal justice in your voting decision? Which way are you leaning and why?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646)-867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

The crumbling economy, taxes, and the Iraq War have soaked up the limelight when it comes to the 2008 Presidential Election.  With less than one week left before voters’ caste their ballots, questions about Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama’s positions on incarceration and criminal justice remain unanswered.

According to the Sentencing Project, a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization, little specifics are known about the candidates’ viewpoints to reform the federal prison system.

Based on information from the candidates’ past records, Obama once against the death penalty, currently supports it for monstrous crimes.  As an Illinois State Senator, Obama also lead the charge in passing legislation that requires confessions and interrogations to be videotaped to prevent death sentencing errors in capitol cases.

Obama has connected issues of unemployment and poverty within certain communities to the disproportionally high rate of crime and incarceration of those who live there.

Senator John McCain who has been labeled as “tough-on-crime” is a firm supporter of the death penalty. In his past votes, during the mid-nineties, McCain showed support for restricting appeals to the death penalty and was against using the defense of racial discrimination within appeals. McCain has favored violent offenders to serve their complete sentences, with no opportunity for parole.

McCain has also offered the alternative of rehabilitation programs for first time drug offenders and has voted for more community police to prevent hate crimes.

Both candidates have vocalized support for re-entry programs once a prisoner has been released, but a clear and concise picture as to what the programs actually look like and involve is unknown.

On November 4th, regardless of who is elected into the oval office, Ryan King, a policy analyst for the Sentencing Project, says incarceration issues should must become a priority for the next President.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: Are you considering the candidates’ views on incarceration and criminal justice in your voting decision? Which way are you leaning and why?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646)-867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

Lindsay A. Lazarski attends CUNY Graduate School of Journalism with a concentration in Urban Studies and Interactive Media.