The Real Cost of Prisons: Seeks to broaden and deepen the organizing capacity of prison/justice activists working to end mass incarceration. The Real Cost of Prisons Project brings together justice activists, artists, justice policy researchers and people directly experiencing the impact of mass incarceration to create popular education materials and other resources which explore the immediate and long-term costs of incarceration on the individual, her/his family, community and the nation.

Virginia C.U.R.E. Kids of Inmates: Works to bring recognition to children of inmates and to break the cycle of incarceration.

Federal CURE: FedCURE is the world's leading advocate for America's, ever growing, federal inmate population. On behalf of the Board of Directors, we would like to extend an invitation to each of you to join us in our efforts to reform the federal criminal justice system in the United States. Federal CURE, Incorporated is a nonprofit organization that, inter alia, deals largely with the issues faced by federal inmates and their loved ones.

AdvoCare: AdvoCare is a non-profit, membership  organization that is part of a national effort to reduce crime through criminal justice reform. Basically, our goal at AdvoCare is to aid prisoners and their families in achieving the best possible life while dealing with the confines of corrections.  We strive to bring families and communities together in order to rehabilitate individuals rather than continuing to disenfranchise them.

Prison Bid Online Community: Prisonbid (prison support) Forums for friends and family of inmates

Thousand Kites: Thousand Kites is a community-based performance, web, video and radio project centered on the United States prison system.

New Vision Organization: The mission of New Vision Organization is to improve the quality and quantity of rehabilitation and healing for the incarcerated men, women and youth, advocating for those individuals on Death Row, while networking with other groups and organizations, nationwide, to assure that prisoners' rights are not violated.

Vision of Hope Prison Ministry: Vision of Hope Prison Ministry is an outreach Ministry of the Parkersburg, West Virginia Seventh-Day Adventist Church in cooperation with the Mountain View Conference of Seventh Day Adventists.

Virginia Parole Board Monthly Decisions: A list of all prisoners reviewed for parole by year, prisoner number, name, month, reason for denial etc.. Decision Codes PDF file only

Center for Community Alternatives (CCA): A leader in the field of community-based alternatives to incarceration.  Their mission is to promote reintegrative justice and a reduced reliance on incarceration through advocacy, services and public policy development in pursuit of civil and human rights.

Families Against Mandatory Minimums: Families Against Mandatory Minimums is the national voice for fair and proportionate sentencing laws. We shine a light on the human face of sentencing, advocate for state and federal sentencing reform, and mobilize thousands of individuals and families whose lives are adversely affected by unjust sentences.

INPM (International Directory of Prison Ministries):  To provide easy access for inmates and their families to get effective help from the prison ministries which best serve their needs. They can find counseling services in their area, or they can locate a ministry to request literature, Bible study courses or simply request prayer support...and much more.

The Messages Project:  The Messages Project is focused on the children left behind when a parent is incarcerated.

Prison Creative Arts Project: The Prison Creative Arts Project's mission is to collaborate with incarcerated adults, incarcerated youth, urban youth and the formerly incarcerated to strengthen our community through creative expression.

Prisoner's Lighthouse: dedicated to support all inmates, on Death Row or on General Population, all over the world. We would like to be a safe haven for inmates' families to talk about their loved ones, to ask questions and share their experiences, joys and pains with others going through the same difficult times. An independent, non judgmental group, with no religious or political affiliation. The main focus is to provide support to prisoners sentenced to death or very long sentences, in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

Reprieve: Reprieve uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantánamo Bay. We investigate, we litigate and we educate. Working on the front-line, we provide legal support to prisoners unable to pay for it themselves. We promote the rule of law around the world, and secure each person's right to a fair trial. In doing so we save lives.

Family Bound: Keeping Families United. Focusing on Smart on Crime Solutions. The Family Bound program will focus on ideas that pertain to keeping families united and children directed away from bad behavior that may later lead to criminal acts, substance abuse, and violence.  It is our intent to analyze ways of strengthening families and promoting positive development for young people that may, in fact, require rethinking the norms of our modern society.

All God's Children Camps: (for Children of Incarcerated Mothers)

The last thing that any ex-offender wants to see when filling out a job application is this question.  It might seem completely hopeless but don't give up just yet - things are about to change.

The discrimination that every ex-offender has been subjected to is finally coming to an end.  It's time to put your past behind you and take control of your future.

The doors are finally beginning to open 
Visit BreakThePrisonCycle.com to find out more.

FORMED IN 2002 as a small group of individuals, some of whom had incarcerated relatives in these institutions, were concerned about physical conditions in the Richmond City Jail and state prisons. As we worked on these issues, we learned more and more about the connections between jails, jobs, poverty, racism, sexism, class, war and political representation. We began to organize to address these broader issues as well.

The Defenders now focuses on learning, analyzing and disseminating information about these issues.

We work in alliances and partnerships with many other progressive organizations locally, nationally and internationally and are a founding member of the Virginia Anti-War Network (VAWN). 

Flex Your Rights provides the general public with the finest educational media available for teaching people to understand, appreciate, and assert their constitutional rights during police encounters.
 

Virginia Common Sense.com: Common Sense Virginia, a new, independent organization dedicated to educating the Commonwealth's citizens about the real record of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell.

The People United supports a relatively small but dedicated group of volunteer organizers committed to allying with justice movements where leadership comes from the working class and people of color.  This local and regional work is based in personal relationships and connections developed through grassroots organizing at a real community, face-to-face, level.  The People United is supported by an advisory committee comprised of experienced activists of color and by its members. Members receive updates on the work and support us psychically and financially.   Between them, this motley crew attempts to support the work of folks in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Richmond, Tidewater and Northern Virginia.

His concern for the problems of our communities is expressed not only in movies, but also through community initiatives combating domestic violence, homelessness, and AIDS. His commitment to AIDS education and awareness has received national note and his ministry to prison inmates serves prisoners and former inmates inside and outside of Texas state lines.

From Dallas to Washington DC to Nairobi, prison inmates, Hurricane Katrina evacuees and Kenyan natives alike have been touched by the message of faith and God's love through the ministry, the servant, and the pioneer…BISHOP T. D. JAKES.

The CATO Institute: The mission of the Cato Institute is to increase the understanding of public policies based on the principles of limited government, free markets, individual liberty, and peace. The Institute will use the most effective means to originate, advocate, promote, and disseminate applicable policy proposals that create free, open, and civil societies in the United States and throughout the world.

In addition to recording music in prison,  during his 10 years of unjustified incarceration following a wrongful conviction and a draconian sentence, Dennis wrote a one-man musical called Jail Songs and Recollections, which he recorded in 2006 after his release.

Dennis also wrote and edited books while he was in prison. One of those, Doing Time in Waltz Time: A Memoir of Ten Years in Prison Playing and Teaching Music....AND MUCH MORE!!

Our education and training programs support communities' efforts to solve their own problems in a just and equitable way. Each year, Appalshop productions and services reach several million people nationally and internationally.

Appalshop is dedicated to the proposition that the world is immeasurably enriched when local cultures garner the resources, including new technologies, to tell their own stories and to listen to the unique stories of others. The creative acts of listening and telling are Appalshop's core competency. 

Expanding Constituent Services Across Virginia

Welcome to Senator Jim Webb's "Webb Sites" page, where you can find satellite office hour locations in your community to speak with a representative of the Senator's staff.

These sessions are designed to assist constituents with difficulties relating to Social Security and Medicare benefits, veterans' benefits, legal immigration, federal student loans, military service, and other federally-related matters.

In addition to Senator Webb's five regular offices around Virginia, the "Webb Sites" program offers additional face-to-face contact with staff representatives and aims to provide access to constituents traveling from long distances.

"Constituent service is deeply important to me and my staff," said Senator Webb. "My new 'Webb Sites' program is designed to make my Senate office more accessible to the people of Virginia."

Representatives from Senator Webb's office will help constituents complete casework inquiry and privacy forms so that assistance can be properly conducted in keeping with federal law. Constituents are asked to bring copies of all pertinent information regarding their cases in order to facilitate a timely response. For citizens who wish to work on another person's behalf, the constituent with the actual concern must provide written permission for such action. 

Please download and read Senator Webb's Slides Criminal Justice Bill (in pdf format only HERE. Makes for a very interesting read!