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Ypsilanti native Deshawn Leeth has spent most of his young life in and out of the juvenile justice system, and, by age 18, he was sent to prison. After his release, Leeth discovered there were very few resources to help him readjust to society, which led to create the nonprofit mentorship organization, "Underdawg Nation". Leeth talks about his experiences while incarcerated and his work with underserved youth with WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale.
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Eastern Michigan University is helping some incarcerated people earn a degree while behind bars. It's an effort to reduce recidivism and help participants become productive members of society once released. WEMU's Josh Hakala and Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale talk about EMU's College in Prison program with its director, Meghan Lechner.
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It has been said that art doesn't just decorate our lives but gives us reason to live. For some inmates in a University of Michigan program, those words ring true. "Humanize the Numbers" is part of the U-M's Prison Creative Arts Project. The incarcerated are discovering creativity and learning about themselves, and the program is having an impact not only on the inmates, but on the students from Ann Arbor that work with them. The program is led by lecturer Isaac Wingfield. WEMU's David Fair spoke with Isaac and José Burgos, who participated in the program prior to his release from prison.
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The Michigan Supreme Court says the state Department of Corrections must pay full attorney fees for volunteer lawyers who represented journalists in a freedom of information case. That five-to-two decision was issued Wednesday. Rick Pluta reports.
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Eight current and former state prison employees face felony charges related to the death in 2019 of an inmate at an Upper Peninsula corrections facility. We have more from Rick Pluta.
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Michigan lawmakers questioned state Department of Corrections officials Tuesday over persistent problems at the state’s only women’s prison. Colin Jackson has more.
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The "We Bear" exhibit is a collection of art made in prisons across Michigan and the United Kingdom. Through the works, the incarcerated artists offer their unique perspectives on exploitation, isolation, and strength. WEMU's Michael Keegan has more.
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Mitigating inequity continues to prove difficult. That can be said for people of color, women, and those on the low-income side of the economic scale. Now, imagine trying to overcome those barriers fresh out of prison. Helping overcome those obstacles for convicts returning to society is the purpose of "A Brighter Way" in Washtenaw County. Adam Grant is a former inmate himself and now serves as its executive director. He joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss his story of redemption and the work underway to help others do the same.
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The Michigan Department of Corrections is taking heat from state lawmakers over staffing shortages. Colin Jackson has more.Senate Oversight Committee…
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Those who are released from jail or prison, especially people of color, face a great number of barriers to successfully reintegrating. The COVID-19…