A WEBSITE OF FORUM OF UNDERSTANDING PRISONS (FFUP)
1) Current news articles, cocaine and marijuana laws, report on mentally ill in prisons
2) War on the Poor
3) Voting for ex-prisoners
4) Racism Wisconsin style
5) Alternatives to mass incarceration including summary of the national study:
UNLOCKING AMERICA
6) Collections of prisoner essays and poems
FFUP BLOG LIST
ART GALLERY
(both still need work)
also has own blog explaning the parole fiasco in WI
Why are we spending 20 to 50 thousand dollars a year per prisoner to incarcerate people who are ready to be law abiding citizens?
Invitation to all:
Join our letter new letter writing network writing network.Based on methods used by Amnesty International, it can help us join together to be an effecive voice for healing.
Prisoners who are ready for release come from three classes:
1) Parole-eligible prisoners. (Click to read and sign petition, view profiles and writings of some of the 4000 parole eligible prisoners in WI)
2) ELDERLY PRISONERS,OVER 50, who have been incarcerated over 20 years and are no longer violent (page coming)
3) Juveniles waived into adult court who have served 15 or more years of their sentence.
Click to view proposed legislation and to view writings and profiles of these prisoners
READ AND SIGN OUR PETITION!!!
Introducing C.F.A.R.M
Community
Forgiveness
And
reconciliation
Movement
We need a change in the way we deal with crime in this country. In this time of foreclosures, high unemployment and state budgetary crisis, holding on to prison jobs has become a misplaced priority where many prisoners are being held longer than safety or justice require. We believe that people do change and want a smarter use for our tax dollars.
click here to see full mission statement
Community Forgiveness and Reconciliation Act
PENPAL PROJECT
Please note that ALL the prisoners on our blogs and web are hungry for outside contact. If you read an essay or story by a prisoner, enjoy a work of art or poem, feel free to contact the prisoner creator. We offer forwarding service and email support. Email swansol@mwt.net
Three Penpal Blogs
1) Needing of nurturing, easy to write, without friends or family
2)Latest penpal blog
3)WHERE WE BEGAN, over 400 prisoners ask for friends ( email us to check for current addresses- this blog is hard to keep up)
juveniles waived into adult court
a little of everything
in response to many letters from mentally ill prisoners we started a blog just for them- And we invite you to write a nurturing note to one of them - for many, their situation is truly horrific and you can tell them they are not abandoned.
of others in the struggle
More:
new: resources for reentry web
LOTS OF NEW BLOG LINKS :
1)well done ,comprehensive look at prison issues from eyes if ex prisoner
2)blog by newly released prisoner tells of trials an successes. Steve Gordon
3)The Demeter Foundation advocates for women prisoners and their families in Wisconsin . New web and facebook.
4)gripping blog on solitary confinement
the solitude blog.wordpress.com
5) women in prison :http:thewomenof block12.com
6) www.jailed humanity.com
7)Cheri has two blogs, one on prisoners she writes, one she sell her home made cards. And Justice For All
cards for sale
8) well thought out Musings on WI in general, some prisons, Jack Craven
Bridges
advocacy blog
story and art;
guestbook
STUDY GUIDE FOR URBAN STUDENTS
Story and artwork
transformation story
essays on diverse subjects
2)Email FFUP , give your name address and contact info and we will contact prisoners and get back to you. email: swansol@mwt.net
Prisoners do not have email or computers.
Note: FFUP no longer has a Post Office Box> email swansol@mwt.net for address.
contact: FFUP by email: swansol@mwt.net
Thankyou gifts of donated prisoner art and crafts are available for your donation
All money donations go directly to prisoners or to projects that directly help them. We have no paid staff. Donations are tax deductible. We also offer thank you gifts for your donations is the form of donated prisoner arts and crafts. See our web: www.prisonforum.org
Where your donations are used
We are one of the few organizations that write and advocates for prisoners. It is lonely work and there is little outside support. Here is where you donated money will go:
NEW) "Kids to parents in prisons" is in planning stages. Chaperones needed. So are donations are needed and we will be writing a grant.
1) Stamps, postage. FFUP postage- for letters and documents for and to prisoners is a main FFUP expense . We also buy embossed enveopes for prisoners at a whopping DOC rate 62cents apiece.
2) release clothes, although we buy from thrift shops , mailing and buying is a big expense
3) hygiene and personal health supplies like washclothes, towels and deodorant for prisoners from canteen
4) Books, especially to help those in segregation without tv or radio endure. The WI DOC Does not allow used books into the system even from Books to Prisons programs.
5) Books and materials, postage, for mentoring program This is a prisoner tot prisoner program where reading , writing , math, and other subjects are tutored.
6) typewriter supplies, paper
7) We have bought typewriters for prisoners for whom writing is a way to keep sane. We also buy art supplies when we can.
Time donations to FFUP needed: Web help, brainstorming, letter writing; You name it.