CRIMINAL JUSTICE - December 10, 2009
NH State Prison for Women, Goffstown, NH

GOALS

• To familiarize Associates with the issues surrounding the criminal justice system in N.H.
• To understand the circumstances which lead up to incarceration, and to learn more about rehabilitation efforts.
• To look at the broader societal issues which impact the criminal justice system, e.g: juvenile justice, poverty, education, family structure, substance abuse, mental health, health care, etc.
• To compare the costs of maintaining this reactive system with the costs of supporting proactive programs in education, health, and human service areas.

AGENDA

8:00        Coffee and Arrival
8:15        Action Assignment Review (small group discussion)
9:20        Break
9:30        Issues in Criminal Justice in New Hampshire
                   - William Wrenn, Commissioner, NH Department of Corrections 
                   - Joe Diament, Director Division of Community Corrections, NH DOC
                   - Barbara Keshen, NHCLU Staff Attorney
11:00       Welcome and Instructions for the Tour
                    - Joann Fortier, Warden, NH State Prison for Women
11:15       Tour of the Facility 
12:15       Lunch in the Dining Hall 
1:00        Criminal Sentencing Issues and Discussion
                   - Judge Kathleen McGuire
2:15        Break
2:30        Discussion with inmates
                   Facilitators:  Joanne Fortier, Warden and Edda Cantor, NH/VT Director, Goodwill Industries
3:30        Debrief and Comments
4:00        Summary and Wrap up (next session)
4:30        Adjourn to Reception for Edda Cantor 

LNH ACTION ASSIGNMENT

Readings:

- We Need to Face the Challenge;  New Futures  http://www.new-futures.org/
- Prison Projections 2008:  The Once and Future New Hampshire Corrections Population; Dennis Delay, Ryan Tappin, Steve Norton, -
  NH Center for Public Policy Studies, March, 2009:  http://www.nhpolicy.org/reports/prison_population_2009.pdf 
- Women Behind Bars:  The Needs and Challenges of NH's Increasing Population of Incarcerated Women; NH Women's Policy Institute
  (PROVIDED)
- Fulfilling the Promise:  Transforming New Hampshire's Mental Health System;  Commission to Develop a Comprehensive State Mental 
  Health Plan (PROVIDED)

Familiarize Yourselves with the Following Resources
- NH Department of Corrections website: http://www.nh.gov/nhdoc/index.html
- NH Judicial Branch website:     http://www.courts.state.nh.us/   

Assignment:

A.  Meet with a professional in the NH Criminal Justice system.  Develop a set of questions which will help you meet the stated Goals for the session.  Think about ideas and questions which were generated at the September Retreat.

Possible Questions:
How does the system work from your perspective?
What is your vision of an ideally functioning system?
What are some of the challenges/opportunities that you face?
What do you see which needs immediate attention?

B.  "Ride along" with a Probation/Parole Officer. Contact info will be sent to you after matches are made to the appropriate District Office (from the sign-up sheet) OR  Arrange a "ride along" with police patrols in your own community.

C.  Tour the NH State Prison for Men (Concord) on December 1, 2009 @ 9:00 AM (limited to 15 from the sign-up sheet) OR Tour the Northern NH Correctional Facility (Berlin) on December 3, 2009 @ 9:00 AM (from the sign-up sheet).

D.  Complete the on-line survey that will be sent to you next week.  Once you receive it, please complete it as soon as possible.  It should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete and the results will be discussed during the session day.

E.  Consider participating in the following (These are not required but recommended):
-   Observe a district court arraignment – you may contact the courts directly for dates and times.
-   Visit a Mental Health Court (Keene or Nashua District Court).
-   Observe a criminal trial in session.  Superior Court for Hillsborough North (Manchester) and South (Nashua) have active trial   
    calendars.  Call the court directly for dates and times.