Amplified Voices

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Ray Boyd was incarcerated in 1992, facing a 50 year sentence. He ultimately spent close to 30 years in prison in Connecticut before being released.  Ray experienced Covid 19 while incarcerated and reentry during the pandemic.  Ray shares his story with Amber and Jason. Ray, Amber, and Jason are joined by Barbara Fair from Stop Solitary Connecticut.

You can find Ray's book, Model Inmate on Amazon by clicking here.

In 2021, the Protect Act to limit the use of Solitary Confinement and create oversight for the Department of Corrections was passed by the Connecticut House and Senate. Governor Lamont vetoed the bill, and instead issued an executive order that can be repealed at any time.  In 2022, Connecticut advocates led by Stop Solitary are organizing to finally have the Protect Act signed into law.

You can learn more about Stop Solitary CT visiting here.

Background on The PROTECT Act

An Act Promoting Responsible Oversight and Treatment, and Ensuring Correctional Transparency (PROTECT) Act would: 1) create a Commission for Correctional Oversight made up of formerly incarcerated people, family members, experts in medicine, mental health, and corrections, and representatives from the legislative and executive branch; 2) stop extreme isolation and promote effective alternatives, bringing Connecticut in compliance with international minimum human rights standards; 3) end abusive restraints and dehumanizing strip searches; 4) protect social bonds by guaranteeing incarcerated people a minimum number of free letters and access to contact visits; 5) promote correctional officer wellness by requiring trainings and other strategies to mitigate trauma; and 6) promote transparency by requiring public reporting of key corrections department data. 

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In the opening episode of Season 3, Amber and Jason speak with Nicole, a sixteen-year-old girl who authentically shares the experience of having her life turned upside-down at age twelve when her father was arrested, incarcerated and eventually placed on a public registry. Her journey winds from the initial shock, how she was treated at school, to visiting her father while he was incarcerated, to what happened when he was finally able to come home. She also covers how probation restrictions and public registration affect the entire family and what the adults dealing with children with incarcerated parents can do to help. Her most fervent wish in telling her story is to make sure that other kids facing this difficult road know that they are not alone.

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As the year came to a close, Amplified Voices hosts, Jason and Amber took some time to reflect on everything that 2021 threw at the world. In this candid conversation, they walk listeners through the year;  covering podcast production, behind-the-scenes information, personal triumphs, advocacy victories, guest insights, and so much more. Fans will enjoy a sneak-peek of what's in store for Season 3 as the show continues to serve as a platform to uplift the voices of individuals and families impacted by the criminal legal system in 2022 and beyond.

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In this episode of Amplified Voices, Amber and Jason sat down with autism advocate, Nick Dubin to discuss his personal experiences involving his early life, autism diagnosis and ultimately his encounter with the criminal legal system.  Nick also spoke of his desire and work towards using his personal experiences to help others on the spectrum, and his new book.

About: Nick Dubin was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome (now ASD-level 1) in 2004. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Oakland University, a Master’s Degree in Learning Disabilities from the University of Detroit Mercy, and a Specialist Degree in Psychology and Psy.D. from the Michigan School of Professional Psychology. He has authored many books on autism spectrum disorders including Asperger Syndrome and Anxiety. His latest book is entitled Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Disabilities, and the criminal justice system.

Nick is also on the board of Legal Reform for Intellectually and  Developmentally Disabled (LRIDD). 

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Come meet Tracie Bernardi, a formerly incarcerated activist and co-founder of Once Incarcerated, an organization designed to help  justice impacted families and individuals navigate through collateral damage.  Tracie talks Jason and Amber about her experience with the criminal legal system as a young 19 year old woman who was sentenced to 30 years in prison. She talks about how she ultimately spent 23 years of those years incarcerated with 7 years in solitary confinement. Now, she's back home and doing amazing work in the community.  Tracie is a Smart Justice Leader with ACLU CT and was recently featured in an article on their website. 
 
Once Incarcerated's Website: https://onceincarcerated.org/
ACLU CT article  featuring Tracie: https://www.acluct.org/en/news/everyone-will-be-better-if-connecticut-ends-solitary-confinement

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Amber and Jason spoke with Marty and took a deep dive into Marty's life before he took actions that landed him in the criminal legal system. Marty shares the bullying and sexual assaults he endured as a young gay man and how this shaped his response to the world. You can hear him express remorse for his actions and what he learned through the process. He describes some aspects of his time in prison. Marty talks about the support he found with ACSOL (https://all4consolaws.org), how he has rebuilt his life, and the work he does now to support others.   He also talks about his new book "Thanks for the Infamy."   
If you're interested in his book, you can email [email protected], go to https://payhip.com/b/aT86b or send a direct message on Twitter to Marty  @mwmtalent.

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In this episode of Amplified Voices, Amber and Jason speak with Mark who authentically shares the shock, pain and sense of brokenness that he and his close relatives felt when they discovered sexual harm had occurred within their family. This incident abruptly plunged his elderly father into the criminal legal system, ultimately revealing that he had dementia. Mark describes how he and his father encountered severe injustice on one hand and acts of kindness on the other, as they were forced to navigate a system that is ill-prepared to accommodate individuals with Alzheimer's and Dementia.

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In this episode, Jason and Amber speak with Morgan Godvin,  a freelance writer, scholar and advocate who spent time behind bars after she sold her best friend heroin and he died of an overdose. In a matter of days, Morgan found herself grappling with the death of her friend while also navigating an unrelenting justice system. Morgan shares her story of addiction and struggle, highlighting how she quickly became aware of racial and socioeconomic disparities in the criminal legal system. She explains how our nation's reliance on incarceration exacerbates addiction and often charges family members, friends, and others who share drugs as murderers while doing nothing to help.

In February of 2020, Morgan was appointed to serve as a commissioner on Oregon’s Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission. In January of 2021, she was appointed by the Oregon Health Authority to the Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council where she was one of 21 Oregonians determining the grant funding that came in tandem with drug decriminalization.

You can learn more about Morgan at https://www.morgangodvin.com/

A listing of her published writings can be found at: https://www.morgangodvin.com/portfolio

Watch Morgan's appearance on CNN here: https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2020/11/14/from-addiction-to-advocacy-for-drug-decriminalization.cnn

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In this special episode, Amber & Jason welcome Stop Solitary CT activist and lead organizer, Barbara Fair, back to the show to discuss Governor Lamont's recent veto of SB 1059, known as the Protect Act. The act, meant to uphold and protect the safety of individuals living and working behind bars, recently passed both houses of the  Connecticut legislature, only to stop short of becoming law with the stroke of the Governor's pen. In order to address the inhumane practices challenged by the bill, the Governor subsequently issued an executive order. During the show, Barbara shares her thoughts on the process, feedback from the people affected, and how everyone in the state of Connecticut can get involved, right AWAY to urge the legislature to act to override the veto.

Listeners can learn more and get involved utilizing the links below:

• Stop Solitary CT can be found at http://www.stopsolitaryct.org
• Find your Connecticut legislators here: https://www.cga.ct.gov/
• Read "A Necessary Tool" CT ViewPoints , CT Mirror by Barbara Fair: https://ctmirror.org/category/ct-viewpoints/a-necessary-tool/
• Our previous episode with Barbara: https://amplifiedvoices.buzzsprout.com/1213727/8257890-barbara-fair-stop-solitary-ct-season-2-episode-5

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In this episode, Jason and Amber catch up with attorney Kathy Flaherty, a fierce advocate for disability rights. During the conversation,  Kathy explores the parallels between the criminal justice and mental health systems, and explains how advocates in both spaces can work together. Kathy walks the audience through her experience with involuntary commitment, law school and the challenges she faced being admitted to the Connecticut bar due to her mental health treatment history.

Kathy currently serves as Executive Director of Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc. (CLRP), a statewide non-profit agency which provides legal services to low income individuals with mental health conditions, who reside in hospitals or the community, on matters related to their treatment, recovery, and civil rights. Prior to coming to CLRP, Kathy spent 15 years as a Staff Attorney at Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut, Inc. Kathy combines her personal experience as a recipient of mental health services and her legal background to speak to issues affecting those living with mental health conditions.

Kathy can be found tweeting at @ConnConnection.

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