A new report by AFSC in Arizona exposes the growing "Treatment Industrial Complex"

The private prison industry has been in the news lately, and the news hasn’t been good. First the U.S. Department of Justice announced its plan to end its contracts with for-profit prison companies.

Emily Verdugo is the program coordinator for AFSC's Arizona office. An Arizona native, Emily grew up in Pinal County, the epicenter of prison privatization in Arizona. Emily served as City Council member for the City of Coolidge and has served on various boards and committees, including the Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism and the Arizona Community Action Association.

Laura Magnani, Program Director for Healing Justice in the San Francisco office, interviewed Marie Levin, sister of Sitawa Nantambu Jamaa (aka Ronnie Dewberry) who spent 31 years in solitary confinement in California until the legal settlement reached in 2015 resulted in the transfer of 1500 prisoners to general population.

There are currently 21.3 million refugees throughout the world. Wealthy countries like the United States—which has played a role in instigating military conflict that leads to mass displacement across the globe—are doing little to alleviate this crisis. Here’s what we’re reading to learn more.

Lida works with AFSC’s West Virginia Economic Justice Project

Hurricane Matthew has killed at least 478 people in Haiti, and 61,500 more remain in temporary shelters. As it makes its way along the Atlantic Coast, we take a look at why this is happening, who is being affected, and the politics behind emergency response.

Hurricane Matthew’s devastating toll in Haiti, by Edwidge Danticat via The New Yorker