MIDDLESEX COUNTY PRISON COORDINATING COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER

MCPCC met on May 14, 2002 in Newtonville. Present were Beverly Wilkins, Mary Ann Donaldson, Elizabeth Woodbridge, Tom Crowther, Dorothy Weitzman, Jim Ferry and Marjorie Moerschner.

Beverly read a letter from Sheriff DiPaola, thanking us for sponsoring the art contest and for producing the note cards made from the winning artwork.

We have camp sponsorships for 4 children of Billerica inmates, from: Second Church, West Newton; Central Church, Newtonville (2) and The First Church of Christ, Congregational, Bedford. The chaplains at Billerica will be involved in selecting the children. Beverly will contact Rev. Clovis Turner about arrangements.

Linda Justice has been given authority to hire a part-time art teacher for Billerica.

Prison officials will meet with Beverly and the two Partakers who will teach a Houses of Healing course at Billerica, to work out the logistics of when and where. The Partakers have already signed up two people to be community volunteers. MCPCC will provide pocket folders for handouts. The prison may be able to provide the copying.

Dorothy attended a panel discussion on "Criminal Law: Current Practice and Proposed Reforms" sponsored by the Newton League of Women Voters at the Newton Library. Judicial independence and the legislature's attempt to monitor judges' staffs was one of the issues discussed.

The MA budget has cut back on prison programs. The Sheriffs Association is lobbying for more money. The budget has passed the house but not the senate, and there is still time to make opinions

known. Dorothy is trying to find out just what has been cut.

Some prison money, for substance abuse programs, comes from the Dept. of Health.

Tom spoke about MCPCC's plans to incorporate as a non-profit organization. At our annual meeting in July we should vote to adopt the by-laws and appoint directors. Our fiscal year ends June 30; in the future we should have our annual meeting in June.

Len Spitale, a volunteer at Billerica for many years, has written a book entitled "Prison Ministry: Understanding Prison Culture Inside and Out." It will be available at Barnes & Noble, at Amazon.com and at Christian bookstores.

We thank the First Church of Malden for its very generous contribution! It is much appreciated.

NEXT MEETING: JUNE 4, at 7 PM

CENTRAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, UCC, 218 WALNUT ST., NEWTONVILLE