From: "Rabbi Y. Weiss" <[email protected]> Sent: Tue, 19 Nov 2019 13:18:49 -0500 Subject: Re: 80P partnering with local businesses to mentor inmates To: Alix McLearen <[email protected]>, Hugh Hurwitz <[email protected]> Dear Alix & Hugh, I hope this finds you well! Dr. Sawyer testified today in the Senate that the BOP is already advising faith-based groups as to the criteria needed to for us to enter our programs into the evaluation that's going to be done as part of Title 1 of the FSA to determine the evidence based factors to reducing recidivism of those programs. We are of course a faith-based group with a longstanding relationship with BOP and with programs, and as noted in the emails below we have asked about this but I do not believe Aleph has of yet received such advice. Can we please be advised as well of this criteria and guidance? The Director also mentioned about "mentors" coming in as part of the FSA and we were wondering if you can provide information about that as well as to how that is available to potential Aleph mentors? Please know that we at Aleph are exceedingly grateful for the hard work the BOP is investing in implementing the First Step Act and for all your hard work in general! Thank you! Rabbi Y. Weiss The Aleph Institute Advocacy Department 9540 Collins Avenue Surfside, Florida 33154 786.365.3009 On Thu, Aug 22, 2019 at 7:38 PM Alix McLearen <amclearenabon.gov> wrote: Hi Rabbi Weiss, I assure you I haven't forgotten....we are close but have not reached a final decision just yet. Best, Alix Original message From: Y Weiss <vw(Thaleph-institute.org> Date: 8/21/19 9:12 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Alix McLearen <[email protected]> Subject: Re: BOP partnering with local businesses to mentor inmates >>> "Y Weiss" 08/21/2019 21:12 >» Dear Alix, I hope this email finds you well! Might you have an update regarding the criteria for the FSA's recidivism reduction programs? And is there a definition yet for Productive Activity? Thank you! Rabbi Weiss On Jul 1, 2019, at 2:56 PM, Rabbi Y. Weiss <vwealeph-institute.org> wrote: EFTA00046586

Thank you Alix for taking the time to speak and for the helpful information! As we discussed, when you are able, if you can give me a heads-up as to the when the criteria of the recidivism reduction programming/productive activities will be coming out I would truly appreciate that. Thank you for your advocacy to expedite the production of that criteria and for all that you do! Best regards, Rabbi Y. Weiss The Aleph Institute Advocacy Department 9540 Collins Avenue Suriside, Florida 33154 786.3653009 On Mon, Jul 1, 2019 at 2:15 PM Alix McLearen <amclearen(Thbop.gov> wrote: Hi Rabbi Weiss, I am free soon at about 2:30 if you would like to call me then - 202-514-4919. Thanks, Alix >> > "Rabbi Y. Weiss" <[email protected]> 7/1/2019 1:46 PM >> > Hi Alix, Hope you are well! Might you have a few moments available for a quick call? Please let me know when might be good for you and at what number to call, or alternatively please feel free to call me at your convenience at 786-365-3009... Thanks!! Rabbi Y. Weiss The Aleph Institute Advocacy Department 9540 Collins Avenue Surlskie, Florida 33154 786.3653009 On Wed, May 15, 2019 at 11:17 AM Rabbi Y. Weiss <[email protected]> wrote: Thank you Alix for this! This is incredible. Please let us know if we can ever assist with this area as we care deeply about this issue. Very best regards, Rabbi Y. Weiss The Aleph Institute Advocacy Department 9540 Collins Avenue Suriside, Florida 33154 786-365-3009 On Fri, Apr 5, 2019 at 10:42 AM Alix McLearen <[email protected]> wrote: Rabbi, EFTA00046587

Thank you for your email and your enthusiasm about BOP's programming and partnerships. First, let me assure you that much of what you recommend is already well underway. All facilities offer opportunities for inmates and to work and provide resume preparation classes to assist them in best describing their experiences. We also have mock job fairs and other reentry resource days with our community partners at each local facility. Other educational and vocational offerings include high school equivalency, English as a Second Language, Industry recognized certification and/or College certification, BOP certificate with oversight from an outside accredited agency, Department of Labor apprenticeships, accommodations/interventions for special learning needs, job market soft skills, and leisure time activities. Federal Prison Industries also offers inmates work opportunities in some of the areas you mention, such as call centers. Our Wardens are always seeking partnerships to assist the inmates, so if you know of specific organizations interested in volunteering, please let us know so we can explain the volunteer process to them. We look forward to our continued work together! Best Alix Sent from my Verizon. Samsung Galaxy smartphone Original message From: Y Weiss <[email protected]> Date: 4/3/19 11:54 AM (GMT-05:00) To: Hugh Hurwitz <[email protected]> Cc: Robbie Rhodes <rrhodes@boomov> Cherry' Litsey <[email protected]> Alix McLearen <amclearen@boomov>, Jason Gunther <[email protected]> Subject: Re: BOP partnering with local businesses to mentor inmates >> > "1/ Weiss" 04/03/2019 11:54 >> > Thank you for your leadership on these issues and for the Bureau's continued commitment to reentry! I look forward to discussing these ideas with your team. Rabbi Weiss On Apr 3, 2019, at 11:45 AM, Hugh Hurwitz <[email protected]> wrote: Good to hear from you Rabbi and I am glad to hear that the event on Monday was inspiring and well received. We are very excited about some of the opportunities presented by the First Step Act. Specifically to the suggestions you made below we do intend to work more with local stakeholders and community organizations. Please note that much of this is already happening. Every institution works with the local community to identify and utilize partners to help provide apprenticeship, vocational training, and other skilled training/education. They also partner with community organizations in job fairs and job skills training. Our staff in the Reentry Services Division can provide you with more details and I am sure they would be more than happy to discuss your ideas further. I have copied them here and one of them will reach back out to you. Thanks again for reaching out. Hugh >> > "Rabbi Y. Weiss' <[email protected]> 4/3/2019 11:10 AM >> > Dear Acting Director Hurwitz, I hope this email finds you well! I had the privilege of being at the White House this past Monday and I cannot begin to express how inspired I was by the events surrounding the First Step Act and how to build off that success. Specifically with regards to the focus on reducing unemployment for former inmates, thus helping them successfully reenter society. EFTA00046588

To that end, and in the spirit of collecting ideas, I believe it would be an incredible BOP initiative for corporations, small businesses and chambers of commerce etc to partner in this amazing cause to give inmates the tools to succeed when released. Sort of a like a mentoring project. As you know, more than 90% of inmates will one day return to society, yet thousands of them do not have the knowledge or skills to write a resume, type on a computer or navigate the intemet. Many do not know how to conduct themselves at a job interview, with basic vocabulary, nor do they know how to spell workplace words correctly. The solution to this is obviously education. In the hope of reducing recidivism and increasing our workforce with untapped talent, corporations, small business and chambers of commerce should be incentivized to partner with the BOP to give basic courses to inmates, such as: • Resume building inside, so that when inmates come out it's all ready to go. • Interview skills and mock interviews should be held on the inside to prepare them with appropriate answers to explain their time gaps on resume. • Education inside on aptitude testing; Workplace vocabulary. Develop programs with data entry computer software and keyboarding skills: with emphasis on general office equipment, mail room equipment. • More Janitorial and forklift vocational certification programs inside. • Customer service telephone and related computer software skills. • Work/vocational programs for non labor jobs to older or disabled releasing individuals, also emphasizing the above "desk job" skills needed. If there was a way for BOP and BOP Wardens to partner with local businesses to come in and do these programs, training and mentoring it could be a tremendous success. This should also be a part of the programming as per the First Step Act. But if there's a way to start this sooner than later I think it would be tremendous and would certainly be in line with what the President stressed on Monday that he wants to reduce unemployment for former inmates. Thank you and G•d bless you for your amazing work! Best regards, Rabbi Y. Weiss The Aleph Institute Advocacy Department 9540 Collins Avenue Surfside, Florida 33154 786.365.3009 EFTA00046589

Fwd: RE: MCC Visit Thursday From Stephanie Scannell To Darrin Howard Date 2019/08/21 11:10 Subject: Fwd: RE: MCC Visit Thursday Attachments: TEXT.htni Stephanie Scannell-Vessella Staff Attorney CLC New York Metropolitan Correctional Center 150 Park Row New York, NY 10007 p:646-836-6466 f.646-836-7665 > » Adam Johnson 8/16/2019 721 AM > » Thank you for your guidance during the tour. Please let us know if you have further questions or need anything else. It was great seeing you again. >>> "Donaleski, Rebekah (USANYS)" <fl 8/15/2019 2:17 PM >>> Thank you both for everything today — really appreciate it, and lovely to see you, as always! From: Adam Johnson < Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2019 9:40 AM To: Stephanie Scannell <[email protected]>; Donaleski, Rebekah (USANYS) < Subject: RE: MCC Visit Thursday Thanks! I just walked Mr. O'Callahan and Mr. Shea over to meet with the Regional Director and new Warden. >> > "Donaleski, Rebekah (USANYS)" > 8/15/20199:31 AM >> > FBI SA Amanda Moore FBI TFO Michael Gildea DOJ OIG SAC Guido Modano DOJ OIG SA David Carpenter From: Adam Johnson < Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2019 8:54 AM To: Stephanie Scannell <ssrannellObop gov>; Donaleski, Rebekah (USANYS) < Subject: Re: MCC Visit Thursday Sorry about the abrupt prior email. I was hoping to get the names so we could ensure we have enough vests for everyone. >>> "Donaleski, Rebekah (USANYS)" < > 8/14/2019 10:56 PM >>> . . Page 17079 EFTA00046590