Babz Rawls-Ivy (pictured), editor of Inner City News, co-hosts WNHH's "Criminal Justice Insider" radio show with Jeff Grant, Executive Director of Family ReEntry.
Photo Kathleen Cei

On Criminal Justice Insider, a new radio show sponsored by The Community Foundation, Inner City News Editor Babz Rawls-Ivy and Family Reentry Director Jeff Grant raise up the voices of people impacted by incarceration. Guests talk about their experiences and what makes the difference between successfully transitioning to life outside of prison and going back in.

Criminal Justice Insider airs on the first and third Fridays of every month at 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on WNHH radio and livestreamed from The New Haven Independent Facebook page. A written article will accompany each episode.

The Foundation's sponsorship aligns with our leadership strategy on incarceration and reentry.

Criminal Justice from the Inside Out

The debut episode hosted by Babz Rawls-Ivy, editor of Inner City News, and Jeff Grant, Executive Director of Family Reentry.

Read the New Haven Independent's coverage of the debut episode: "Criminal Justice, From The Inside Out."

State Rep. Robyn Porter

State Rep. Robyn Porter discusses her experiences with the criminal justice system following the arrest of her son and her journey into politics.

Read the New Haven Independent article: "Son’s Arrest Helped Shape Porter’s Politics."

Looking to Germany for System Reform

State Department of Correction Commissioner Scott Semple discusses the latest reform efforts in Connecticut.

Read the New Haven Independent article: "German-Inspired Reform Calms Prison."

Female Ex-offenders Band Together

Guest Jackie Lucibello is a leader of the Women’s Resettlement Working Group (WRWG), a new organization that focuses on providing support and community for formerly incarcerated women in New Haven.

Read the New Haven Independent article: "Female Ex-Offenders Band Together."

Taking on Mass Incarceration with Community Organizing

Lorenzo Jones, co-founder of the criminal-justice reform Katal Center, discusses how old-fashioned community organizing is needed to push changes to the criminal justice system.

Read the New Haven Independent article: "Organizer Takes “Sawdust-On-Floor” Tack."

Parole Holds A Key To Reentry Puzzle

Cynthia Farrar, a producer of the 2017 PBS Frontline documentary, Life on Parole discusses the film and her goal of changing the public conversation through the voices of the people whose lives are impacted by the criminal justice system.

Read the New Haven Independent article: Parole Holds A Key to Reentry Puzzle.

Transition Time For Teens In Trouble

Dr. Danielle Cooper, assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of New Haven and interim director of research at the Tow Youth Justice Institute, talks about reforms needed to keep teens out of the criminal justice system.

Read the New Haven Independent article.

Ganim Describes Path Back From Prison

Bridgeport Mayor Joseph P. Ganim thinks his story of personal and political perseverance is an inspiring example of the redemptive possibilities afforded by a “second-chance society” state.

Read the New Haven Independent article.

Ex-CEO Serves Justice Reform “Life Sentence”

John Santa first went to prison in 1997. He wasn’t there because of any crime he had committed. He went to visit a friend who was serving a four-year sentence for embezzlement, and came away from that brief encounter a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform.

Read the New Haven Independent article.

From Second Chance To No Chance Connecticut?

Daee Muhammad McKnight joins joined Connecticut NAACP State President Scot X. Esdaile, who was appointed as the national NAACP criminal justice, for the latest episode of WNHH FM’s “Criminal Justice Insider” with Babz Rawls-Ivy and Jeff Grant.

Read the New Haven Independent article.

Teen Encounter With Cops Spurred Reform Advocate

Earl Bloodworth, the program manager for the city’s Warren Kimbro Reentry Project, discussed his trajectory towards criminal justice reform on the latest episode of WNHH’s “Criminal Justice Insider with Babz Rawls-Ivy and Jeff Grant.”

Read the New Haven Independent article.

From Mortgage Fraud To Criminal Justice Reform

Mortgage fraud sent Jacqueline Polverari to federal prison for six months. A compulsive perfectionism and a desperate commitment to her family put her on the path to white-collar crime in the first place.

Polverari told that story on the latest episode of WNHH FM’s “Criminal Justice Insider with Babz Rawls-Ivy and Jeff Grant.”