Advocarebrochure2009

AdvoCare’s goals are: (a) to provide assistance to prisoners and ex-offenders in the form of education and employment referrals; (b) to provide prisoners, family members of prisoners and all others concerned with updates on legal issues regarding prison conditions and criminal legislation; (c) to provide a periodic newsletter to those concerned with prison related legal issues; and (d) to provide a link with other nonprofit organizations.

In our work at AdvoCare, we support projects that help reduce the reliance on incarceration in order to improve public safety. As a part of this we track the legal and legislative issues that affect prisoners and their families. We attend many different conferences and meetings of other nonprofit organizations, compile data, and research the most recent court decisions or legislation that may pertain to prisoners’ interests. As we track cases and legislative proposals, we also provide the information to prisoners, their families and others who may be interested. We research case law and statutes for those prisoners who may not have access to complete legal authorities. And, in some circumstances with our limited volunteer resources, we In Memory of David Mark Tracy may make contact with legislators, who died in his cell at officials, and even the courts to Wallens Ridge State Prison, VA better track the handling of an at 20 years of age individual case, grievance or and with only months left to serve informal complaint. for a non-violent offense.

Basically, our goal at AdvoCare is to aid prisoners and their families in achieving the best possible life while dealing with the confines of corrections. We strive to bring families and communities together in order to rehabilitate individuals rather than continuing to disenfranchise them.

"Building more prisons to address crime is like building more graveyards to address a fatal disease." -Robert Gangi, Executive Director, Correctional Association of New York

What Can You Do?

What is AdvoCare?

AdvoCare is a non-profit, membership organization that is part of a national effort to reduce crime through criminal justice reform.

VOLUNTEER ! Carefully examine your time and interests and choose an issue or a role on which to focus. You can:

Support or lead an AdvoCare event or be the coordinator of a group of advocates for your area; ♦ Submit articles, poetry, and/or artwork for our newsletter, Smart Message; ♦ Monitor local news stories in the criminal justice area and share interesting articles with our membership; ♦ Prepare statements and keep legislators and the media informed of our agenda; ♦ Join our research team in preparing studies for legislators and the public.

WORKING TOGETHER ON THE

♦

"ever doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead Your time and support is always needed!

Working together on the inside and the outside.

AdvoCare, Inc. P.O. Box 133 Hancock, Maryland 21750-0133 Phone: 202-271-1623 Fax: 202-204-6038 P.O. Box 22 15-A Candlewood Lane Great Cacapon, West Virginia 25422 Fax: 202-204-6038 Email: [email protected] Web: www.smartoncrimesolutions.org Group: [email protected]

INSIDE AND THE OUTSIDE

Focusing on Smart on Crime Solutions www.smartoncrimesolutions.org

How Are We Funded?

What Do We Do? Focusing on Smart on Crime Solutions

Most of AdvoCare’s funding comes from membership dues and other private donations from individual members and supporters. We need supporters to join AdvoCare, to maintain your annual dues, to participate in membership drives, to research and write grant proposals, and to conduct or support other fundraising initiatives.

Capital grounds in Richmond, Virginia on 7 April 2001. AdvoCare, Inc. is a nonprofit organization certified by the Secretary of State for the State of West Virginia. AdvoCare, Inc. is duly certified as conforming to the provisions of West Virginia Code Sections 31-1-27 and 28. The Articles of Incorporation are filed with the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Suite 139-W, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV 25305-0770, under Control #38817. Online confirmation of state filings can be obtained through the WV Secretary of State Business Organization Information System. http://www.wvsos.com/wvcorporations/ These Articles of Incorporation are also recorded with the Office of the County Clerk for Morgan County, 77 Fairfax Street, Suite 1A, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411, in Book 7, Pages 735-739. AdvoCare, Inc. is recognized as a nonprofit organization for the purposes of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax deductible. Make a Donation Today! Become and AdvoCare Member Now!

AdvoCare conducts, sponsors, or co-sponsors many worthwhile projects which include:

Join those who are looking to make a difference.

The Family Bound program focuses on ideas that pertain to keeping families united and children directed away from bad behavior that may later lead to criminal acts, substance abuse, and violence. It is our intent to analyze ways of strengthening families and promoting positive development for young people that may, in fact, require rethinking the norms of our modern society. www.familybound.org

Prisoner

$5.00

Organizations

$100.00

Individuals

$15.00

Sustaining Organizations

$500.00

Family*

$30.00

Official Sponsors**

Silver

$50.00

Lifetime

Gold

$100.00

Lifetime VIP’s

The Platinum Focus Media project will create ways for at-risk youth and young adults to participate in charitable events in the area of fashion, film, and other media, while at the same time providing experience and portfolio building to those who might not otherwise be able to afford the costs of professional photographers for head shots, composites, and advertising. We will also provide assistance with resumes and even connections to others in the media industry. www.platinumfocusmedia.org

Platinum

$250.00

Honorary***

The Government Process Training Program is a way to empower previously incarcerated individuals with the knowledge of how our government operates to create laws. By educating former prisoners in the electorial and legislative processes and bolstering individual confidences on how to positively effect change in local, state, and federal government, we present a platform which encourages those individuals to become active and contributing members of our communities. www.gemeinschafthome.com The Literacy, Education, and Rehabilitation Advocacy Campaign is our way of educating the general public as well as public officials on how to implement overall literacy and rehabilitation programs that are designed to reduce prison populations, crime, and the overall cost of corrections. We can demonstrate links to literacy, learning disabilities, and underfunded educational opportunities that send some down a path of deviant behavior which can lead to crime. Therefore, this campaign will focus on much more cost-effective ways of preventing crime while also promoting a more productive citizenry. www.leracampaign.org The Give Judges A Choice project will expand on ways to empower judges with tools that can lead to alternative sentences, especially for youth and substance abusers. Many in the judiciary feel like they are given few alternatives between prison and setting someone free. We will research new ideas that provide options which make for more constructive alternatives. www.givejudgesachoice.org

“Allow all the governed an equal voice in the government, and that, and only that, is

New Member

$1000.00 $500.00 $1000.00 No cost

Next Full Year (Check here only if you are a new member applying for next year.)

Renewal

Name Address

City

State

Zip Code

E-mail

Fax

Phone (day)

Phone (evening)

Dues are payable by January 1st on a yearly basis for the calendar year (with the exception of Lifetime, Lifetime VIP and Honorary memberships). Memberships will be automatically excepted for the current year after January 1st on a non-prorated basis. Any dues paid prior to November 15th will be applied to the current year unless you specify that you are applying for the upcoming calendar year. Honorary memberships are not automatically renewed. Honorary members must indicate their desire for membership by completing the membership application on a yearly basis. 1. Family memberships include all those immediate family members within the same household. 2. Official Sponsors will be approved based on their applications, proof of legitimate business registration and any possible conflicts with other existing Official Sponsors. (The memberships must be made by mail or fax and pre-approved.) 3. Honorary memberships are approved by the Board of Directors, and may be given to indigent prisoners who present their circumstances in writing to AdvoCare’s Board of Directors. (Honorary members are non-voting members. Requests for this type of membership can be made by mail, fax, or email. They are approved or disapproved on a quarterly basis.) Contributions are tax deductible under the provisions of 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code.

Type of Involvement with the Criminal Justice System: Prisoner Professional

Family

Friend

Volunteer

Institution

_______

Other

__

Organization—purpose

__________

Company—type license/registration no. state where licensed primary location

__________ __________ __________ __________

Send to:

Ad vo Car e, In c. P.O. Box 133 Hancock, Maryland 21750-0133 Phone: 202-271-1623 Fax: 202-204-6038 Email: [email protected] Web: www.smartoncrimesolutions.org Group: [email protected]