Getting Started (9/6)

First blog back and on this portfolio! So far the main tasks in ISM have been getting everything setup for the year. My first orders of business were this Wix page and assembling resources.

My research plan for this year, at least as of now, is to look at treatment/lack of treatment for mental illness in prisons, and how that affects other issues, such as the rate of recidivism and the overall crime rate. Already I have had better luck with finding resources, because even though my topic is still relatively narrow, I am focusing on the US (not a foreign country where resources won't show up because they aren't in English). I was even able to find a relatively current research study, that looked at the factors causing suicide in prisons, which will be very helpful to me.

My next order of business is to assemble a list of contacts, because I want to be able to work with more professionals this year than my main mentor, however, I do plan on working with the same mentor I worked with last year. I believe that working with professionals with different specializations will help my work be more accurate and relevant.

In the future I think I might want to switch to a voice memo format for these weekly blogs but I'm not completely sure. Nevertheless, I am so excited to be back in ISM and working towards another project, and I can't wait to see how far I come this year!