Fighting Modern Day Slavery: Mass Incarceration

The “justice” system is designed to punish criminals for the rest of their lives. Sound harsh? Because it is. Unfortunately, most people are ignorant to this fact because it doesn’t affect them directly. We are all familiar with the saying “Do the crime, do the time”. Is the time referenced here the rest of one’s life? These individuals are left unable to vote, telling them that their opinion and their voice doesn’t matter. They’re unable to apply for student loans, resulting in the inability to land certain jobs regardless of the talent they may possess. They’re unable to get public assistance…Who needs assistance more than someone who has lost everything? Their home, car, job, resources, dignity, hope… They are hindered from getting most jobs…How can one survive and provide for themselves and their families legally? What options do they have?

There are atheists and agnostics, but most people believe in some type of God or deity that gives hope and forgiveness. But what hope and forgiveness do the incarcerated have or see? Crime should be punishable. yes. If it wasn’t, then it would be rampant.  But the punishment should not be lifelong. Petty drug crimes of a man who was denied a chance and does what is necessary to feed his family should not warrant years of his life,wasted. A first-time offender should not have to spend years behind bars. African Americans should not get harsher punishments for the same exact crimes of their white counterparts. The death penalty should not exist. How can we leave it up to us, flawed humans, to take someone’s life to create “justice” for another life lost? If so, all the “sacrifice and forgiveness” of our Gods have been in vain.

As of late, the gap between the number of African Americans and whites that are incarcerated has shrunk. But the treatment of these individuals still greatly differs, as do the price they pay for the crimes committed.

In a society that’s more concerned about women’s bodies and “protecting life” that doesn’t even exist, there needs to be more focus on investing in the life that is currently existing.

Prison reform isn’t just a wild, intangible idea. It’s something that must happen. Recidivism is at an all time high of 68%. The inmates are not to blame when they aren’t given any resources to help them succeed in a society that already makes it hard enough for an average employed person, making more than minimum wage, to succeed WITHOUT a family to support. There is no generational wealth created for most of these people. What fallback option do they have? What help or resources are they provided?

The re-entry process of an incarcerated individual back into civilization is crucial. They must adjust to society again after being locked in literal cages and treated like animals by people who don’t even need a college degree, experience, or proper training to do so…not to mention who are underpaid (once a month at that), angry, only there for the state benefits, and many of whom have a racial agenda, unfortunately. Being institutionalized is a real thing that needs to be addressed.

To assist with these problems of recidivism, overcriminalization, and other structural issues in the justice system like racial profiling and police brutality, there needs to be reform. For starters, the abolishing of prison and police funding. Choosing to allocate these funds to help provide resources that are used towards social programs that benefit society and provide necessary help, and in turn help to stop these high recidivism rates. Not only should help be provided, but also hope.

“Jails and prisons are designed to break human beings, to convert the population into specimens in a zoo – obedient to our keepers, but dangerous to each other.” – Angela Davis

Elisa Grant - 08/01/2022