1. This, by @elibhager and @AnnaFlagg, on parents losing their parental rights while in prison, is an absolute must-read.
And absolutely infuriating. It bears stark, unflinching witness to the dehumanization that defines our criminal justice system.
themarshallproject.org/2018/12/03/how…
And absolutely infuriating. It bears stark, unflinching witness to the dehumanization that defines our criminal justice system.
themarshallproject.org/2018/12/03/how…
2. The core shocking point is this: parents in prison w no history of abuse, even for relatively short terms like 15 months, are more likely to lose their children permanently than those accused of physical or sexual abuse.
Prison for property crime is worse than sexual abuse.
Prison for property crime is worse than sexual abuse.
3. Now, of course, many people tangled up in our criminal justice system suffer from drug abuse, mental health problems, homelessness, etc. That’s WHY they’re in the system, especially women, and especially mothers.
Family court is hard. But our approach remains appalling.
Family court is hard. But our approach remains appalling.
4. Our attitude is to just write these parents off as irredeemable.
This comment should shock us, however often we hear it. A “life of crime” reduces the complexity of why women, mothers especially, commit crime to just “it’s what she does—who she IS.”
Deeply dehumanizing.
This comment should shock us, however often we hear it. A “life of crime” reduces the complexity of why women, mothers especially, commit crime to just “it’s what she does—who she IS.”
Deeply dehumanizing.
5. The next person at least acknowledges that a big problem is that we just don’t care—that the parents need support that we as a society simply refuse to provide.
Which is dehumanizing as well. Don’t work to fix the problem. Just lock up the parents, strip away their… CHILD.
Which is dehumanizing as well. Don’t work to fix the problem. Just lock up the parents, strip away their… CHILD.
6. But the deeper problem w these “what about the children?!” arguments is they aren’t even good on the FACTS.
Evidence suggests that kids do better if we figure out how to keep parents who want to be involved, well… involved.
And that’s surely better for the parents too.
Evidence suggests that kids do better if we figure out how to keep parents who want to be involved, well… involved.
And that’s surely better for the parents too.
7. So Dorothy Roberts has it completely right. We just don’t want to support these parents, so it’s easier just to punish.
We also judge the quality of the kids’ lives through racial and class bias, only exacerbating the problem.
We also judge the quality of the kids’ lives through racial and class bias, only exacerbating the problem.
8. I respect the family court judge here willing to call out his entire field.
These people—poor, struggling, marginalized people, often of color—simply aren’t seen as DESERVING a family.
How do you hold that view unless you don’t view them as fully human?
These people—poor, struggling, marginalized people, often of color—simply aren’t seen as DESERVING a family.
How do you hold that view unless you don’t view them as fully human?
9. Our criminal justice system is a horrifying mirror of our indifference and laziness.
The poor and the marginalized simply aren’t worth our time or effort. Just take away their children and move on.
Heartbreaking.
The poor and the marginalized simply aren’t worth our time or effort. Just take away their children and move on.
Heartbreaking.
