We need to begin thinking critically about what prisons actually do to our society and not what we think/want them to do.
We've consistently used prisons to escape any responsibility of addressing our systemic issues of racism, classism, and other forms of oppression.
We've consistently used prisons to escape any responsibility of addressing our systemic issues of racism, classism, and other forms of oppression.
We have to begin by (re)imagining what we truly want as our goal when someone commits a 'crime' and ensure that our justice system aligns with what we want.
How can we take seriously new strategies of restorative rather than exclusively punitive justice?
How can we take seriously new strategies of restorative rather than exclusively punitive justice?
The INDECOM report on #NoelChambers, who was detained for four decades without trial, is an indicator that something is wrong beyond the "efficiency" of the justice system. There is something wrong with our desire for prisons to relieve us of thinking about issues & punish.
We've inherited a colonial and punitive approach to justice, and this has left us thinking that incarcerated people have a "debt to pay to society", rather than society has a debt to ensure that we find means of restoration and healing for them.
We must challenge ourselves to think creatively and explore new ideas of justice, even when they make us feel uncomfortable. A system where a 355-year old prison system no longer serves as our major anchor.
Noel Chambers is just one of many people the State felt had a debt to repay to society, and we continue to fail others like him by being complicit in thinking this our justice system is designed for restoration.
Some recommended readings:
We can't recommend these two books enough and you can borrow them from our library: "Are Prisons Obsolete?" by Angela Davis & "PET" by Akwaeke Emezi. rebelwomenlit.com/library
Other recommended books for this time:
rebelwomenlit.com/sevenbooks
We can't recommend these two books enough and you can borrow them from our library: "Are Prisons Obsolete?" by Angela Davis & "PET" by Akwaeke Emezi. rebelwomenlit.com/library
Other recommended books for this time:
rebelwomenlit.com/sevenbooks
*Other recommended books for this time rebelwomenlit.com/blog/sevenbooks 
Another one.
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Another one.
