Academia has a duty to shed light on the voices of micro audiences, especially those stripped of humanity as a result of a system that neglects to balance punishment with the opportunity for redemption. Let’s delve into the deplorable reality incarcerated women are subject to given that they are the fastest growing segment of the prison population increasing at approximately double the rate of men since 1985. Research on female imprisonment is crucial to understanding the comprehensive reverberations of mass incarceration and to disentangling the practices that precede criminalization. From an absolutionist perspective, policy that works to reduce and ostensibly eradicate the repercussions that the carceral system reaps on our society can no longer deem this augmenting population irrelevant. Drawing attention to the necessity of research surrounding female incarceration is designed to underscore the shadow system of laws and regulations that dehumanize those behind bars and profit off the misfortune of their loved ones utilizing mandatory sentencing laws and restrictions on prison visitations.
Privatization in the Incarceration System
Given the incarceration epidemic in our nation, it is critical to be cognizant of the stark difference between a public and private prison. Let’s start with public prisons, since this is where 92 percent of inmates are kept. Public prisons are non-profit prisons owned and operated by the state and federal governments. In public prisons, … read more
Forward Thinking with Change in Mind
As a current college student, I have been fortunate enough to call both North Carolina and New York home: to be part of two unparalleled communities. And when I think about community, I instantly think of role models across the nation who play a formative role in engendering an atmosphere that nurtures and bolsters the … read more
Disparity
Racial inconsistencies People of color are extraordinarily more likely to enter the country’s justice system than the general population. State and federal governments are quite cognizant of this discrepancy, and researchers and policymakers are delving into the catalysts driving the numerics in addition to what specific procedures are utilized to confront the inconsistencies. The United … read more
Objectivity
Around the planet, governments confront illegal activity and social unrest in a myriad of disparate fashions. The astonishing crime surge in the United States was preventable. Progressive policymakers emulating the synonymous reckless revolving-door policies during the 1960s and ‘70s consciously produced the most substantial deluge of violent crime in history through incarcerating Americans at globally … read more
Justice
Latin Roots The word justice is derived from the Latin words jungere (to bind, to tie together) and jus (a bond or tie), reflective of a conjoined notion that functions as a tool to organize people into groups and distribute each person his or her due share of rights and duties, rewards and punishments. The … read more
Necessary Change
A Flawed System For quite some time, when it comes to public safety, we have accredited success to the number of individuals put behind bars. Such a procedure has not by definition made our communities safer. It has, undoubtedly, ignited a detonation in both the prison population and its corresponding costs. Research demonstrates that for … read more
Transparency
What does justice in America materialize as? Policymakers, law enforcement officers and academic researchers across the nation have been grappling with the aforementioned query, specifically as it relates to local jails and state prisons where most offenders are detained. Regardless of an individual’s political affiliation – conservative or liberal, Democrat or Republican – we all … read more
Being Impartial
As an adjective, impartial is “treating all rivals or disputants equally; fair and just”. This approach is without: bias, adjusting one’s moral compass or personal agendas. It is using your power or control with integrity when it is hard, inconvenient or otherwise. You don’t take sides. You take action. As a non-profit, Impartial is a … read more
Artists’ Time
Without change, there is no trace of creativity, innovation, or enticement for growth. Those ambitious individuals who galvanize transformation have a greater chance to control the change that is inexplicably inescapable. Heroic artists do not just reflect our past and present, they help to shape the future. Intellectual curiosity stimulates a deep, persistent ‘need to … read more
Mom Died
I have been writing about being a criminal defendant, but today I am writing about being a daughter. Probably the most vigilant supporter I have ever known for my whole life was my Mother. She knew my soul. She knew my essence. Good or bad, there was nothing that I could hide from her if … read more
A Tribute To My Aunt
I was prosecuted for a crime I didn’t commit years ago. I sit here writing my blog with tears in my eyes and a warm heart. For nearly two weeks, I have been in a skilled nursing facility daily beside my Aunt who is dying. She has lived a long, healthy, good life. She worked … read more
Being A Supreme Court Justice
I am taking a reprieve from my normal blog to comment on the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. If you ever wanted a person in the justice system to quietly inspire you, Ruth Bader Ginsburg might have been on that shortlist. I was drawn to her mindset to serve justice selflessly. She was the type … read more
My First Letter From An Inmate
Usually you will find me writing each week for the last few months about the criminal case that I endured many years ago. Today, I am writing because I reached out to an inmate a couple of weeks ago and he wrote me back. I shouldn’t be surprised that he wrote me back, I guess, … read more
