While the climate is ripe and changing all over the U.S. since our new administration. I am very proud to say that there’s a glimpse of hope in the air.
Locally I see that we have groups, mostly white led that are in contact with those inside through our efforts. That are making moves and deals getting people out of prison one by one, using their influence and/or relationships with District Attorneys and Judges. Which is a good thing, please don’t get me wrong.
However, there are two things that we need to look at.
One, that these are groups that are being promoted in the media as if they’re doing this work by their own means and merits. When there are truly numerous groups out here such as ours (TOPS who’s at 20 years now) who have gotten out hundreds; but it’s not highlighted as such. So, I question is that because they have more capacity and if so why? If they are being highlighted in the media as the great one’s with hope and savior potential, then they’re the ones that the Funders are seeing as doing the work which is far from the truth. The second problem I see with that is that it’s not grassroots or people that’s within proximity to the problem.
I’ve said many times that if women run and lead their movements and the LGBTQ run and lead their movements then who should be the lead and center of the criminal justice movement? Shouldn’t it be someone close to the problem, for those closest to the problem is closest to the solution.
It falls back on the same old actions that’s always taken place, of other people benefitting off the demise of black people. Whether by organizational funding or our people being imprisoned, falsely charged and so forth. We appreciate the help and we need the help, but that’s just it, the help, not other groups taking over and capitalizing off our work or our demise.
If we really want to do great work and some real change, then we should REPEAL THE HABITUAL OFFENDERS ACT and release thousands, but then many of us wouldn’t have a job, or would we? A lot of our organizations wouldn’t exist, would they? Clerks in the courtrooms, correctional officers, Executive Directors with their nice salaries, and a whole lot more on both sides of the legal track would suffer, or would they? Less police officers, city municipalities would suffer from lack of funds accumulated by profiling so on and so forth.
Now, is it possible for change to occur and those entities not lose funding? I believe it is. I truly believe if we REPEAL the Habitual Offenders ACT and release the thousands that are being held unjustly will not result in any financial lost from any end. It may cut out the extra spending such as overtime, agency workers to cover over-crowded areas and to help with office work that is behind. Getting in compliance should not eliminate jobs but to be incompliant is where the problems lie and where the extra exaggerated funds are going. The prisons were built with a capacity it could hold. Let's get in compliance with the capacity of each prison for the overworked guards can take vacations, the prisons can save on the overtime because then the staff to inmate ratio should be compliant. The judicial offices can get back on schedule and get back to due process and handling matters timely and sufficiently without the stress of excessive cases piling up. Let's get in compliance for the police officers can be due diligent and practice safer practices with less stress and have a chance to take their vacations and hopefully get time for rejuvenation of their mind body and soul. Let's get in compliance for all those workers that work with the public can now have the time to take trainings such as reducing inequality and bias in the workplace and professionalism for they can help meet the challenges present in a changing and dynamic society.
I don't think they will lose money. If things are run the right way, fair firm and consistent; same laws for all we should be fine. If we are focusing on the Bible as some say because we are the bible-belt then love your neighbors as yourself. Treat people the way you want to be treated and love everyone. Maybe this will help increase revenues, increase the amount of people that want to work for the government because it is now somewhat fair. It will give us a chance to rehabilitate our incarcerated for when they are ready to return to society, they can be a part of economy. Reach one Teach one! Let's hope this climate catch on and put things right for WE as a people can prosper and US as a country can be productive and safe.
Nationally I think that what Joe Biden did with the Executive Orders are wonderful, and a long time coming. However, these are Executive Orders and not Laws. So, they will only last while he is in office, and can be easily changed when the next administration comes in. The other adage to that point is, all the EO’s are Federal, so that really has no effect on the southern states where they invented convict leasing during Jim Crow era. So, it leads us to look at what else could have been done and still can, if we want to influence real change. Well like I alluded to earlier. Let’s ask those within proximity, and this is what came back to us from inside the Alabama prison system by our brothers inside.
“If Biden wants to make a sweeping change across both State and Federal prison systems all he has to do is to sign an executive order repealing the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) of 1995 that he helped to draft into law. Under the AEDPA, the writ of habeas corpus became effectively dead and the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) became the demise of prisoners seeking any action through the courts.”
Are we fighting the Prison Industrial Complex to only enforce, enhance, and enlighten the Non-Profit Industrial Complex? Are we merely changing laws and policies to only build another system?
We all know that our fight with RACISM has always been a true fight against CLASSISM.
So, are we putting ourselves in a state of delusion? Or are we really making changes?
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