I was hoping to put some more planning and writing into this first post, but for purposes of discussion, I'm starting it. I'll add abolition resources over time.
Mass incarceration is a very hot topic right now. What does "ending" mass incarceration mean to you? Does it mean shrinking our incarcerated population X%? Should our incarceration rate be at or near the average for other advanced nations? If the answer to the latter question is yes, how do we so drastically cut our incarceration rate to get to that level?
In order for us to get to an average incarceration rate to the rest of the world, we would have to release 80% of incarcerated people.
Although incarceration rates have been slightly trending downward, that has been highly influenced by the larger states, and there is still a nationwide trend to address problems of poverty with further expansion of policing and prisons. At our current rate of decrease, it will take until 2166 to get to 1970 incarceration rates.
The staggering scale of this problem, and the scholarship around abolition, is what led me to seek out answers to these questions.
I hope to use this thread to talk about these debates, cash bail, the history of policing, and other topics of interest, like "what about the murderers?"
I welcome ADT and others with experience in the field to offer their insight. ADT, would love you read your paper if you are willing to share.
Mass incarceration is a very hot topic right now. What does "ending" mass incarceration mean to you? Does it mean shrinking our incarcerated population X%? Should our incarceration rate be at or near the average for other advanced nations? If the answer to the latter question is yes, how do we so drastically cut our incarceration rate to get to that level?
In order for us to get to an average incarceration rate to the rest of the world, we would have to release 80% of incarcerated people.
Although incarceration rates have been slightly trending downward, that has been highly influenced by the larger states, and there is still a nationwide trend to address problems of poverty with further expansion of policing and prisons. At our current rate of decrease, it will take until 2166 to get to 1970 incarceration rates.
The staggering scale of this problem, and the scholarship around abolition, is what led me to seek out answers to these questions.
I hope to use this thread to talk about these debates, cash bail, the history of policing, and other topics of interest, like "what about the murderers?"
I welcome ADT and others with experience in the field to offer their insight. ADT, would love you read your paper if you are willing to share.
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