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A rant explaining my prison abolitionism
Prison is essentially built on punishment. There's been reformist efforts to help it resemble rehabilitation, but what remains is that prison is a hell of many demons. A population of its own defined by abuse.
Here is the idea
Prison is essentially built on punishment. There's been reformist efforts to help it resemble rehabilitation, but what remains is that prison is a hell of many demons. A population of its own defined by abuse.
Here is the idea
The state in its processes throughout time decides what a crime is, and furthermore, the equivalent punishment, thus not so different even if not as literal as the "eye-for-an-eye" code. Like legislature, these decisions are marred by intent. Why drugs are harshly penalized
is not a question of the legislature establishing moral code, but intent, which is certainly, at least partly, to keep a certain population off the streets and in prisons. the population drugs have been historically funnelled towards. So here there must sprout the question
What makes a criminal, specifically? Generally it's clear by the state's standard that one who commits what is legally known as a crime, is a criminal. But what it specifically could be is a pertetrator of homicide. Or someone caught speeding. Someone THOUGHT to have done a crime
(more on the note of the innocence dilemma later, this is a rant tbf) now i know you and i ascribed to the notion of the criminal the thoughts of someone who is bound to harming others. but with so many states disenfranchising convicts its clear thats not the legal view of it
what creates a criminal of the layman's definition? broadly, conditions under socioeconomics. im not gonna get into that since it should be given, and we know who created those conditions. but my stance is particularly radical. so i explain it with these givens,a criminal is made
one is not naturally born. you lead man down the wrong path, and punish him for doing what is appropriate by the conditions he is living, and actions associated with that. a person is abused by his environment, and suddenly he is responsible for his supposed depravity
and then to punish him by putting him in a dog pound, you play it as if hes meant to come out as more of a man. the courts determine his stay based on what was done and how it fits into what was written. and what perplexes me is how we as a self proclaimed advanced society
remain so barbaric and archaic. but realize its a product of ignorance, born of purpose or naĂŻvete. The solution has never been slavery. The solution is derived from the roots. its a complicated process, it wont be deemed practical, and i will be vague right now but its necessary
see, we must undo what creates the criminal. we must change the role of policing and attack the intent and intellect of the legislature. we must do many things simultaneously for work to be done, because ensuring substantial progress you must go all directions at once inward
I dont have a proposal that doesnt reek of infancy and im overstaying my welcome in this thread, theres a million things to think and write about and i havent organized it well yet. Im constantly thinking about it. i have no idea 100% of how we "win" here. a brainstorms in order
oh yeah and the innocence dilemma. well ima explain it to you. an innocent person in prison is still a convict. so as innocent as they are it isnt a difference to the circumstance. our system may be able to check itself and exonerate, but its complicated
the man about to be murdered did commit a crime. the thing is did he deserve this sentence. in THIS way the man is innocent of that sentence, as a completely innocent man would be innocent of any charge. so he applies here
and the specific dilemma of the innocent man sacrificing his integrity by taking the guilty plea to lower his sentence. thats a point establishing the lack of credibility our system has in doing what is just. its all tricks and games
