The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.
The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.
The Political Dynamics of Justice Reform in The U.S.
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are “<strong>in</strong>visible punishments” such as felony disenfranchisement, restrictions on hold<strong>in</strong>g<br />
public <strong>of</strong>fice, occupational bans on pr<strong>of</strong>essions such as law enforcement, teach<strong>in</strong>g and<br />
child care, bans on welfare and federal assistance, and federal f<strong>in</strong>ancial aid for<br />
education. Because mass <strong>in</strong>carceration and “<strong>in</strong>visible punishments” that also impact<br />
communities <strong>of</strong> color are thought <strong>of</strong> and referred to as the New Jim Crow, or another<br />
form <strong>of</strong> racialized social control, prison abolitionists draw parallels between prison<br />
abolition and the abolition <strong>of</strong> slaves.<br />
<strong>The</strong> prison abolition movement, typically believed to be on the far left, view prisons as a<br />
form <strong>of</strong> Neo-slavery that is unjust and racist. <strong>The</strong> movement dates back to Emma<br />
Goldman's 1911 abolitionist essay, <strong>The</strong> Priest and the Devil to open Prisons: A Social<br />
Crime and Failure. <strong>The</strong>re exists the belief that prisons are obsolete, f<strong>in</strong>ancially<br />
motivated, and better replaced by more humane <strong>in</strong>stitutions that directly focus on the<br />
rehabilitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>dividuals.<br />
<strong>The</strong> abolition movement believes that prisons should not be reformed by replaced as<br />
they are not productive social <strong>in</strong>stitutions and <strong>in</strong>stead only serve to <strong>in</strong>capacitate<br />
<strong>in</strong>dividuals.<br />
Opposition to <strong>Reform</strong><br />
Opposition to crim<strong>in</strong>al justice reform typically is expressed by conservatives who do not<br />
perceive errors <strong>in</strong> the crim<strong>in</strong>al justice system. Those that believe this also typically reject<br />
the claim from reform activists that the crim<strong>in</strong>al justice system acts <strong>in</strong> a way that is<br />
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