We cannot run society for the privileged and allow a significant proportion of the population to ... more We cannot run society for the privileged and allow a significant proportion of the population to be marginalized. It impacts the quality of life for all of us if we have 'throw away' people. A justice system which tolerates injustice is doomed to collapse. -Leonard Noisette, Former Director, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, NY We, as a country, are confused about what we are trying to achieve with the criminal justice system. The public needs to be moved away from the idea that the criminal justice system can provide 'the' answer to crime. Indeed, our responses to crime often exacerbate the problem. Criminal justice agencies in a local jurisdiction must collaborate to get the proper message to the public and collectively say, 'this is what we can do, this is what we cannot do' and then concentrate on improving the system-particularly in the area of reducing racial disparities which result from our collective decision-making. -I. Matthew Campbell, Former Assistant State's Attorney, Ellicott City, MD While the impact of incarceration on individuals can be quantified to a certain extent, the wide-ranging effects of the race to incarcerate on African American communities in particular is a phenomenon that is only beginning to be investigated. What does it mean to a community, for example, to know that three out of ten boys growing up will spend time in prison? What does it do to the fabric of the family and community to have such a substantial proportion of its young men enmeshed in the criminal justice system? What images and values are communicated to young people who see the prisoner as the most prominent pervasive role model in the community? -Marc Mauer, Race to Incarcerate 1
We cannot run society for the privileged and allow a significant proportion of the population to ... more We cannot run society for the privileged and allow a significant proportion of the population to be marginalized. It impacts the quality of life for all of us if we have 'throw away' people. A justice system which tolerates injustice is doomed to collapse. -Leonard Noisette, Former Director, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, NY We, as a country, are confused about what we are trying to achieve with the criminal justice system. The public needs to be moved away from the idea that the criminal justice system can provide 'the' answer to crime. Indeed, our responses to crime often exacerbate the problem. Criminal justice agencies in a local jurisdiction must collaborate to get the proper message to the public and collectively say, 'this is what we can do, this is what we cannot do' and then concentrate on improving the system-particularly in the area of reducing racial disparities which result from our collective decision-making. -I. Matthew Campbell, Former Assistant State's Attorney, Ellicott City, MD While the impact of incarceration on individuals can be quantified to a certain extent, the wide-ranging effects of the race to incarcerate on African American communities in particular is a phenomenon that is only beginning to be investigated. What does it mean to a community, for example, to know that three out of ten boys growing up will spend time in prison? What does it do to the fabric of the family and community to have such a substantial proportion of its young men enmeshed in the criminal justice system? What images and values are communicated to young people who see the prisoner as the most prominent pervasive role model in the community? -Marc Mauer, Race to Incarcerate 1
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