From the coauthor of "Rehabilitation in Prison"
Sean D. French - On behalf of The NATIONAL LIFER'S ASSOCIATION
The Myths that legitimize the Criminal Justices System; and how pedagogical methods exposed through Critical Criminology can debunk said myths & force the State to:
1. Discover the political and economic roots of crime and punishment.
2. Assist the Governor, the State, & the MDOC to own up to the role that the State of Michigan, its current judicial system, and the current practices of the MDOC have played in dismantling lives of black & brown offenders.
3. To openly acknowledge that yes, black & brown men/offenders, their families, and their communities are oppressed by ideologies and institutions that dominate through (passive aggressive) and overtly violent forms of social rule. See (Exploring Criminology) by William Chambiss & the works of Paulo Freire.
"The Rich get richer and the Poor get Prison!"
This is not just a truism, it is also the title of a book written by Jeffery Reiman, and should be read by those who govern over and work in penal institutions.
Sentiments/statements such as the above book title, are the stark realities for so many members of black & brown communities. Yet, the status quo continues to find eloquent ways to dismiss truisms such as the one noted above: they do so in the name of politics & social norms!
The federal government and Michigan’s own governor’s, have not just disregarded inconvienent truths like these but also wisdoms that could have urged them “not to go to the people in order to bring them a message of “salvation,” (especially when it is disingenuous) – but, in order to come to know through dialogue, their objective situation and their awareness of the situation,… the various levels of perception of themselves and of the world in which and with which they exist.” Paulo Freire (emphasis mine).
The damages inflicted upon the black & brown race by clandestine politics for profit, and the diabolical economic contrivances, that continue to be implicitly promoted by members of the status quo – like that of our current governor and the director of The MDOC, Heidi Washington have to be stopped!
The governor, nor any of her agents, have endeavored to put a complete end to the unjust laws that castigate black & brown offenders through Mass Incarceration, long and indeterminate sentencing, & T.I.S.; this, not withstanding other forms of injustices currently practiced within and beyond the MDOC.
All of these forms of injustices will, in many ways, haunt the offender even while on parole, including but not limited to: social and psychological issues like PTSD, of which black & brown communities continue to suffer from. Many of these issues, as previously noted, lead to the development of the “criminal culture” that plagues impoverished communities!
Attacking this issue is something that we might expect a black Lt. governor to not simply address (in general terms) but resolve!
Because none of these major issues have yet to be resolved, the “strange fruit” that once dangled from the trees of America, is now conveniently cut down before rotting, just to be neatly packaged by the droves; sent to “processing warehouses” in which America refers to as,…”correctional facilities!” Here, the product is then bonded and converted into “securities,” & then traded on the open market – a claim that can be factually proven!
It appears that there are those who have discovered a way to profit off of this new form of slavery or as Michelle Alexander put it,…”The New Jim Crow!” Does any of this sound like acts of Justice practiced by Morally sound individuals?
It is painfully obvious that the current structure of the judicial system and the laws therein, are not only biased but have proven to be deliberate constructs of the status quo, those who have been granted the “privilege” of being able to use, construe, & interpret law as they see fit: like Mandatory Sentencing!
“OMG! Black & Brown men are inherently evil & incorrigible!
What do you think we should do with these FRAUDULENT claims?…what else, lock’em up & throw away the key!
In closing, there is one disorder that I chose to leave for last, which was briefly noted above, that being PTSD!
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: This is a debilitating condition that follows a terrifying event. For example, a child that is present during a drug raid; watching a parent or family member overdose on drugs; being a witness to a rape or the victim of a rape; present during, or a victim of gang beatings/initiations while still and adolescent; being shot at or caught in violent gang shootings; seeing a dead/rotting corpse:
These are all scenarios that plague impoverished communities like those branded as “Projects!” Decrepid environments/concentration camps, that should be dismantled and permanently abandoned as failed “Projects!”
PTSD is never considered in the equation when charging young black & brown offenders and treatment options for this disorder, or any other disorders, have not be incorporated into the judicial process or in the etiology of crime and the criminal culture that has become synonymous to urban communities!
“To ignore the science or facts, does not make them any less credible!”
There is no such a thing as,…”political innocence!”
And, there is equally, no such a thing as “Utopia”!
Nonetheless, we should all be seeking to ostensibly support a more egalitarian form of justice/prison reform. This would be the more ethical and moral approach, that is, if there are any among us who possess morals that are ethically sound…you know, virtuous!