Eliminating The Criminal System: New Hope
Michelle Alexander an Opinion Columnist at New York Times, wrote a very fascinating and informative piece titled Reckoning With Violence. An article that subjects Restorative Justice can combat the detrimental effects of violence invoked by prison atmosphere. Alexander begins with the “get tough” strategies that were imposed to help elevate the crime and violence in the inner cities. Instead only proving counterproductive, she assesses that “Nationally, the drug war helped to birth our system of mass incarceration”, noting prominent impact it had on communities of color. Alexander argues that The War on Drugs campaign implemented, “especially in places like Chicago where it has caused catastrophic harm” and is ultimately what led to the ravaging and deterioration of booming urban communities. Although, she claims that there is a solution to this robbery of freedom while also keeping in mind the concerns and needs of victims. Alexander instead suggests both parties should be offered rehabilitation, a way to “devise an accountability plan, and receive comprehensive victim services, rather than send the person who harmed them to prison”, like Danielle Sered’s nonprofit organization Common Justice seeks to do.
Michelle Alexanders appeals, both logo and pathos, have solidified and rekindled my passion for dismantling and reconstructing in both how we view and treat offenders. With the help of organizations like Danielle Sered’s nonprofit organization, Common Justice being implemented in certain situations, has really expanded my hope for something I always thought would be a dream — the Criminal System coming to an end. Michelle Alexander’s pathos appeals in her writing tugs at my heart strings while her logo approach fuels the fire in my heart for change. Alexander explaining the detrimental grasp prison has a hold on so many of us, has really opened up my eyes to how we interact with both victims and offenders in and outside the court room.
Alexander uses a number of appeals in her arguments surrounding mass incarceration, restorative justice and the endless cycle of violence. She first uses logos, a way of persuading an audience with reason using facts and figures, to really convey the image of how much mass incarceration has a hold of American citizens. She first showcases the staggering percentage of society — our family members; co-workers; neighbors; that are affected by this oppressive system. Stating:
“our system of mass incarceration, which now governs not only the 2.2 million people who are locked in prisons and jails in this country, but also the 4.5 million people that are under correctional control outside [the] prison walls — on probation or parole. More than 70 million people now have criminal records that authorize legal discrimination against them, relegating them to a permanent second-class status. The overwhelming majority ensnared by this system have been convicted of nonviolent crimes and drug offenses.”
However, this isn’t the only factual evidence Michelle Alexander throws at you. She also notes the percent of victims that rather have a liberating experience where they are acknowledged, supported and have a say in the matter — rather than perpetuating the cycle of violence. The evidence concludes:
“90 percent of survivors in New York City, when given the chance to choose whether they want the person who harmed them incarcerated or in a restorative justice process — one that offers support to survivors while empowering them to help decide how perpetrators of violence can repair the damage they’ve done”
Michelle’s Alexander’s logos argument should serve to solidify the real needs and concerns of victim’s verses what society and the media depicts victims wanting. The percentage of victims that rather have a freeing experience than an oppressing one, that could come back to hurt the victim or their community, speaks for itself. Seeing that the number of victims is forever growing, many of them we know, its time to given in to start giving back to our communities.
Although, Michelle Alexanders Logo approach helped strengthen her opinion and views on the systematic issue. I believe that her Pathos, a way of convincing an audience of an argument by creating an emotional response to an impassioned plea or a convincing story, approach is what really drove her argument home. Michelle Alexander used strong emotional appeals from both victims like herself and remorseful offenders. This is to help you better understand that rehabilitating a person goes so much further than punitive punishment. She uses stories of liberation and acknowledgment for victims, instead of retribution, and offenders taking ownership over their action with stories like this:
“One young man, who had been a gang member since he was 8 years old, could not leave the building after participating in a restorative circle with Common Justice because he was shaking so badly after admitting the harm he had done. He asked staff members, “Can I stay in your office for a few minutes before I leave?” When asked to explain, he said, “You know, for all I’ve done and all that’s been done to me, I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a real apology before. Do you think I did all right? Pardon my language, that is the scariest shit I ever did.”
Michelle Alexander, whom was once a victim herself, finds the courage to works with offenders and their communities. She truly understands just how detrimental restorative programs to victims, offenders, their families and communities. She also utilizes Danielle Sereds Author and founder of the nonprofit organization, Common Justice, views on the matter. Danielle which was has also been victimized but finds the strength to work with rehabilitating offenders, passionately states:
“we fail to face violence in our communities honestly, courageously and with profound compassion for the survivors — many of whom are also perpetrators of harm — our nation will never break its addiction to caging human beings.”.
Thankfully there are powerful, empathetic, individuals like these that take their time out to help adverse communities fight against systematic frameworks and constructs. Marginalized communities would be left in the dark to fend for themselves if they didn’t have such great pillars advocating for them. Without a doubt Michelle Alexander’s article is the flame needed to light the torch for dismantling Social Change. Michelle Alexander gives new hope for both victims and offenders, and all of the people in between.
References
· Alexander, Michelle. “Michelle Alexander.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Mar. 2019, www.nytimes.com/by/michelle-alexander.
· Alexander, Michelle. “Reckoning With Violence.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 Mar. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/03/03/opinion/violence-criminal-justice.html.
· “A Brief History of the Drug War.” Drug Policy Alliance, www.drugpolicy.org/issues/brief-history-drug-war.
· “Common Justice.” Common Justice, www.commonjustice.org/.
· Kwon, R.O., et al. “Opinion.” The New York Times, The New York Times, www.nytimes.com/section/opinion.
· The New York Times, The New York Times, 28 Aug. 2018, www.nytimes.com/.
