The Gatekeepers of Justice (A Discussion on Prosecutors’ Role in the Criminal Justice System)
In our second episode of Double Take, we discuss prosecutors and their role in the criminal justice system and mass incarceration. We begin by giving a background on mass incarceration and its roots in American society. We then speak about how Michelle Alexander’s book “The New Jim Crow” has influenced our thinking about mass incarceration, specifically through the lens of race and the the War on Drugs. We also talk about how John Pfaff’s book “Locked In” made us realize that the standard liberal narrative about mass incarceration gets a lot wrong. We go on to speak about the dangers of attributing a single entity as the cause of a vast and enduring problem, as it often makes us miss other major players and contributing factors, such as the role of prosecutors in mass incarceration. Prosecutors today wield too much power, largely in terms of charging and sentencing.
We then discuss Jeff Sessions’ plan for criminal justice reform (or lack thereof) and the detrimental ramifications of his tough on crime rhetoric. We touch upon topics such as voter disenfranchisement, police violence, and the jury selection process.
A theme throughout this episode is the importance of thinking globally and acting locally. Although the agenda of the federal government is working against progress in criminal justice, it is crucial to understand that change occurs locally first, and it can start by casting a vote for your county prosecutor.
Donate to the Safety and Justice Challenge: www.safetyandjusticechallenge.org
Links!
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