Our “Justice” System
The criminal justice and prison systems have been institutionally racist and profit-driven for decades, specifically following the Civil Rights Movement. Just like Jim Crow followed slavery, these two systems have been restructured to prolong oppression against people of color. For starters, prisons were started to recapture African Americans directly after the Civil War in order to essentially maintain free, slave labor. Secondly, the “War on Drugs”, the heightened criminalization of drug offenses and other petty crimes were created to target low-income, minority communities, which is evident in the large racial disparities in prisoners. The criminal justice and prison systems have been structured to oppress minorities, as well as used to earn a profit; African Americans are still used as property.
Even with not addressing the unequal convictions and punishments for minorities, the for-profit bail system is proof of a failing, racist system. It is a tragedy that people are jailed without even seeing a court because they are too poor to afford moderate bails, let alone bails set disproportionately high for minorities. America is the “land of the free” but innocent people are forced to cough up money they will never see again just to continue their lives. For those who are convicted, they are cast as “criminals” for the rest of their lives in America. This essentially restraints any of them from pursuing a successful career, thus keeping them poor. If you keep them poor and do not provide any education in prison, they will likely revert back to the same lifestyle that got them imprisoned.
I believe it is essential to provide reform and redemption to citizens in a modern, progressive society in 2020. We need to believe in people more, instead of punishing them. Furthermore, I really value the approach to help people before they become a victim of the system. People resort to crime as a result of their current economic and social situations. It is a government’s obligation to address the poor quality of life that plagues majority of the American populace. I believe in an exponential increase in educational programs to improve the knowledge and skills of potential workers, as well as mental health programs to help all people with mental illnesses and struggles. With programs in place to help people mentally and economically, they will see more value/potential in their lives. As a result, you create a happier, healthier society as opposed to just taking them out completely. All people are capable of positive changes and worth believing in.
