Both in the United States and around the
world, incarceration is the default punishment for certain
crimes However, many individuals and organizations are rethinking
the justice process, calling attention to the inequities
caused by racial discrimination and unfettered capitalism. If
you want to learn more about this topic,
then here, listed in no particular order, is
a selection of groups working against the prison-industrial
complex.
Coming in at # 1 is Initiate Justice.
Launched in 2016 by Taina Vargas-Edmond and Richie
Reseda, this Los Angeles-based organization strives to end
mass incarceration. Using an approach that targets people
both inside and outside prisons, it works with
those who have been directly impacted by incarceration,
particularly in California.
Initiate Justice focuses its efforts on education and
advocacy. It runs the Institute of Impacted Leaders,
a months-long training program covering community organizing, public
policy, and criminal justice reform Elsewhere, it disseminates
important resources such as guides and webinars, which
educate people on topics from prison abolition to
the parole process.
In the # 2 spot is SWOP Behind
Bars. A chapter of the Sex Workers Outreach
Project, SBB was founded in 2016. It serves
currently and formerly incarcerated sex workers, connecting them
to helpful resources like case management, food assistance,
and skills training.
With a view toward harm reduction, SWOP Behind
Bars educates advocates, and supports community-building projects. Individuals
can sign up to join the organization and
gain access to assistance with legal aid and
bail. The group amplifies the voices of sex
workers on its website, where it shares insightful
interviews and articles.
At # 3 is the Release Aging People
in Prison Campaign. Operating across New York State,
this organization advocates for racial justice and an
end to mass incarceration. An independent project, RAPP
has received support from groups such as the
Ben & Jerry's Foundation and North Star Fund.
RAPP focuses on securing the release of older
people, as well as those serving long prison
sentences. Working against what it calls a culture
of revenge and punishment, it mobilizes currently and
formerly incarcerated individuals, their loved ones, and other
community members. The group raises public awareness and
educates people on release-related topics, such as parole
clemency, and policy matters.
Coming in at # 4 is Community Action
on Prison Expansion. Launched in 2014, this coalition
works across England Wales, and Scotland to prevent
the rise of incarceration. A grassroots movement, CAPE
organizes direct action against prison-building projects and the
companies that profit from them.
CAPE is affiliated with a number of local
organizations across the UK, including ones in Wigan
Yorkshire, and the Midlands. It encourages concerned individuals
to mobilize on a community level, offering resources
and support for newly formed groups. It also
releases its own podcast and hosts events that
cover topics like feminism and prison abolition.
In the # 5 spot is Critical Resistance.
Formed in the aftermath of a conference held
in Berkeley in 19 98 this grassroots organization
has an overarching goal of dismantling the prison
industrial complex. Taking aim at the related systems
of imprisonment surveillance, and policing C.R. runs a
number of campaigns and initiatives in support of
its mission.
Specific endeavors include The Zachary Project, which provides
assistance for community members in need, and Breaking
Down the Prison Industrial Complex, an insightful video
series. Its work runs from coast to coast,
with chapters in cities such as New York,
Los Angeles, and Portland. In 2005, Critical Resistance
launched The Abolitionist, a bilingual newspaper sent free
of charge to incarcerated persons across the country.
Last but not least, at # 6 is
Project NIA. Founded in Chicago by Mariame Kaba
in 2009, this organization, which takes its name
from the Swahili word for with purpose works
on behalf of children and young people in
the criminal justice system. In particular, it opposes
their arrest detention, and incarceration, advocating instead for
practices of restorative and transformative justice.
Past programs from this organization range from Circles
& Ciphers, a youth-led gathering incorporating hip hop
and restorative justice, to Liberation Library, an initiative
to provide books to young people incarcerated in
Illinois. In 2016, Project NIA moved to New
York City, where it later formed the NYC
Transformative Justice Hub. It continues to work against
youth incarceration, sharing its research as well as
numerous educational resources and toolkits.