I also include the story of a hair salon in Chicago where the barbers use restorative justice practices to work through instances of violence and potential violence with clients and other people in the community. And I look at a Montana program (specifically in Flathead County) that does restorative justice circles, carried out intensively over time, with victims and youth who've committed violent acts or caused harm. Victims are hugely grateful for the program--in some cases, over time, they actually develop close mentoring relationships with the youth involved--and it has been shown to reduce recidivism quite dramatically. These programs aren't perfect; we need to continually question what works, what doesn't, and how what we're doing relates to the legal system and the prison-industrial complex (some restorative justice programs functioning inside of police departments actually contribute to the expansion of the criminal legal system).
And I talk about the work of the Storytelling and Organizing Project in Oakland, California, which compiles stories from people who've dealt with tough situation through means outside of the criminal legal system. Since most people don't call the police when something harmful or even violent happens, we all have so many experiences with alternative ways to deal with conflict, if we just start talking to each other. That is a major first step.
Beyond that, larger-scale racial justice and socioeconomic justice work is a crucial part of the mix. I'd encourage everyone to follow what's going on with the Black Lives Matter movement--including lots of work that's specifically being led by women of color and trans and queer people of color--and groups like We Charge Genocide and Project Nia in Chicago. Resistance to racist police violence, which is important in itself, of course, is also leading to a greater mass of people engaging in resistance to state violence more generally. Prison is one part of a larger system of racist social control, and these movements are addressing those systems directly. We all need to pay attention and get involved in whatever ways we can.
These examples are hopeful and helpful, Maya. Not that long ago, your car was broken into and your laptop, with the only draft for this book, was stolen. People will have to read Locked Down, Locked Out to see how you reacted and whether justice was served. Thanks so much for being so generous with your time. Good luck with your book.
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Schenwar's website
TruthOut website
Maya's most recent article
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my writings on incarceration
Judy White series - her husband is serving time in federal prison
BOP: 'Til Death Do Us Part? - latest installment, #32, of ongoing series 8.1.2014
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