We've been so indoctrinated by a society that's been using prisons as an answer for every social and political problem, that we have very little practice with imagining solutions to systemic problems without prison sentences.

Why is it so hard to envision abolition being practical?

Restorative justice focuses on:<ul><li>The process of healing for victims.</li><li>The process of understanding the harm caused & discouraging it with education (no violence/coercion).</li><li>Holding the criminal accountable for their actions, encouraging reparations to be made and ensuring reintegration into society.</li></ul>Thus, restorative justice processes fulfill the needs of the victim, offender & community while preserving the safety & dignity of all.

Restorative Justice as a Step Toward Abolition

<ul><li>Ineffective at <a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/599202">discouraging crimes</a> which was its original purpose.</li><li>Oppresses politically marginalized groups (<a href="https://sites.coloradocollege.edu/hip/criminality-and-criminalization/incarceration-of-minorities/">POC</a>, <a href="https://www.lgbtmap.org/policy-and-issue-analysis/criminal-justice-youth">queer</a> people, <a href="https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/income.html">impoverished</a> people, addicts, etc).</li><li>Inhumane conditions: prisoners subjected to <a href="https://www.fuchsberg.com/blog/sexual-abuse-of-prisoners/">sexual abuse</a> & prolonged <a href="https://ccrjustice.org/home/get-involved/tools-resources/fact-sheets-and-faqs/torture-use-solitary-confinement-us-prisons">solitary confinement</a>.</li><li>Access to justice based on the <a href="https://www.projectreserve.com/2018/01/poverty-and-access-to-justice-study-of.html?m=1">financial status</a> of the accused.</li><li>Alienation of ex-prisoners. (<a href="https://www.prisonfellowship.org/2015/03/why-ex-prisoners-cant-find-work/">unemployment</a> & social stigma)</li><li>Exploitation of <a href="http://www.entelekheia.fr/2017/03/02/21st-century-slaves-how-corporations-exploit-prison-labor/">prison labor</a>.</li></ul>

What‘s wrong with prisons?

Prison abolitionists argue that it is not enough to simply reform our current criminal justice system.<a href="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59ead8f9692ebee25b72f17f/t/5b65cd58758d46d34254f22c/1533398363539/CR_NoCops_reform_vs_abolition_CRside.pdf">here's why</a>:<ul><li>The prison-industrial complex gets even more powerful by feeding off of reform.</li><li>Prison itself is a (failed) reform. Before, there was corporal punishment, and the developing of the prison system is a move from that practice into what was initially seen as something more humane.</li></ul>

What about reform instead of abolition?

Abolition is a political vision with the goal of:<ul><li>Eliminating incarceration (<a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison%E2%80%93industrial_complex">prisons & prison systems</a>).</li><li>Creating alternatives to prisons (by using <a href="https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/victim/rest.html">principles of reformative justice</a>).</li></ul>

What is Prison abolition?

Violent crimes (such as rape, murder, pedophilia, etc) are caused by <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.sagepub.com/sites/default/files/upm-binaries/24081_Pages_272_273.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi2m_314dXvAhX18HMBHZ0HDhsQFjAHegQIFxAF&usg=AOvVaw20Y9MRf-xApw9-0LTpfZ7m">environmental factors & underlying mental health problems</a>, which should be addressed to achieve rehabilitation & prevent future occurrences of it within society.Unfortunately, our current prison systems (which implicate <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retributive_justice">retributive justice systems</a>) are <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/crime-and-punishment/201804/why-punishment-doesnt-reduce-crime">not effective</a> at dealing with violent criminals.

What about violent/dangerous criminals?

As the idea of prison abolition increasingly enters the mainstream discourse, GQ interviews an organizer within the movement.