Dehumanization and Justice: Reforming Our Perceptions of Incarceration

Dismantling the Lies

Jerome R. Wright challenges us to confront the falsehood that the prison industrial complex is a necessity. He suggests the department is charged with care, custody, and control, but its actual behavior reflects a lack of care, oppressive custody, and a system spiraling out of control.

The Realities of Incarceration

Reflecting on his own experiences, Wright speaks of his thirty years of incarceration, taking responsibility for his crime. Yet, he sheds light on the disturbing truth that a significant portion of the incarcerated population consists of individuals who are either innocent or coerced into plea bargains due to systemic inequities. The offer of a five-year sentence when facing twenty years becomes an irresistible choice, particularly for those who are black, poor, and aware of the likelihood of inadequate legal representation. This is not a system working for the betterment of society.

A Broken System

The frequency of wrongful convictions and prosecutorial misconduct paints a grim picture of a system that claims to uphold the law. Evidence withheld, witnesses coerced to lie, these are not anomalies, but symptoms of a deeper malaise. Where is the justice in such a system?

The Toll on Families

Personal stories, like Wright's relationship with his son Justin, a dedicated advocate for people with disabilities who has Down syndrome, underscore the far-reaching impact of incarceration. Despite the challenges, Justin's achievements defy expectations. However, Wright expresses a deep fear that the criminalization of mental illness poses a direct threat to Justin's well-being. The historical context, a lineage marked by incarceration, highlights the cyclical nature of this issue.

A Call for Change

Wright draws attention to the disproportionate impact on marginalized communities, noting how readily people accept narratives around 'black-on-black crime' without understanding that every group of people kill and maim their own more than anybody else. He challenges the notion of rehabilitation within prisons, arguing that the system fails because it does not recognize incarcerated people as human beings. He uses an analogy, comparing the criminal justice system to a failing corporation that would be out of business if it had such a high rate of recidivism. But instead, it flourishes, because crime does pay, just not for those who commit it.

Echoes of the Past

Referencing the words of Fedor Dostoevsky, Wright reminds us that the degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons. Incarcerated people's lives matter, they deserve the same rights, respect, and love as everyone else. He implores everyone to recognize that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, advocating for facilities that prioritize care and restoration over punishment and torture. He draws attention to the consequences of dehumanization, to help save Justin from a system that would destroy him.

A Shared Humanity

Wright invokes Aristotle, who said that poverty is the parent to both crime and rebellion. Therefore, addressing poverty is essential to reducing crime. He urges a shift in perspective, from judgment to understanding the limited choices that many face.

Toward a Just Future

He challenges the very foundation of the criminal justice system, questioning whether society is ready to dismantle it and create a system that truly works for everyone, one that brings people back to the community better than they went in, feeling like human beings. Until then, talk of a justice system remains an illusion. Only by recognizing our shared humanity and fighting for the rights of all can we hope to create a truly just society.