Many issues that are primary drivers of mass incarceration cannot be remedied through government solutions alone. Issues such as broken families and mental health, both forever altered by over criminalization, cannot be simply be repaired through legislation. Civil Society has the unique capability to address certain social issues that government cannot, or to address them more effectively than government can. This section also addresses issues in which over-policing attempts to fix issues that should be handled through the community.
“The program began after Swanson visited the prison while volunteering with Oregon Women's Prison Ministry, a Christian organization providing inmates with weekly church services. When inmates learned Swanson was a runner, completing half-marathons, marathons and ultra-marathons, they told her they, too, wanted to run.“
The Oregonian
October 27, 2019
Read More“What does incarceration do for the member of a family that views prison as a rite of passage? A New York Times reporter takes a close look at intergenerational criminality.“
Longreads
October 10, 2018
Read More"The number of arrests is dramatically disproportionate to Portland's homeless population. People experiencing homelessness represent a tiny fraction of the city's overall population -- well below 3 percent even using the biggest estimates. Yet in 2017, they accounted for 52 percent of arrests."
The Oregonian
June 28, 2018
Read More"Being stuck in jail, even for a few days, can have a devastating effect on someone's ability to keep their job, pay rent, or care for their children. And it can be an incentive to just plead guilty — which will often result in immediate release."
The Oregonian
June 13, 2018
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