The Economist — Civil Society Issues — Galsworthy Criminal Justice Reform Program

Civil Society Issues

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.

In America, art is helping prisoners adapt to life outside

“Art “makes you come to your own realisation,” observes Kirn Kim. “It’s not about someone telling you what to think. It opens up different parts of your brain.” As a juvenile, he was convicted for aiding and abetting a murder and served 20 years. He took part in the workshop two years after he got out, while “really struggling” in an Asian-American culture in which he felt shamed. Deciding what to draw helped him see that he no longer had to hide, he says. The image on his new id shows him holding a microphone and addressing a prison yard—a version of the community organiser that, at 43, he has now become.“

The Economist

August 22, 2019

Access to Outside WorldPhillip ReevesAugust 22, 2019The EconomistComment

There is nothing inevitable about America’s over-use of prisons

“So many of America’s troubles are intractable. Hyper-partisanship and the culture wars can make reducing gun violence or obesity seem hopeless. But mass incarceration is different. There is ample evidence that America’s states can lock fewer people up and still preserve public safety. Just look at Minnesota, which bangs up people at half the rate of neighbouring Wisconsin, though the crime rate in both places is about the same.“

The Economist

October 20, 2018

Mass IncarcerationPhillip ReevesOctober 20, 2018The EconomistComment

Civil Society Issues

Galsworthy CJR Program

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