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.
"'We live in a society right now where we are building a lot of jails, but schools aren't getting the funds ... the resources they need,' Smith said. 'You have kids who aren't educated or don't have access to a quality education, and you tend to get in more trouble or not have the resources that they need to deal with their issues, whether that's anger issues or family issues at home, which leads them to make a bad decision'."
Charleston City Paper
August 15, 2018
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