Oppression analysis
The dehumanization of poor people and people of color is part of what allows racism and classism to exist. It is this same dehumanization that allows them to be disproportionately arrested and convicted as well as being disproportionately impacted by violence.
Lack of resources
Too much money is spent on incarcerating too many people for too long. At the same time rehabilitative, healing, and transitional services are being cut in prisons. On the outside we see all preventative services such as, education, parenting support, medical care, treatment services, and services for survivors being cut. Money and resources have been used as wedges to keep advocates for survivors and those working for criminal justice reform separate, when we are all working for human rights and the prevention of more violence.
A key element
If we are going to bring people together to build grassroots power and create social change, we can start by a mutual acknowledgement of the importance of both human rights and community safety. In recognizing the dynamics in our society that allows prisoners to be treated badly and lawfully discriminated against, we also recognize similar dynamics that allow survivors of violence and crime to be treated badly and at times blamed for being hurt.
This document is part of a larger framework intended to inform our work based on an analysis by progressive survivors of violence and crime.
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