As part of my Leadership 210 class, I had to complete 10 hours at the HJDC and therefore I had additional time spent as an individual with other students. The atmosphere was really different because we did not follow any specific guidelines, so we just spent time with them talking and drawing. Our conversations were ironically mostly about them asking questions about our experiences as college students and then us reflecting on our first year. They were mostly pointing out their similarities/differences. One of them shared how they had a different childhood growing up with not so much time and energy to spend on academics. Another one shared how they immigrated from Mexico and the challenges that they and their family faced. Overall, we ended up having nice discussions and I think they were more willing to share information because we did not come as “instructors” or from a “special programs” rather than students spending time with other students. The conversations were more natural.
Month: April 2024
Opening Things:
- Started by reading the prep notes posted by Angelos, Kaylee, and Haven regarding “Are Prisons Obsolete?”
- Talked briefly about diner on Monday, which will be held in Dhall @ 5:30
- Talked briefly about our last two assignments for the class, the reflection on group work (due 4/26) and our final reflection assignment (due 5/3)
Final Reflection Portfolio:
- The final reflection portfolio will use the same exhibit structure as the final portfolio in the fall, except that we will create a portfolio of exhibits that has stuff that may or may not be used in the final reflection which will also be turned in
- Examined the final reflection rubric
- We talked for a bit about refining a thesis statement and reflecting on how we used that process in our first analysis paper in the fall.
- The process of setting up the final reflection is just as important as writing the reflection itself
- Ifti was late, tisk tisk
Group Work Process:
- Turned our attention to the group work reflection
- When talking about the group work process, Brice mentioned how his group changed their guidelines as the group work process continued
- Talked about the differences between the two person group and the four person group
- Took some time to discuss the group work process with Ifti as a class while Prof. Dolson stepped out of the room
- Any other thoughts about our group work process can be sent to Ifti
Discussion of “Are Prisons Obsolete?”
- Talked about Haven’s prep note, specifically about the way certain groups of people don’t have to think about prison as much as certain minority groups
- We mentioned guilt about the our story partner’s situations
- Talked about the physical space of the detention center, especially touching on the bleakness of the dorms
- Prof. Dolson talked a bit about the resistance she faced when she wanted to bring our story partners to campus, especially with regard to URPD
- Nick G mentioned that his friends had similar reactions to the kids coming onto campus
- We talked about the racist beginnings of the prison system and how that might have created connotations between race and prisons
- Discussed the convict leasing system, which led to a discussion of reparations and the failure of the American Government to provide those reparations
- Talked about redlining practices and the lasting effects it still has on Richmond today
- Prof. Dolson mentioned the difference between how we said where we were from, and how our story partners would. We would say we were from certain cities or states, they would say they were from the specific project housing where they grew up
- Touched again on the racial disparity in prisons
- Nick J mentions the problems with retributive justice and the necessity for rehabilitative punishment for criminals
- Brice talks briefly about Reagen era politics and the higher sentences brought about by the “Hard On Crime” policies of the time
- Mitch mentions how he was struck by the way our story partners were able to still manage to joke around and maintain a positive outlook
- Nick G mentions how powerful the relationships between the inmates were and how they used those relationships to keep themselves sane through humor and friendly interactions
- Wesley talks about how his experience was different with the Tuesday night group where his story partners rotated often.
- Asked the question: are juvenile detention centers obsolete? What are the pros and cons?
- The biggest positive we mentioned of the detention center we visited was the opportunities for furthering rehabilitation and education for the people there
- Brice mentioned the importance of external opportunities to help the incarcerated youth expand their perceptions of their world and the life they can have
- Wesley mentioned the importance of education and the preemptive effects it may have
- We talked about what we would hope for our story partners’ future and for our own future mentalities
“Are Prisons Obsolete?” by Angela Davis is a book that I’ve heard a lot about online but I never took the time to read it (or at least the first three chapters) until now. It’s a great book that offers an insight into the current US prison system and how it does much more harm than it does good. The current prison system is for profit, which has allowed countless injustices to happen all in the hopes of making more money. The current prison system has no benefits, other than making said money for a selective group of people. The prison system works at the expense of humans, and often whole communities. The fact that the number of prisons in California doubled within a decade is extremely disheartening, and worse when you learn that men to fill these prisons are exponentially rising. Prisons obviously have not become a deterrent for crime because so many people are still being sent to prisons. A quote from the book that I found important was that “Prisons do not disappear social problems, they disappear human beings”. This quote highlights the way that prisons simply take people in but do little (often nothing) to help fix the systemic problems that caused people to resort to crime in the first place. I was also shocked to read how prisons truly started after the civil war and due to Jim Crow laws, but this makes sense due to the number of POC imprisoned vs. their white counterparts. All in all, this book was a great read and I hope that I will have time to continue it.
A quote that stuck with me from the three chapters was, “We take prisons for granted but are often afraid to face the realities they produce. After all, no one wants to go to prison. Because it would be too agonizing to cope with the possibility that anyone, including our selves, could become a prisoner, we tend to think of the prison as disconnected from our own lives.” I think something about this quote juxtaposed with the experience of going to the detention center for an hour or two on Tuesday nights in a way that felt like it was a break from reality is very telling. Before this class, I didn’t give prisons a moment’s thought beyond a vague sense of agreement that they were necessary. But just like anything, once it became personal, I was forced to reexamine my connection to the prison system. We’re compelled to reckon with our previous state of oblivious meandering, but at the same time, I think the main takeaway from this quote should not be self-introspection. Yes, the experience of working with these kids helped me realize how uneducated I previously was, but beyond that, it revealed some major flaws in the justice system that are not okay. I think a lot of times, especially in the media, these kids are either romanticized or vilified; the headlines are always “The Group That Made Blankets For the Poor Kids in the Jail” or “We Need to Crack Down on Teen Crime.” But as a society, we need–we need–to realize that these kids don’t exist to fit into one of our little think-piece narratives. They’re human, and they’re going through some awful and traumatic experiences that nobody deserves to go through.
It would also be interesting to discuss the Alabama governor’s quote from chapter two: “Segregation today, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.” In a more covert, shoved-under-the-rug way, that idea has survived until the 21st century in the fabric of the criminal justice system, right? What are your thoughts about that? How was society able to convince us that it was good, that it made the world safer? What strategies do we see the people in power using to keep that belief in place?
It was an amazing opportunity to have them come to campus. Starting from the beginning, although I came late, the book arts studio was a fun experience. The guys at my table had creative minds, and my partner for the project, G, actively considered doing his own story into the booklet! Although he struggled a bit because of the sheer size of his story, he was really happy to see the completed result. I am excited for him and to see where he goes after he graduates with his GED and begins working with his dad, and I wish him the best.
The tour was a pretty fun experience, albeit we moved a lot faster than I was expecting. Sometimes they were not the most attentive group, but I could tell they were having fun. They made sure to take plenty of pictures, and they definitely wanted to see the Football field for the experience. I learned that one of the others in the group was considering applying to the University of Richmond for college with some plan for a background in business but was also interested in a lot of fields like the arts and history.
The rain was an unexpected agent, but it was nice to get a little bit of breathing room from the walking. Basketball was fun but I did not actively participate, but it was fun seeing them have fun on the campus. I also never knew we had a volleyball pit, and seeing one of the boys hop in for a game with the UR students already there was something that put a smile on my face.
Seeing the booklets reach completion was a satisfying feeling. and it was good to see them one more time. I’ve got high hopes for all of them.
As someone who deeply admires Angela Davis, reading the first three chapters of “Are Prisons Obsolete?” has been incredibly thought-provoking. Davis challenges the conventional wisdom about prisons, highlighting how they often fail to address the underlying issues that lead to crime. This aligns with broader discussions on the societal impacts of maintaining illiteracy among prisoners and dismantling educational programs behind bars. It’s clear that denying education to inmates not only undermines their chances of rehabilitation but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and crime, which ultimately burden society as a whole.
At the Northwestern Human Rights Conference in Chicago, similar ideas were shared about the importance of adopting correctional strategies that prioritize rehabilitation over punishment. Davis’s insights resonate with this perspective, emphasizing the critical role of education in reducing recidivism and promoting successful reintegration into society. The historical context provided, including the closure of college programs like the one at Greenhaven Prison, underscores the detrimental effects of shifting away from rehabilitative approaches within the criminal justice system. Davis’s call to rethink our reliance on prisons and invest in alternative forms of justice further motivates me to advocate for change and work towards creating a more equitable and humane society.
The tour happened a lot smoother than I thought it would and I also enjoyed it a lot more too. I could tell that our story partners from the detention center were happy and excited to be on campus. Even just watching them take photos in front of Queally, the lake, and other places was heartwarming to watch. I think we take all of this for granted sometimes. It is such a beautiful campus, which is amplified by the fact that they are secluded in the same building for so long. Nowadays, I walk past the lake without much of a second glance, but I know it must have been breathtaking for them. I also noticed how engaged and interested they were in the Book Arts Studio making their booklets. I wasn’t sure if this would be something they’d enjoy, but it seemed like they genuinely did like the arts and crafts aspect of the activity. Plus, it gave them another chance to share their stories.
When we handed out the booklets of everyone’s stories, my story partner and another were looking through it and seemed proud of their own stories being inside it. I guess seeing it in such an official-looking document was a great feeling for them. It was nice to watch them play basketball and just be teenagers, which is also something I think we all take for granted. I had a conversation with one of them and he asked me what I was majoring in, and then I asked him what he’s interested in. He dove into a deep discussion about real estate and housing facts that I had a hard time following. But it gives me joy to know that he’s so passionate about something when I myself am having a hard time narrowing down my passions. It was surreal to see them on campus, but it was so nice watching them thrive in this new environment and it gives me hope for what comes next for them.