As an advocate for my clients (offenders ) whose lives are in the hands of the government and the AR legal system, I believe it's crucial for all attorneys, judges, supervisors, and lawmakers to have a deep understanding of correctional facilities. Not just the surface-level information, but the real, everyday environment that offenders face. By spending time in these facilities, officials can gain insight into the criminal mindset and the struggles of addiction and mental health. It's time to break down the stigma and misconceptions surrounding offenders. Society has painted them all with the same brush, but we know that's not the case. A non-violent addict should not be sentenced the same as someone who committed a heinous crime. It's time for officials to listen and learn from those impacted by their decisions. The Arkansas government's current approach is the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. To fix our broken system, we need to start from the bottom and work our way up. Ongoing training in addiction studies and mental health for officials is a must. Let's work together to rebuild our system and provide true rehabilitation for everyone effected and make our communities safe for all Arkansans. Instead of spending money on building another prison and the war on crime/drugs; invest in the citizens of AR including the ones incarcerated. Excessive punishment, longer sentences only keeps parents away from their children and the foster system full. People that you lock up can adapt but their children and family members can’t; those are the ones who suffer. So all that money you waist every day keeping people incarcerated, spend it on helping them get better, spend it on housing, education, job training, programs, etc. Think outside the box!
“Seeing firsthand some of the conditions we subject people to in these facilities emphasizes why we must urgently end our overreliance on incarceration and embrace new visions for public safety, accountability and rehabilitation.” – Winnebago County District Attorney Eric Sparr Although prosecutors play a pivotal role in determining who ends up behind bars, far too many have never actually stepped inside of a prison or jail – hindering their ability to fully comprehend how these dehumanizing environments can undermine an individual’s rehabilitation, and in turn, the safety of the communities to which they return. Today, 65 elected prosecutors pledged to personally visit the correctional facilities in which individuals prosecuted by their offices are placed and to require all prosecutors in their offices to do the same. The pledge is part of FAMM's #VisitAPrison challenge, which encourages all state and federal policymakers to visit a prison or jail. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gJYxh2r7
