Spread the Word

What it’s about:

1. Alienation of people: We are creating refugees amongst our own people. Inmates come back not feeling like they are part of their own community; not knowing “we the people” means them too.

2. Break up of families: unreasonable prison policies and a culture of oppression is further tearing-up families and communities. Why doesn’t this system support fathers in taking responsibility?

3.  Transparency in government: We are turning over one group of people to another (a great majority of inmates are minorities). With Media barred from facilities and no independent oversight there is no accountability in Massachusetts’ Department of Correction (DOC).  Why isn’t media allowed in? If the DOC wants to be open about abuses and mismanagement why is the press constantly denied access?

4.   President’s Leadership needed: How can the President go and see Guantanamo Bay but not look into his own prisons?  Can he fairly just assume that things are going right within this Country’s prison system? Why does he seek to address schools, Middle Eastern countries, but not where 2.3 million Americans are held?

5.    System accountability: Every prison is different; there is no “system.” So who is responsible for the outcome? Each State should be accountable for its prison system to the President. Focus on each State’s “rehabilitation effort” and outcome independently. Find what’s wrong in MA to pass it on to another institution in order to correct it.