From Fair and Just Prosecution:
Pess Release
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 signatories – who represent nearly 55 million people across 28 states and the District of Columbia – emphasize that “it is vital for prosecutors to understand the true impact of
their decisions and to see firsthand the jails, prisons, and juvenile facilities in their jurisdiction.” The pledge is part of Fair and Just Prosecution’s ongoing efforts to advance FAMM’s #VisitAPrison challenge, which encourages all state and federal policymakers to visit a prison or jail.
“Local prosecutors across the country wield incredible power to shape lives and influence communities with every decision they make. This is a responsibility that demands more than legal expertise – it requires empathy and genuine firsthand understanding of the implications of their decisions,” said Miriam Krinsky, Executive Director of Fair and Just Prosecution. “Prosecutors and other public safety leaders must walk into correctional facilities, look into the eyes of those they have sentenced or detained, and see how these places often do little to rehabilitate people and instead simply perpetuate the abuse, neglect and harm that leads to crime in the first place. Only then can prosecutors truly appreciate the weight of their actions.”
There are currently more than 2 million people held in federal, state, local, and tribal jails and prisons. Prosecutors have immense influence over whether someone becomes incarcerated and for how long, but far too many only have an abstract idea of what these facilities are really like. As more prosecutors implement reforms to promote public safety while also helping reduce our jail and prison populations, it is critical that they and their staff develop a deep understanding of correctional facilities – including how isolating, dehumanizing and unsafe conditions can impact an individual’s rehabilitation efforts and in turn, the safety of the communities to which they return. Continue reading >>>
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