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The December 8 Transformational Justice Launch event in Madison was very energizing and productive.
The day began with a panel that gave an overview of much of the work on Transformational Justice. It includes important stories by people who have been formerly incarcerating, highlighting needs for changes. This panel presentation was covered by Wisconsin Eye, and can be seen here: (It will ask you to subscribe to Wisconsin Eye. There is no cost for that; it mostly just gets you on their mailing list).
The principal aims of the Transformational Justice Campaign are:
- Invest in programs and strategies that will end the racial and economic disparities that fuel mass incarceration in Wisconsin
- Reduce our prison population to 11,000, and reduce the number of people on extended supervision.
- Justice Reinvestment: Allocate money, especially savings from reduced incarceration, to building up communities that have been most harmed by mass incarceration.
- View people who have been convicted of a crime as human beings, members of families, and assets to the community.
- Restore formerly incarcerated people to full participation in communities, the economy and civic life.
See a list of issues that are prominent in the campaign. . . .
- Unlock the vote
- Treatment Alternative and Diversions (TAD)-- ask for more funding and extend TAD to include mental health.
- End or drastically reduce Crimeless Revocations
- End the use of Solitary Confinement
- Outlaw the practice of shackling incarcerated women who are pregnant, giving birth or who have recently given birth.
- Provide adequate funding for peer support programs and housing for people recently released from incarceration
- Provide a reasonable opportunity for Parole or Compassionate Release for people who have been in prison for many years, who are elderly and/or who are seriously ill.
This campaign is led by EXPO (EX-incarcerated People Organizing) and FREE (women who are directly impacted by incarceration) and other people impacted. The campaign is supported by the entire WISDOM statewide network and works to collaborate with many other groups.
