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TRANSCRIPT
The Sentencing ProjectJustina Almodovar
Land of opportunity
America is the leader of incarceration in the world Prison has become a corrupt system of
profit Every aspect of it is profit ○ Planning, building, housing, running, prisoners
Costs: $10-500 million to build a prison $30,000 annually to hold each inmate $70 a day per inmate 10¢-25¢/hour
The Stats
2.2 million Americans are in prison right now
Prison population thirty years ago was 1/8th the current sizePopulation of incarcerated women in
California is now double the nationwide women’s prison population in 1970
The Profiteers
Federal & State government will contact 3 companies Corrections Corporations of America
(CCA) GEO Group, Inc. Management and Training Corporation
Companies are financed by: Investors Banks Other corporations
How? Media
Exploits harmful stereotypes Public becomes aggressive on strict
policing and mass imprisonment Fear of Crime
Companies lobby government to expand policies
Lengthen sentences to keep people in longer
War on Drugs Now nearly 50% of prisoners are in for
drug offenses
Result
Prisons take up more space Less funding to government programs ○ Education ○ Welfare
Prioritizing punishment and security
Does not bring any actual justice The goal is to fill cells Make more prisons
The Sentencing Project
Change the way Americans see crime and punishment Aims to reduce reliance on
incarceration Raise awareness of trends and
inequality in the criminal justice system
Promote other solutions: Prevention, intervention and re-entry
Red hook, Brooklyn
Red Hook Community Court Single judge hears court casesRelies on rehabilitation programs
rather than prison 73% compliance with court order
50% better than traditional NYC courts!
Sentencing project: Facebook page Promote situations like Red Hook
Daily posts on statistics reports, social awareness and different alternatives
Promote other organizations that provide service
Largely spreads information on reform New laws passed Bills that need support
Message is strong and clear