Equity Matters
Between 1989 and 1998, police arrested more young people who didn’t have criminal records. This disproportionately affected people who are poor, Hispanic/Latino, Black, or American Indian/Native Alaskan. Massachusetts has one of the lowest rates of death by police in the country. Still, Black []and Hispanic people[], and people with disabilities, are more likely to be killed by police than others. People in prison face a high risk of violence. Even after they return to their communities, that risk continues because of:
- Trouble finding good jobs and housing
- Feeling judged or left out
- Strained relationships
- Being around violence or extreme beliefs
In prison, rehabilitation [] programs and trauma-informed therapy can help prevent people from experiencing or committing more violence when they return to the community. []
[VSE14] 33 N.Y.U. Rev. L. & Soc. Change 271 2009 https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1166&context=cl_pubs
[VSE20] Bedford, Tori. Massachusetts Has Second Fewest Fatal Police Shootings Per Capita, But Minorities Are Over-Represented. GBH News. September 24, 2020. https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/09/24/massachusetts-has-second-fewest-fatal-police-shootings-per-capita-but-minorities-are-over-represented
[VSE60] Rehabilitation helps prepare people to live peaceful lives after release from prison. Rehabilitation includes teaching emotional, social, and practical skills, and providing economic and other resources.
[VSE7] Kamalu, N. C., & Onyeozili, E. C. (2018). A Critical Analysis of the ‘Broken Windows’ Policing in New York City and Its Impact: Implications for the Criminal Justice System and the African American Community. African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies: AJCJS, 11(1). https://www.proquest.com/docview/2046674016