Frequently (un)Asked
Questions
Frequently (un)Asked Questions
This page is designed to help provide an easy way for people to begin to understand various aspects and topics within criminal legal system and decarceration work. It is also designed to help those in the work have a place that they can go to or send folks for answers on things they may not know how to best answer. We are always looking for feedback and ways to improve anything that we do and that is especially the case for the questions and answers on our FAQ page. So please reach out to us if you have any thoughts or feedback.
Q: Isn’t abolition just about letting everyone out of prison and getting rid of jails altogether?
Q: Isn’t abolition just about letting everyone out of prison and getting rid of jails altogether?
Q: If we get rid of the prison system, how will we deal with crime? Won’t we still need the system to keep people safe?
Q: If we get rid of the prison system, how will we deal with crime? Won’t we still need the system to keep people safe?
Q: If prison doesn’t work, what do we do instead?
Q: If prison doesn’t work, what do we do instead?
Q: Can you give one example of an effective alternative to mass incarceration from a country outside of the North American continent?
Q: Can you give one example of an effective alternative to mass incarceration from a country outside of the North American continent?
Q: Can you discuss effective alternatives to incarceration that have been implemented in African countries?
Q: Can you discuss effective alternatives to incarceration that have been implemented in African countries?
Q: Can you provide an example of an alternative to policing in the United States that has lowered both crime rates and incarceration rates?
Q: Can you provide an example of an alternative to policing in the United States that has lowered both crime rates and incarceration rates?
Q: If you have your life together, why would you commit crimes?
Q: If you have your life together, why would you commit crimes?
Q: Why should people in prison get access to educational opportunities when many people on the outside still struggle to get them?
Q: Why should people in prison get access to educational opportunities when many people on the outside still struggle to get them?
Q: How has education been shown to impact both crime and recidivism in the United States?
Q: How has education been shown to impact both crime and recidivism in the United States?
Q: Is it true that most people who go to prison end up going back?
Q: Is it true that most people who go to prison end up going back?
Q: Does restorative justice fail to address the real problem, and should we instead focus solely on transformative justice?
Q: Does restorative justice fail to address the real problem, and should we instead focus solely on transformative justice?
Q: What are some successful examples of restorative justice efforts?
Q: What are some successful examples of restorative justice efforts?
Q: What are some successful examples of transformative justice efforts?
Q: What are some successful examples of transformative justice efforts?
Q: Isn’t the death penalty more cost-effective than a life sentence? Wouldn’t it save taxpayer money?
Q: Isn’t the death penalty more cost-effective than a life sentence? Wouldn’t it save taxpayer money?
Q: Are some people inherently evil or born criminals?
Q: Are some people inherently evil or born criminals?
Q: Should prisons be intentionally harsh and scary to deter people from committing crimes?
Q: Should prisons be intentionally harsh and scary to deter people from committing crimes?
Q: Is it true that the U.S. prison system uses modern-day slave labor?
Q: Is it true that the U.S. prison system uses modern-day slave labor?
Q: Should incarcerated people be paid fair or livable wages for the work they do in prison? Don’t they forfeit that right when they commit a crime?
Q: Should incarcerated people be paid fair or livable wages for the work they do in prison? Don’t they forfeit that right when they commit a crime?
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