Introduction
If jails and prisons were to be eliminated, one wonders what would take their place. This dilemma makes for further consideration whenever the subject of abolition is brought forward. Moreover, imagining alternatives to the current incarceration system often seems impossible. The current system is perceived from the perspective of overdependence on imprisonment as the unconditional standard. This makes it difficult to imagine any other alternative to the current system. With this in mind, the paper aims to highlight key themes that Davis has in her book Are Prisons Obsolete? Tries to bring out. For instance, she argues that prisons should be replaced with a constellation of alternative strategies and institutions.
In her book Are Prisons Obsolete? Angela Davis strongly states that “prisons should be replaced with a constellation of alternative strategies and institutions.” (Davis 2003, p. 107) The main argument that Davis is trying to pass across is that society should begin looking for other alternatives to prison, such as house arrests, instead of positing decarceration as its overarching strategy. To this end, the author argues that we should begin thinking of other alternatives to prison, including revitalizing the education system at all levels, demilitarizing schools, and thinking of a health care system that provides free mental and physical health care for all. Our justice system should be based on reparation and reconciliation as opposed to retribution and vengeance. “positing decarceration as our overarching strategy, we would try to envision a continuum of alternatives to imprisonment – demilitarization of schools, revitalization of education at all levels, a health system that provides free physical and mental care to all and a justice system based on reparation and reconciliation rather than retribution and vengeance.” (Davis 2003, p. 107).
In recreating alternative strategies and institutions, we should consider establishing new institutions that would claim current spaces occupied by prisons. This would help reduce the number of incarcerated prisoners and imply a decrease in the number of spaces that impact the community socially and in psychic terms. To help highlight this, Davis quotes Betty Ford Centre’s website as an example, and such centers should access by all in the community at no cost. Davis also uses an example of a school that could be used as an alternative to jail. However, there need to be some drastic changes in the current school system in that schools are perceived as places that encourage the joy of learning. Davis states, “Schools can therefore be seen as the most powerful alternative to jails and prisons.” (Davis, 2003, p. 108).
In the United States, schools should provide formal education as well as be perceived as a pathway for self-realization. Any troubled youth should be perceived as requiring rehabilitation that would allow them to grow into well-mannered citizens instead of adopting the current punitive model. As Wright (2020) argues, schools have been transformed into military camps, with police forces using excessive force to disperse a somewhat peaceful demonstration. In other incidences, the on-campus police have been found guilty of unnecessary aggression towards students of color or minorities, even in incidences that do not require force. “Despite being fed an image of a more docile police force, police departments on campus are just as armed as their municipal counterparts and equally willing to use deadly force.” (Wright, 2020). With this in mind, Davis suggests alternative strategies to reduce overdependence on prison systems, such as dispute resolution mechanisms.
Davis also uses information from other experts to back up her claims. For instance, she utilizes the interview of Linda Biehl in the Boston Globe. This supports alternative dispute reconciliation and restorative justice strategies as opposed to retribution. In this strategy, the goal is restorative justice seeks to repair the harm that may be caused to victims and communities. Besides, this strategy seeks to rehabilitate offenders through reconciliation with victims. It also allows victims to confront their attackers in some cases, seek financial restitution and have a say on what program the offender should undertake. This form of alternative to criminal justice allows victims to heal and offer offenders a chance to seek forgiveness.
On the other hand, Davis utilizes the experience of both Linda and Peter Biehl, who had lost their daughter through stoning and stabbing a black anti-white mob. They decided to support the petition to have her offenders released through the truth and reconciliation commission. Davies also makes another example of people of color who, irrespective of their ethnic background, are sent to prison not because of the crimes they have committed but rather because their community is perceived as criminals. Kaba (2020) envisions a society built on cooperation instead of individualism and mutual aid instead of self-preservation. It is only then the spirit of reconciliation be achieved and justice restored justice within our communities. “to abolish prisons and police, however, have a vision of a different society, built on cooperation instead of individualism, on mutual aid instead of self-preservation.” (Kaba, 2020).
Davis’ argument is effective because it seeks alternatives to the current criminal justice system that only focuses on punitive measures. She seeks to establish alternative non-violent punishment for petty crimes such as victimless and non-violent crimes. She also seeks to form a dual power mechanism to achieve these changes. This can be achieved by first beginning by addressing challenges facing other equally important institutions, such as health care and educational institutions, allowing them more responsibilities currently reserved to the penal system. This will also see a gradual reduction in the dependency on the penal system.
Conclusion
Davis main argument was prisons should be replaced with a constellation of alternative strategies and institutions. Some of the alternative she proposes in her book include alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and some examples include reconciliation and restorative justice strategies that oppose retribution as a form of seeking justice. She also argues that alternative non-violent punishment should be rendered to victimless and non-violent crimes. Other ideas that the author proposes include changing the current education system which will empower schools to help support the idea of being an environment where learners would thrive or excel in them and provide a path for self-actualization instead of being transformed into military camps. In general, the author helps to bring out her ideas effectively because she points out other alternatives to the current criminal justice system.
References
Davis, A. Y. (2011). Are prisons obsolete? Seven stories press.
Kaba, M. (2020). Study series: “yes, we mean literally abolish the police”. Abolition Is…
Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://abolition-is.com/mariame-kaba-abolish-the-police
Wright, A. (2020, June). How armed police officers on campus have become a ubiquitous part of
American college life – macleans.ca. Google. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.google.com/amp/s/macleans.ca/opinion/how-armed-police-officers-on-campus-have-become-a-ubiquitous-part-of-american-college-life/amp/
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