What Is Prison Abolition?

Prison abolition advocates for the urgent dismantling of both state and privately-funded prisons, highlighting the harmful impact of the prison industrial complex. This system perpetuates various forms of abuse, including emotional, mental, and physical, while being underpinned by systemic racism and classism. Individuals who are incarcerated deserve the opportunity to speak up for their rights and shape a better path for themselves and the coming generations.

Prisons have shifted their priorities towards profits, neglecting the well-being of those within their walls. Rather than emphasizing rehabilitation and support, inmates endure a rollback of their fundamental rights, enduring the harsh conditions of a toxic environment. The prison industrial complex perpetuates a system of legalized servitude, where incarcerated individuals face a reality akin to modern-day slavery. Unfortunately, this humanitarian crisis often goes unnoticed, overshadowed by the acceptance of for-profit prison systems.

American prisons are at the forefront of the climate movement. People in prison face more environmental risks daily. Prisons and jails are on polluted land. The inmates' well-being is disregarded while they are overworked.