Spring Break
Author speaks on prison reform
Lindsey Rogers
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Prison reform advocate and Quaker Linda Magnani visited with Criminal Justice students Sept. 26 to discuss her latest book, Beyond Prisons.
In the book published in 2006 by Fortress Press, Magnani discusses the topic of what she sees as our flawed penal system, what went wrong with the original system, and 12 ways it can be changed.
The book ties in the Quaker history with the penal system, discussing how the Quaker faith began the system and how the American Friends Service Committee wants to fix it. The original penitentiary, Philadelphia's own Eastern State Penitentiary, was constructed as a way to change "…dungeon-style prisons and a lot of use of the death penalty and corporal punishment with more humane facilities, trained staff, good food, and medical care," Magnani said.
These changes worked until the inevitable happened - overcrowding in the facility. Instead of correcting the ways people were sentenced, "they were saying, 'Well, gee, we're having some kinds of problems, so let's just make it bigger. Let's have more space, let's have more guards.'…that mentality of bigger and bigger and bigger is what's haunting us now," Magnani said.
"Laura and her late co-author have provided a very strong moral analysis and assessment of our prison system and have found it a dismal failure," Dr. Julia Hall, director of the criminal justice program, said.
Populations in prisons soared, causing more to be built, but the problem seemed to worsen. Beyond Prisons has an explanation for this as well: the legislative system is complex. For example, Magnani uses a statement from Lee Griffith's The Fall of the Prison: Biblical Perspectives on Prison Abolition: "Homicide is typically considered a crime-unless the perpetrator acted in self-defense, by reason of insanity, or 'in the line of duty…' soldiers might be criminally liable for refusing to kill on order… [Meaning] killing (or refusing to kill)…is or is not a crime, depending on the widest range of circumstances."
"As a nation we continue this retributive approach despite continued failure as indicated by the 66 percent recidivism rate," Hall commented.
Magnani believes that the penal system needs to be fixed. Her solution is the complete replacement of our current system with a better, less harsh one.
"We have a one-size-fits-all system," Magnani said. "Anything can work better at this point."
Her suggestion is a 12 point plan, which includes "Penal Abolition:" Forget the current system and adopt a new one, as well as "Elimination of Solitary Confinement," "Implementation of International Law," and her position that the penal system "Let Children be Children" - that youth should not be tried for crimes because they have not developed mentally, as have adults.
In the book published in 2006 by Fortress Press, Magnani discusses the topic of what she sees as our flawed penal system, what went wrong with the original system, and 12 ways it can be changed.
The book ties in the Quaker history with the penal system, discussing how the Quaker faith began the system and how the American Friends Service Committee wants to fix it. The original penitentiary, Philadelphia's own Eastern State Penitentiary, was constructed as a way to change "…dungeon-style prisons and a lot of use of the death penalty and corporal punishment with more humane facilities, trained staff, good food, and medical care," Magnani said.
These changes worked until the inevitable happened - overcrowding in the facility. Instead of correcting the ways people were sentenced, "they were saying, 'Well, gee, we're having some kinds of problems, so let's just make it bigger. Let's have more space, let's have more guards.'…that mentality of bigger and bigger and bigger is what's haunting us now," Magnani said.
"Laura and her late co-author have provided a very strong moral analysis and assessment of our prison system and have found it a dismal failure," Dr. Julia Hall, director of the criminal justice program, said.
Populations in prisons soared, causing more to be built, but the problem seemed to worsen. Beyond Prisons has an explanation for this as well: the legislative system is complex. For example, Magnani uses a statement from Lee Griffith's The Fall of the Prison: Biblical Perspectives on Prison Abolition: "Homicide is typically considered a crime-unless the perpetrator acted in self-defense, by reason of insanity, or 'in the line of duty…' soldiers might be criminally liable for refusing to kill on order… [Meaning] killing (or refusing to kill)…is or is not a crime, depending on the widest range of circumstances."
"As a nation we continue this retributive approach despite continued failure as indicated by the 66 percent recidivism rate," Hall commented.
Magnani believes that the penal system needs to be fixed. Her solution is the complete replacement of our current system with a better, less harsh one.
"We have a one-size-fits-all system," Magnani said. "Anything can work better at this point."
Her suggestion is a 12 point plan, which includes "Penal Abolition:" Forget the current system and adopt a new one, as well as "Elimination of Solitary Confinement," "Implementation of International Law," and her position that the penal system "Let Children be Children" - that youth should not be tried for crimes because they have not developed mentally, as have adults.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Natalia Palovcak
posted 10/15/07 @ 5:58 AM EST
I just visited Graterford prison. I was sick to see men in cages. This is such inhumane treatment by humans to humans. Animals are kinder to there own kind the humans are to humans. (Continued…)
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