To move towards the abolition of jails, prisons, and detention centers and to build in their stead just and equitable systems that advance public health and well-being, APHA urges federal, state, tribal, territorial, and municipal governments and agencies to: Immediately and urgently reduce the number of people incarcerated in jails, […]
Decarceration COVID-19
12 posts
The population of San Quentin state prison has been ordered to be reduced to less than half its capacity by a California appeals court. The Associated Press reports that the court cited deliberate indifference to the coronavirus pandemic’s effect on the prison population in its decision. Unless prison officials successfully appeal the […]
5 Prisoners at Champaign County Jail have tested positive for the coronavirus. This started when 1 of the Prisoners was taken to Carle for a medical procedure and was tested for the virus out of precaution. The rapid test came back positive. Champaign County Sheriff Dustin Heuerman said the jail wasn’t […]
The intersection of a pandemic and a public uprising to address police brutality has created a unique moment in history—and a distinct moment for prison abolitionists. Two arguments now entering the mainstream—that incarceration is an urgent public health crisis and that policing takes needed resources from communities—have long been argued […]
The next election should focus on creating a framework to allow people calling for the abolition of modern prisons to begin the hard work of creating new institutions. Americans need to vote to help activists continue anti-racist work that will allow us to envision the possibility of a society that […]
A cacophony of car horns, drums, cowbells and trombones echoed along the strip of grass just beyond the coiled razor wire glistening in the sunlight. A few onlookers peered from turret-like openings on the other side of the wire-topped wall to see what all the noise was all about. “We […]
John Catanzara, the new president of the Chicago Fraternal Order of Police criticized officers who kneel. He said now is not the time or place to be kneeling with protestors, and said officers would be risking being brought up on charges and thrown out of the lodge. Chicago Mayor Lori […]
Gray wisps of smoke emanating from dark concrete. That’s what I remember from the sliver of video of the police killing of 16-year-old Laquan McDonald. I couldn’t watch the actual shooting—my familiarity with Black death wouldn’t allow it. But I opened my eyes just as those thin wisps began to […]
Panelists will reflect on the impact of COVID-19 behind bars and the struggle to end death by incarceration. CLICK
Across the world, the impact of the coronavirus and COVID-19 pandemic has increased with each passing day. The highly contagious respiratory illness has been deadly for many, especially the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. Across the United States, elected officials are taking unprecedented steps to protect the most […]