Description
Please respond to the question below. In your response, be sure to draw upon the course materials and additional materials as well (be sure to cite these sources).
Question #1
In recent discussion with friends, the concept of shared history comes up – the idea that our place in the present has been shaped by a history that is deeply intertwined with those in our collective…and that in many ways, each of us hold some responsibility. Further, during your discussion, the idea that our current political, economic, and social spheres are deeply impacted by this shared history. Your discussion covers numerous recent topics – racism and discrimination, criminal justice policy, excessive use of force, mass shootings…all sensitive topics emerging within the collective. During the discussion, you can feel some tension, some frustration around the ideas of responsibility and acceptance of this perspective. With your newly acquired knowledge, you feel the pull to support this concept.
Please construct your response to your friends, providing meaningful examples from the course materials, current events, and other sources (if appropriate).
Hint: All course material covered to this point can be weaved in responding to this question.
I will provide week one and six materials when you start solving the question.
Requirements: 1p
Unformatted Attachment Preview
Week one discussion
Having reviewed the readings, we are given a broad sense of crime and
criminal justice policy in the United States from the 1960s through late
1997. Now, I would like you to think about the information you read, sit
with it, and think about how the lenses you have developed over your life
impacts your understanding.
Our understanding is shaped by a variety factors, including our gender,
our perceptions of masculinity and femininity, socio-economic status,
race/ethnicity, the type of neighborhood and city where we were raised,
family structure, experiences, etc. We bring these factors to our
understanding; that is, in many ways, they shape our approach and
interpretation of information, hence, our understanding.
For this discussion, I invite you to explore and discuss the factors that
shape your understanding of this week’s readings. Discuss those that
you are comfortable discussing and think have been most influential, but
be sure to include a discussion of your understanding of how
sacred/divine masculine and feminine qualities/characteristics impact on
your understanding of the readings. At this point, it is not important to
fully understand all quality associated with sacred/divine feminine and
masculine…go with your intuition on these qualities. Also, be sure to
respond to other postings.
Week two discussion
Prior to taking on this week’s readings, I invite you to take a look a look
at the videos included below, which may help put the readings into
context. In particular, the videos providing background discussion on
Jim Crow and racism in America. These will be quite helpful to
understanding Michele Alexander’s The New Jim Crow and additional
context for the readings in “Invisible Punishment”. As you might guess,
there are quite a few informative video presentations and lectures on
Jim Crow laws and I encourage everyone to take a look at them. As you
watch the videos and read the required text, think about the concept of
“shared history” — that is, that we are all connected through our history
and in some way, hold a level of responsibility.
Week three discussion
Perspective. We started the course by sharing those things we felt were
most responsible for shaping us, for shaping the lenses we view the
world through. These lenses provide us the manner in which to consume
and categorize information — some of which will resonate with us while
other does not fit our perspective. The readings for this week provide a
critical perspective on our historic and current treatment of black men in
our criminal justice system. Depending on our individual lenses, this
may or may not resonate; but it is important to keep in mind that it is our
shared history.
For this week’s discussion, I would like you to discuss a few different
items. First, these readings clearly show our preference for using the
criminal justice as a way to punish and marginalize people of color, in
particular Black men. How does this feel to you? How does it feel to see
this kind of data as well as the impacts of these types of
policies? Secondly, discuss, to the best of your ability, our reliance on
punishment rather than other responses that include more
compassion. Relatedly, I would like to you explore the role that feminine
and masculine energy have here — generally, feminine energy is more
nurturing, caring, creative, softer, while masculine energy tends to be
more dominating, aggressive and results oriented.
Please note: I understand the difficulty of reflecting and sharing on a
topic of this nature and the need to approach with some delicacy. There
are latent suggestions in the readings that are interesting, yet
challenging to explore, that allow us a deeper understanding of our
criminal justice system, its influences, and those external forces that
continue to shape it.
Week four discussion
Seeds of marginalization through social control. As I reflect on the readings for this week, I
keep coming back to the theme put forth by Alexander – that about the patterns/cycles of
pushing for civil rights, social inclusion, economic equality and restriction of civil rights,
economic, social and political marginalization of ethnic and racial minorities. Weaved
throughout her writing, is the idea that current manifestations of social control and the
development of the caste system, has roots deep into the past…yes, seeds that were planted
long ago and nurtured overtime…our shared history.
I invite you to take a moment, before going any further, to reflect upon current policies related
to voting, health insurance, guns, drugs, tax breaks for corporations, minimum wage,
immigrants – especially policies that have been in the spotlight over the past year. What are
the underlying purpose of these policies — not necessarily the “stated” purpose or the “spin”
– but the actual impact of these policies? As you reflect, think about the interconnectivity of
these policies…the web they weave…especially with the criminal justice system.
I understand there is a lot to consider, and at times, difficult to pull all of the information into
a coherent framework of understanding. Especially given our individual lenses and
experiences. As expressed previously in the course, it is important to understand how your
experiences, your lenses, impact your perspective – this will better allow all of us to critically
assess the current manifestations of criminal justice policies, juxtaposed to their stated
intent/spin.
In my reflections of the readings, funding for primary and higher education continues to
percolate to the surface. More specifically, I am reminded of the continued focus of the
perceived high cost of higher education, as well as the drumbeat of our “failing” K-12
schools. Seeds…yes, the seeds for these manifestations were planted long ago. As
highlighted in this week’s readings, there has been a substantial increase in funding for the
criminal justice system and related policies, coupled with marked declines in funding for
education. These declines have been felt at all levels, including K-12 and higher
education. Of course, this purposeful disinvestment has impacts – ranging from closure of K12 schools in impoverished areas, increased reliance on “parent groups” for funding (more
prominent in wealthy areas), difficulty to attract/retain quality teachers in impoverished areas,
increased narrative of “failing schools”, push for privatization of public education through
charter schools, increased reliance on student loans for higher education – which decreases
accessibility — increased student/family debt, increased reliability of college graduates on a
restrictive market place for employment. And yes, all of this allow for further disinvestment
because of perceived failure, limited state budgets and committed funding to the criminal
justice system…
Oh and let’s recall why these disinvestments were implemented – to divert money to the
criminal justice criminal system, to fund various drug wars, and in response to the most recent
recession (created by the banking industry), to name a few. Also recall, the data suggest that
this diversion of funding to the criminal justice system has had little effect on the crime rates
and limited impact on keeping people safer…but has led to the social, economic, and political
marginalization of ethnic and racial minorities, as well as the poor.
As the readings suggest, these were not the reasons, justifications for the disinvestments. No,
they were to “fight crime”, to “keep us safer”, to protect Americans. Yes, these justifications
played on our fears, our inherent racism and discrimination, and continue the patterns outlined
by the authors. Much like the current discussion about immigration…I invite you to think
about this narrative, the emergence of this narrative, the impacts of this narrative…and, data –
what does the data suggest?
Week five discussion
This week’s course material presented information on sacred feminine and sacred
masculine energies (i.e., characteristics), suggesting these energies are embodied within
each individual, varying in their balance, perhaps shifting over time. Further is the
suggestion that these characteristics manifest themselves in ways that impact our behavior
across the different spheres of our life. In addition, the other readings shined light on the
impact policies associated with mass imprisonment have on women, and the disparity in the
balance of power.
For this discussion, I invite you to address several areas associated with the sacred feminine
and sacred masculine. First, identify and discuss both the healthy and unhealthy qualities of
the sacred feminine and sacred masculine that you embody. Second, please discuss those
factors you feel most strongly influenced your own development of these qualities – please
provide examples where appropriate. In thinking about your individual balance of these
qualities, provide a few examples where you feel these qualities strongly impacted the
situation. Lastly, address the energetic nature of our policies associated with mass
imprisonment, focusing on the impact on women and the imbalance of power.
Week six discussion
This week’s course material presented information on sacred feminine and sacred
masculine energies (i.e., characteristics), suggesting these energies are embodied within the
individual and the collective. Further is the suggestion that the symbiotic interaction
between the individual and the collective impact the overall balance in the collective –
creating balance, imbalance, etc. Additionally, several of the readings provided example of
the impact these energies, when out of balance, have on families — mothers, fathers,
children, parents…
For this discussion, I invite you to address several areas associated with the sacred feminine
and sacred masculine energies within the collective. First, reflect on and discuss examples of
the symbiotic interaction of these energies – healthy/unhealthy, balanced/unbalanced. For
example, individuals in leadership/power positions, certain types of social, economic, or
political policies, to name just a few. Second, identify and discuss examples of criminal
justice and crime policies associated with these energies – healthy/unhealthy,
balanced/unbalanced — with a particular focus on the impact of these policies on our
families.
Sacred Masculine and Sacred Feminine
Introduction
For the next several weeks, we are shifting gears and exploring feminine and masculine
energies (can also be referred to as character traits). More specifically, their characteristics and
impact on the individual when balanced/unbalanced, and lastly, their relationship to criminal
justice policy. As we step into these discussions, I invite you to come with an open mind, and I
realize that for many, they may be new and at times, feel a bit uncomfortable. I also
understand there may be initial bewilderment as to the relationship between these energies
and criminal justice policy, but feel our exploration to developing more balanced, more
effective policy would be incomplete without such a discussion. Awareness of our individual
energies and characteristics, as well as others, brings us closer to better decision-making across
all areas of our lives.
Prior to beginning, it is important to remember we are discussing qualities, energies, and
characteristics often associated with femininity and masculinity that are present in each
individual, regardless of gender or gender identification. Further, these energies manifest
themselves in several ways — our view towards ourselves, toward others, toward the
environment, and especially our individual and collective behavior. When in balance, these
energies can bring harmony, and when out of balance, they can bring dis-ease to the individual
and to the collective. For the purposes of this course, “collective” refers to any gathering of
individuals larger than an individual. For example, a neighborhood, community, city, to name a
few. Lastly, it is helpful to understand that we are discussing various philosophies or
frameworks, that are not grounded in any specific religion, though many aspects of them may
be found in different religions around the world.
Feminine and Masculine
Throughout our discussion over the next several weeks, we may use terms like “Conscious”
“Divine” and “Sacred” to define these energies. While there are some definitional differences
between them, for our purposes, they will be used interchangeably:
Conscious can be characterized as an awareness of one’s own existence, environment,
sensations, and/or thoughts.
Divine can be characterized as something relating to a higher source.
Sacred can be characterized as something that is entitled to reverence or respect, highly
valued and important
Nearly everyone is born as either a man or a woman, with a clearly defined difference of
gender, especially noticeable physically. This is important due to the created biochemical and
hormonal differences in the body, which most of us have a general understanding. The most
relevant difference, especially in modern society, is the manner in which men and women
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experience stress. Why is this important? Recent studies show there is a steady increase of
chronic stress that is impacting both mental and physical health. Additionally, the amount of
reported stress is greater for each successive generation. Thus, most Americans find
themselves feeling chronic stress on nearly a daily basis, bringing these biochemical reactions to
a variety of situations.
While lots of situations can trigger stress responses (e.g., finances, job, school, family), they
generally occur when we are pressed for time during difficult challenges, and do not have the
ability of bringing everything to a resolution. Most of us know the feeling of stress, as well as
our own personal triggers of stress.
There is a similar biochemical reaction to stress for both men and women, which involves the
secretion of adrenalin and cortisol into the bloodstream at a faster rate than can be
neutralized. The way men and women deal with stress, however, is different, as is the manner
in which they comeback to balance.
Women balance stress through the secretion of oxytocin, which is also known as the feel-good
hormone, which promotes nurturing, relaxing emotions – the need to tend and befriend.
Oxytocin is released when women can be relational without having to solve any problem or
discuss any specific agenda. When women get together with other women to talk, laugh, and
share their feelings, there is an immediate surge in oxytocin, and stress is neutralized.
Men, on the other hand, counter stress hormones differently…through the release of
testosterone, creating the fight or flight response. Testosterone is a hormone associated with
having courage and determination to meet difficult challenges, to push through and complete
them, and to do so with faster reaction time.
These biochemical reactions to stress have been genetically developed over thousands and
thousands of years for purposes of survival. And although our roles in society have changed
dramatically over the last several decades, the that hormones are released into our bodies has
not changed. The genetic adaptation to the environment takes considerable amount of time.
Importantly, these biochemical and hormonal differences between men and women should not
suggest that social, political, and economic policies treat men and women differently. Rather, a
recognition that there are some differences, and when these differences are ignored,
imbalance and a lack of harmony may be created. In fact, this imbalance and lack of harmony
negatively impacts our families and communities.
Feminine and Masculine Energies
In the first week’s discussion, you were asked to discuss the influence of feminine and/or
masculine energies during your younger years. This was done without, of course, any
prompting as to definitions or examples of these types of energies. This was done purposefully,
as many of us have a sense of these energies. In this section, we are going to discuss specific
energies associated as feminine and masculine, as well as healthy and unhealthy energies.
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Healthy feminine energy is widely recognized to be embracing, receiving, soft, nurturing, loving,
and relational. Additionally, the sacred feminine is expressed as creativity, love, intuition,
forgiveness, harmony, beauty, healing, fertility, and wholeness. Intuition is one of our most
powerful tools for guidance, and is identified strongly with feminine energy.
Physically the feminine is associated with right hemisphere of the brain and the left side of the
body, and is often associated with Mother Earth and Moon energies (Note: Keep this
association with Mother Earth in mind when we discuss the environment later in the course).
Overall, it is suggested that there is deep wisdom in the sacred feminine, whose source is
trusting one’s heart and intuition. That it is creative, passionate, and a life-giving force, that
supports nurturing of all creation, as well as passing traditions along to future generations.
When out of balance and unhealthy, however, this energy is expressed in loss if self-respect,
the ability to love oneself, and discernment. Additionally, worry and fear begin manifest
themselves.
Healthy masculine energy, on the other hand, is generally identified as fearless, courageous,
loyal, and a guardian protector. Additionally, the sacred masculine is also characterized as
focused, detailed, and centered. When balanced, the divine masculine does no harm, rather his
gentle strength brings harmony and peace to places where conflict and separation resides. He
embodies power, but does misuse or abuse it. Physically, the masculine is associated with left
hemisphere of the brain and the right side of the body, and is often associated with Sun and
Father Sky energies.
Overall, it is suggested that the sacred masculine is characterized by confidence, without
arrogance, and rational thinking, without a need to control. There is honor, without the desire
for war and it provides strength, stability and courage in an ever-shifting environment. The
unhealthy masculine can be stagnant, lethargic, forceful, or over-powering. The ego of the
unhealthy masculine will often step on others to succeed and overpower others to feel strong.
When wounded or feeling insecure, he will likely impose his will, forcing his way, intervene and
interrupt inappropriately with unsolicited advice or action, seeking attention, success,
acceptance and power. Out of balance, arrogant and out of integrity, there is no respect for
himself or others.
Hopefully, at this point, these feminine and masculine characteristics seem “familiar” and that
at some level, everyone resonates with them. See Table 1 for a summary of these energies.
Again, it is important to remember that these energies are present within each person…yes,
women will generally have more feminine energy and men will have more masculine energy,
but women also have masculine energy and men have feminine energy. We now turn our
attention to the balance of these energies.
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Table 1
Feminine
Healthy
Allowing
Authentic Power
Aware
Calm
Chalice
Childlike
Compassionate
Confident
Creative
Dependable
Embracing
Feeling
Flexible
Kind
Listening
Nurturing
Patient
Peaceful
Perspective
Playful
Relational
Self-Loving
Sensitive
Wise
Masculine
Unhealthy
Blocked
Chaotic
Dramatic
Emotional
Gossipy
Hurtful
Insecure
Insensitive
Jealous
Judgmental
Manipulative
Moody
Needy
Not Self-Loving
Rigid
Seductive
Timid
Unfeeling
Unworthy
Vindictive
Healthy
Active
Adventurous
Committed
Confident
Cooperative
Courageous
Centered
Detailed
Dependable
Efficient
Fearless
Focused
Humble
Leader
Logical
Loyal
Productive
Protector
Rational
Resilient
Sensitive
Simplicity
Strong
Supportive
Unhealthy
Abusive
Angry
Arrogant
Blaming
Competitive
Confused
Controlling
Destructive
Fearful
Forceful
Greedy
Impatient
Insecure
Jealous
Judgmental
Lethargic
Narcissistic
Stagnant
Stifled
Uncaring
Violent
The Balance of Feminine and Masculine Energies
Ideally, individuals and the collective would have a healthy balance of feminine and masculine
energies, allowing for more effective, harmonious decisions at all levels. As we take a look at
influences on the balance of these energies, keep in mind that the balance is not static, that it
changes over time, due to internal and external influences.
The balance of masculine and feminine energy is determined by several factors, including
genetics, childhood, and ideology. For example, some men are just born with more masculine
energy. Physically, they are often more muscular; energetically, they have more confidence,
more determination, and are stronger leaders. While other men, who are equally men, are just
born with slightly more feminine energy — they are more relational, more sensitive, and more
compassionate in all sorts of ways. The same applies to women as well. Some women are
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born with more feminine energy– more nurturing, greater awareness, kinder, and more
patient. And of course, some women are born with more masculine energy– more courageous,
adventurous, logical, and focused.
This balance of masculine and feminine energy is also affected by childhood conditioning. A girl
raised by a single father with several brothers, may skew toward masculine energies, while a
young girl raised by a single mother with all sisters, may skew more towards feminine energies.
If a little boy is raised by a single mother with two or three sisters in the house, for example, his
environment may skew him towards the feminine. Similarly, a little boy raised by a single
father, surrounded by brothers, may skew towards the masculine. Of course, in any of these
scenarios, rebellion during the teen years may occur allowing the other energy to more fully
manifest itself.
Lastly, if the family tends to be more patriarchal or matriarchal, the young girl or boy may be
impacted by the formal and informal gender roles present in the family. Likewise, the stronger
presence, or lack of a presence, of a mother (or mother figure) or father (or father figure) in the
house, or same sex couples may impact the balance of these different energies. Additionally,
religious ideology, political ideology, and where one lives may also have an impact.
Clearly, these several influences can create numerous different scenarios in the balancing of
feminine and masculine energies, and while we hope the balance is healthy, in many cases it is
not. See Figure 1 for an example of various combinations of energies.
Figure 1
In fact, it is more likely that an imbalance is present, resulting in ineffective decisions, a lack of
harmony, dis-ease, and damage to individuals, communities, and the environment. An
imbalance can occur within an individual — too much masculine or too much feminine, or too
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much unhealthy masculine, or too much unhealthy feminine. Weaving in our previous
discussion about the differential manner in which men and women cope with stress, the
potential for an imbalance is greatly increased. Extending this broader, we can see that if
individuals are imbalanced, then they bring this to the collective, thus creating an imbalance.
Individual insecurities, greed, jealousy, abusiveness, narcissism, judgmentalness, and
insensitivity makes its way into our larger social institutions – schools, the economy, politics,
and criminal justice and crime policy. This will be the focus of next week’s discussion.
*These lectures are under development, as such, references and citations have not been
included at this time.
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Week one
Friends discussion
My lenses have been shaped mainly by my neighborhood, family structure, and socioeconomic status. I
grew up in a rural town in PA called Hickory. It is about fifty minutes southwest of Pittsburgh. It has many
horse farms that take up most of the land. Jobs in the area mainly consist of oil and gas services. The community
is very tight knit. There are harvest parties every year that gather the community into celebration. The town was
unheard of until a police shooting left an individual dead in 2022. This struck the community hard but
everything has died down since then. The school I attended was very small but had a diverse background.
Everyone treated each other the same but outside media often caused conflict to ari se.
I grew up in a middle-class household. The family finances were well managed, and we would go on
one vacation a year. My mother’s fulltime job was a housewife. She was always there to take care of my brother
and me. My father worked seven days a week but would always be home around 4 pm. Looking back I am glad
that I always had a parent to watch and take care of growing up. My mother instilled feminine attributes that
consisted of nurturing and compassion. As I matured my father played a more importan t role. He instilled
stability, values, and strength. Hard work and his motivation played a key factor in me taking the next step in
going to college. Additionally, we would go hunting and fishing periodically throughout the year. With that,
there were lessons learned that would never be forgotten. While in high school I learned from my brothers’
mistakes to stay out of trouble, or I would feel it quite literally.
The readings and the current topic make the case that external factors shape individuals’ liv es
tremendously. An individual’s socioeconomic status means a lot more today than it did many years ago. With
the economy in shambles, I have personally witnessed more families struggle with the cost of living. More and
more individuals seek help using government programs or going to a local food bank. Yet, a solid family
structure can be a solution to get through these tough times. The readings also talked about how the crime rate
was higher in cities rather than in rural areas which makes me often question what it would have been like to
grow up in one. I never went to a highly populated city until I was around 10 years old. I never knew about
homeless individuals or drugs. My family tried to keep me away from the incidents that were common there. If I
had to experience seeing unpleasant things daily growing up, then I believe it would have changed my mind set
and could’ve led me down a different path. Finally, I agree that the criminal justice system is flooded with
individuals going in and out. There is improper funding and individuals today are not seeking employment in
law enforcement which is unpleasant to see.
My reply
What happened to you in Hickory, a small country town in Pennsylvania, changed how you see the world.
You grew up in a close-knit village known for horse farms and oil and gas services. You saw the
community’s strength by going to events like the yearly harvest parties. The terrible police killing in
2022 put this sense of community to the test and showed how events outside of small towns can affect
them.
How your family was set up was very important to your upbringing. Growing up in a middle -class family
with good money management gave me security and yearly vacations, which are not always possible in
today’s economy. As a full-time homemaker, your mother cared for you and showed you kindness. On
the other hand, your father taught you about security, strength, and how important it is to work hard.
These family factors were critical in deciding that you wanted to go to college.
Your thoughts on the social and economic problems that many people face today, like how they have to
rely more and more on government help and local food banks, show how important socioeconomic
status is becoming. The difference between growing up in the country and the facts of city life, like
homelessness and drug problems, shows how the environment affects how people think and what they
do with their lives. What you said is similar to what I read about how outside factors, like a person’s
socioeconomic position and family structure, significantly affect their life path. It is easy to see how
these factors affect society by looking at the current state of the criminal justice system, which has
problems with funds and staffing.
Friends discussion
My understanding of crime and all the matters that surround such a topic have their roots in my
upbringing and some of the peculiarities of it. I was born into a military family with both of my parents
serving in the US Army until I was entering middle school given this my parents were not always the most
present as the Army was quite busy in the early 2000s to put it mildly. The implications of this led to me
being considered an “at-risk youth” by about 7th grade. Thankfully, in high school I had grown out of that
categorization following me attending schools for those at risk youths. My interactions with my peers at
the time have significantly impacted my perceptions of those who were very much in the school -toprison pipeline as many of the people I had classes with came from inner city Baltimore and lived a very
different life than I. These myriad experiences with those that many would only see for negative actions
on the morning news has impacted how I see those who become criminals because we as a society often
only see the label of a criminal conviction and little else especially for those who hail from poverty and
the working classes
My reply
Your childhood in a military household and the experiences you have had as an “at -risk youth” have had
a significant impact on the way you think about criminal behavior and the legal system. You were
exposed to difficulties at an early age due to your parents’ frequent absences brought on by their duty in
the United States Army during a busy period. As a result, you were classified as a kid who was at risk by
the time you were in the seventh grade.
Nevertheless, your trip took a favorable turn when you were in high school because of educational
environments developed for those considered to be at risk. This allowed you to interact with students
from various backgrounds, some of whom were difficult to navigate, particularly those from inner -city
Baltimore. As a result, you gained a unique perspective on the lives of people who might be on the path
from school to prison.
Your experiences have provided you with a more nuanced perspective of criminals, exposing the
tendency of society to disregard the greater context of individuals’ lives, particularly those who come
from working-class or underprivileged families. This comprehension highlights the significance of seeing
beyond the label of a criminal conviction and recognizing the socio-economic and personal conditions
that frequently play a role in determining a person’s route to criminality.
Week two
Friend discussion
This week’s readings really helped me to tap into my thoughts about what I learned last year, last week
and also what I have been through in my life. I was really interested in the Invisible Punishment book
because it reminded me a lot of the Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Prison by Jeffrey Reiman. The
outcomes of the policies put into place before our time and even in our society today, have been focused
on poor, impoverished, urban and predominately black communities and getting people off the streets
with little regard to the “invisible punishments” that come with imprisonment. Most people that have
been sent to prison or pleaded guilty to certain crimes actually have no idea what they are really signing
up for until time goes by and mail, and phone calls begin to impede their lives. For example, when I was
convicted of a felony in 2014, I was told that I would serve time in jail, complete 90 days of house arrest,
4 years of probation and have to pay a fine. What my paid attorney did not inform me were the things
that would come from beyond the courtroom that would ultimately make-or-break my future as a young,
black woman. In addition to the aforementioned, I lost my driver’s license privileges for three months, I
was told I could not redo my student loans for three years and I spent two additional years attempting to
find a job because most places were not hiring felons. I also lost my rights to carry a firearm or to renew
my passport. To say I was discouraged would be an understatement. I was devastated and really,
contemplated giving up on life many times.
The idea that policy today is similar to policy before we were born mimics “”civil death” in which the
offender is defined as unworthy of the benefits of society, and is excluded from the so cial compact”
(Jeremy Travis, p.25) is very, true. Mass incarceration not only takes people (mainly blacks) away from
their families, but it
