Both Sides Of The Bars: What the Criminal Legal System Reform Movement Needs

Length

00:27:59

Producer

Paul Hyman

Category

Informational Talk Show

Comments

The term mass incarceration has become infamous and well-known in low-income and communities of color; not only because of the policing practices that accompany the dragnet of arrests, but also because of the under-resourced educational, employment, and public benefits systems, to name a few, as well. However, mass incarceration will not end solely because of the efforts of these same communities. Undoubtedly, these efforts need to be led by those communities, because those closest to the problem, are closest to the solution. Similarly, as the civil rights movement was led by those most impacted, men and women of color, they also benefited from allies of all colors and economic statuses. Similarly, in the era of mass incarceration, the movement to dramatically change the criminal legal system as we know it also needs accomplices. My Guest today is Roy Waterman who serves as the Jewish Council for Public Affairs Criminal Justice Project Manager. His project is focused on educating and empowering the Jewish community to advocate on criminal justice reform at the national and local levels, fostering relationships and building alliances between Jewish and communities of color, policy work to improve law enforcement practices, and developing pilot projects in the field to support communities in crises. Roy is also the Co-Founder of Drive Change, a vibrant social enterprise non-profit, that uses the mobile vending industry to train, empower, employ and teach transferable skills to formerly incarcerated young people ages 18-25 years old who have been released from adult jails and prisons in the New York City area.