This training aims to provide information about criminal justice reform. It seeks to differentiate myths from facts about the U.S. criminal justice system, explain the history and growth of incarceration, and identify how the current system hurts the economy and workers. The training also reviews the unfairness of the current punishment-focused system and the labor movement's position in favor of reform.

1. Common Sense Economics
Criminal Justice Reform
CSE Criminal Justice Reform

2. Goals of the Training
 Differentiate myths from facts
 Explain the history and growth of
incarceration in the U.S.
 Identify how the current system hurts the
economy and workers of the criminal
justice system
 Articulate the unfairness of our current
system focused on punishment and not on
rehabilitation
 Review the labor movement’s position on
the issue
 Take action
CSE Criminal Justice Reform

3. Definition of Mass Incarceration
Mass incarceration is a rate of
imprisonment that is marked above
the historical and comparative
norm for societies of this type.
It is when imprisonments ceases to
be the incarceration of individual
offenders and becomes the
systematic imprisonment of whole
groups of the population.
CSE Criminal Justice Reform

4. AFL-CIO Position on Criminal Justice
 Reform our criminal justice system that spends too much on punishment and not
enough to help people change, reintegrate and contribute to our society.
 Oppose mandatory sentences for nonviolent crimes, end indiscriminate privatization of
correctional facilities.
 Have restorative justice: job-training, education, probation and parole programs etc.
 Make illegal drug use a public health issue.
 Fully restore the rights of American citizenship for those who have served their time.
CSE Criminal Justice Reform

5. Introductions
Your name, and an endearing nickname people
gave you when were young, if you had one.
What have you heard about our criminal justice
system or the issue of mass incarceration?
and/or have you or someone close to you
experienced incarceration?
CSE Criminal Justice Reform

6. THE HUMAN GRAPH

7. United States vs. the World
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
Statistic: The U.S. has 25% of the world’s prison population

8. United States vs. the World
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

9. United States Prison Population
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
Statistic: 60% of the incarcerated in the United States are
people of color

10. United States Prison Population
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

11. Workers of the Criminal Justice System
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
Statistic: 44% of correctional officers reported symptoms
of PTSD and also reported higher levels of depression,
sleep difficulty and memory impairment

12. Imprisonment of People with Health Issues
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
Statistic: 56% of the United States prison population was
found to have mental health issues

13. Disenfranchisement
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
Statistic: 40% of formerly incarcerated Black males will permanently lose
their right to vote

14. Disenfranchisement
Human Graph: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

15. Common Sense Economics on Criminal Justice Reform

16. THE RISE OF MASS INCARCERATION

17. The Rise of Mass Incarceration: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

18. Activity
The Rise of Mass Incarceation: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
If we recognize mass incarceration as a form of
systemic oppression and domination, please share a
story about a time you felt the rules, norms of society
or laws left you feeling oppressed, dominated or
restricted (i.e. restricted your social or economic
opportunities).

19. Common Sense Economics on Criminal Justice Reform

20. THE HUMAN SIDE OF MASS INCARCERATION

21. The Human Side of Mass Incarceration: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

22. Activity
The Human Side of Mass Incarceration: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
Please brainstorm a list of solutions to the problems the person or
community in your scenario is facing. Think creatively and from any
perspective you want!
What can the individual facing the challenges do to improve the
situation?
What can the local community do to improve the situation?
What can the local labor unions do to improve the situation?
What type of legislation can be passed to fix the problem?

23. Common Sense Economics on Criminal Justice Reform

24. MASS INCARCERATION & THE ECONOMY

25. Mass Incarceration & the Economy: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

26. Mass
Incarceration
Only works for
Greedy
Corporations
Bad policy promoted
by greedy corporations
and allies
Investment in punishment
and prison privatization
Unfair
criminal
justice system
Keep
Unemployment
and poverty
high
Communities
incarcerated,
divided, poor,
disenfranchised
Overcrowded
prisons create
unsafe working
conditions
Mass Incarceration is a vicious cycle
Mass Incarceration & the Economy: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

27. Corporate Agenda + Big Money = Bad Policy
Mass Incarceration & the Economy: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
ALEC /
GEO / CCA

28. We need a fair Criminal Justice System
A
Virtuous
Cycle
No incentives for
profiteers
Invest in
Education and
Rehabilitation
Fight poverty
Pass Fair
Laws
Strong
communities
Safe working
conditions in
prisons
Mass Incarceration & the Economy: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

29. Discussion
What can the labor
movement do dismantle the
economic systems that
continue the cycle of
incarceration?
Mass Incarceration & the Economy: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

30. We can light a
path to a fair
criminal
justice system
and end mass
incarceration
We can light a path
to a fair criminal
justice system and
end mass
incarceration
Mass Incarceration & the Economy: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

31. Mass Incarceration & the Economy: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

32. Common Sense Economics on Criminal Justice Reform

33. AFL-CIO POSITION ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE

34. AFL-CIO Position on Criminal Justice: CSE Criminal Justice Reform

35. The AFL-CIO Fights to:
The Human Side of Mass Incarceration: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
 Reform our criminal justice system that spends too
much on punishment and not enough to help
people change, reintegrate and contribute to our
society.
 Oppose mandatory sentences for nonviolent
crimes, end indiscriminate privatization of
correctional facilities.
 Have restorative justice: job-training, education,
probation and parole programs etc.
 Make illegal drug use a public health issue.
 Fully restore the rights of American citizenship for
those who have served their time.

36. AFL-CIO Position on Criminal Justice: CSE Criminal Justice Reform
Text JUSTICE to 235246

37. Common Sense Economics on Criminal Justice Reform

38. John Legend and the Purdy Women’s Visit: CSE Criminal Justice Reform