New jersey prisons reverse course on banning the new jim crow. Some new jersey prisons have banned inmates from reading. Thats why the aclu campaign for smart justice works in all 50 states to push for reforms. The state prison system will drop a book on racism and mass incarceration from its list of banned books, a spokeswoman said tuesday, following a request from the aclus north carolina chapter. Under fire from aclu, new jersey reverses ban on book. The mass incarceration of the elderly, aclu 2012 prison. Imprisonment is a brutal and costly response to violations or possible violations that traumatizes incarcerated people and hurts families and communities. The american civil liberties union is amassing a small but impressive track record on a particular issue. The new jim crow after advocacy from our colleagues at the aclu of new jersey. While mass incarceration is a reality that many know to be true, its a topic rarely covered at. She is best known for her 2010 book the new jim crow. Aclu blasts unconstitutional book ban in new jersey.
New jersey prisons lift ban on awardwinning book the new. Critics said new jersey puts black residents behind bars at a rate 12 times the rate of white residents and its unconstitutional to deny those inmates access to information in the book. Smart justice is fighting in the legislatures, the courts, in the voting booth, and in the streets to end mass incarceration by addressing. Updated the new jersey prison system has barred inmates from reading an awardwinning book about racism and mass incarceration, a ban that civil rights lawyers and a former prisoner call. But in north carolina, those trapped in that system are not allowed to read. Aclu says nj prison ban of the new jim crow book is. Under fire from aclu, new jersey reverses ban on book about. A timely new book for the ongoing fight for gender. On any given day in the united states in 2018, nearly 2. A civil rights advocate and former aclu litigator, professor alexander, in her book, the new jim crow. The banning of a bestselling book, about mass incarceration, from new jersey prisons has been revoked after the aclu got involved, but what.
After receiving reports that the book had been banned by certain facilities indoc practice, the american civil liberties union of new jersey aclunj filed an open public records act. This month, the aclu has overturned bans in new jersey and north carolina, although a florida ban still stands. The american civil liberties union is asking new jersey department of corrections to lift an alleged ban of a book that examines the impact of mass incarceration on people of color. North carolina doesnt want people in prison to read this book. Aclu says nj banning of the new jim crow book in prison. How to cut kansas incarceration by 50% aclu of kansas. After being called out by the aclu for banning an awardwinning book about mass incarceration, new jersey said that it. The american civil liberties union aclu is alleging that two new jersey prisons have banned a book on the rise of mass incarceration in the u. Michelle alexander born october 7, 1967 is a writer, civil rights advocate, and visiting professor at union theological seminary new york city. The latest release in the aclu handbook series, the rights of women is a comprehensive guide that explains in detail the rights that women and girls have under u. Overcrowding and the overuse of imprisonment in the united states. The aclu campaign for smart justice is an unprecedented, multiyear effort to reduce the u.
New jersey said it had lifted the ban on a bestselling book about mass incarceration after the american civil liberties union called for an immediate end to what it said was an ironic. Bowing to aclu lawsuit, south carolina jail lifts book ban. New jim crow banned in nc prisons, aclu challenges book. Civil rights book banned in new jersey prisons, along with. The mass incarceration of the elderly, aclu 2012 aug. Nc prisons unban book on race, mass incarceration after. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, makes a case that a new legal caste system is dangerously alive in america. Overcrowding and overuse of imprisonment in the united. By sagiv galai, paralegal, aclu criminal law reform project. The fight for reform to end mass incarceration is a state and local issue.
Aclu attorney tess borden, who drafted the letter, said it was ironic, misguided, and harmful for a state burdened with this systemic injustice to prohibit prisoners from reading a book about race and mass incarceration. On monday, the aclu is sending a letter to the head of new jerseys prison system, demanding that some state prisons lift their ban on inmates reading the new jim crow, michelle alexanders awardwinning book that details how the war on drugs and mass incarceration have devastated people of color. Two new jersey will no longer ban a popular book about racial injustice and mass incarceration after a request from the aclu to stop the unconstitutional censorship. Aclu challenges corrections corporation of america ceo to public debate about. The twoway critics said new jersey puts black residents behind bars at a. William barr was an ardent champion of mass incarceration. In a letter sent to the new jersey department of corrections, the aclu asked the two prisons to allow inmates to access the book, citing the states reported high disparity in incarceration rates.
American civil liberties union aclu submission to the office of the high commissioner for human rights may 2015 this idea of total incarceration just isnt working. One out of every three black boys born today can expect to go to prison in his lifetime, as can one of every six latino. Two new jersey prisons have banned michelle alexanders book on mass incarceration, the new jim crow. Aclu wants prisons to end ban on mass incarceration book the state chapter of the civil rights group sent a letter monday asking why at least two prisons have banned the new jim crow by bruce. Nj prisons lift ban on jim crow book after aclu complains. The american civil liberties union wants new jersey corrections officials to allow inmates to read a bestselling book on mass incarceration and racial discrimination. The rights of women coauthored by the aclu womens rights projects director, lenora lapidus, deputy director, emily martin, and former staff attorney, namita luthra explores the concept of equal protection and covers topics including employment, education, housing, criminal justice, family law, and public accommodations, and examines the specific issues of trafficking, violence against women, welfare reform, and reproductive freedom. The book alleges that mass incarceration of africansamericans has kept them disenfranchised and poor. Aclu asks new jersey prison chief to lift ban on book. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, her bestselling book that examines how racial injustice fuels the epidemic of mass incarceration in the united states, michelle alexander writes, i am writing this book for all those trapped within americas latest caste system. The state chapter of the civil rights group sent a letter monday asking why at least two prisons have banned the new jim crow. Michelle alexander dedicates her book, the new jim crow, to the. Mass incarceration book ban lifted at new jersey prisons.
Your gift will fund our critical work to protect voting rights, demand that vulnerable people in prisons, jails and immigration detention centers be. The new jersey department of corrections has lifted a ban on a book that links racial discrimination and mass incarceration after the aclu called. The new jersey department of corrections lifted a ban at some state prisons on michelle alexanders acclaimed 2010 book the new jim crow. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander the new pressshutterstock aclu blasts unconstitutional book ban in new jersey prisons. Still, when you think about the image you have of our mass incarceration crisis. The spoils of mass incarceration the united states imprisons more people both per capita and in absolute terms than any other nation in the world, including russia, china, and iran. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander and cornel west. The new jersey department of corrections has lifted a ban on a book that links racial discrimination and mass incarceration after the aclu called the prohibition unconstitutional and demanded the. For the state burdened with this systemic injustice to prohibit prisoners from reading a book about race and mass incarceration is ironic. New jersey officials say theyll lift ban on book the new. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness from its banned book list. New jersey has rolled back a ban on a nationally acclaimed book about race and modern mass incarceration in the u. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, and the aclu isnt having it.
For barr, mass incarceration had no negative effects the most common. Ban on book about mass incarceration lifted in new jersey prisons. Under fire from aclu, new jersey reverses ban on book about mass incarceration. Despite making up close to 5% of the global population, the u. Inmates at the new jersey state prison in trenton and southern state correctional facility in delmont were barred from reading michelle alexanders 2010 book, the new jim crow. Under fire from aclu, new jersey reverses ban on book about mass incarceration npr news ideastream. New jersey corrections officials say a bestselling book on mass incarceration and racial discrimination will now be available to inmates at all state correctional facilities, following a ban that.
The aclu new jersey chapter made the discovery as a result of a public records request. The landmark book about race and mass incarceration is banned in a state with the highest racial disparity in its prison population. Ban on book about mass incarceration lifted in new jersey. But she continued to read books that outlined her rights, write to human rights. How incarcerating women fuels our mass incarceration crisis. Thanks in part to michelle alexanders 2012 book, the new jim crow. Supreme court justice anthony kennedy, march 23, 2015 i. Michelle alexander was featured in the netflix documentary th on the subject. Over the past four decades, imprisonment in the united states has increased explosively, spurred by criminal laws that impose steep sentences and curtail.
We must reduce both the number of people entering jails and prisons and the extreme laws and policies that drive extraordinarily long prison terms. How the 1994 crime bill fed the mass incarceration. Its a goto book for the topic of mass incarceration. Aclu says nj banning of the new jim crow book in prison is unconstitutional. Coinciding with the start of sexual assault awareness month, the fully revised and updated fourth edition of the rights of women was released this week. New jersey prisons ban the book new jim crow the aclu. Raleigh the american civil liberties union of north carolina is demanding that the state department of public safety immediately lift its unconstitutional ban on michelle alexanders the new jim crow.
According to a letter from the aclu of new jersey to the states department of corrections, at least, two prisons in new jersey have decided to ban michelle alexanders groundbreaking work on the rise of mass incarceration in america, the new jim crow. The new jersey department of corrections has lifted a ban on a book that links racial discrimination and mass incarceration after the aclu called the prohibition unconstitutional and demanded the department reverse its position. New jersey prisons lift ban on book after aclu protest. After pressure from the aclu, nc prisons removed michelle alexanders the new jim crow. Since 1978, the united states prison population has risen over 400 percent, according to the aclu. Classification, geriatric classification, statisticstrends, failure. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, we know more about how the criminal justice system disproportionately impacts communities of color. New jersey prisons end ban on the new jim crow after. The new jersey department of corrections has lifted a ban on a book that links racial discrimination and mass incarceration after the aclu. Subtitled mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, alexanders book spent several weeks on us bestseller lists and was hailed as the secular bible of a new social movement by. Since 1970, our incarcerated population has increased by 700% 2. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness in north carolina prisons the book appears on the states master list of disapproved publication sic.
Aclu lawsuit charges that jail policy banning books and. Aclu calls for north carolina prisons to lift ban on the. Aclu says the new jim crow prison ban is unconstitutional. Aclu wants prisons to end ban on mass incarceration book.