What experiences in life helped you grow the most?

Jail.

If you never face consequences, you might never understand the need for change. Or the effects of your actions on other people and society as a whole.

I don’t necessarily mean that everyone should go to jail or that jail itself helps people change. And I certainly don’t mean jails a good place not do I wish it on anyone.

What I am saying, however, is that when we have to face penalties for our wrong actions we are less likely to repeat those actions.

If we are able to do whatever we want do and simply not get caught- or punished, then we have no idea what consequences are like -so we have no real reason to fear them.

When people do not fear consequences that could cause us to live in a way more dangerous society.

So although I don’t agree with the current state of corrections or prisons, I do think that consequences are necessary at least to teach the person what they can expect if they repeat those consequences. But I don’t believe in ridiculous consequences I believe in ones that are humane, fair, and equal across the board- where people are treated with dignity.

I think going to prison definitely taught me that I needed to think before making any decision about every possible outcome and I need to consider everyone else not just myself and I also need to use better dealing mechanisms and tools in order to live a safer more productive life Where I’m not doing things that I need to worry about facing consequences for or potentially causing harm to others.

This is why when people ask me I say I’m not an abolitionist. I believe that there needs to be some sort of penal system in place. But I also believe it needs to be equal across the board. Including an arresting people that are hired in the correction system who abuse or increase trauma on the people. It is trusted to care for -the Incarcerated population.