and other grassroots organizations around the state are leading a powerful movement to pass statewide legislation to create a "Community Review Board", a racially equitable, community-led mechanism to allow people with long-term sentences to be evaluated after 15 years for the possibility of early release. Why are we in this fight? From policing and sentencing to probation and reentry, the Prison
Industrial Complex is an inherently racist and classist system. Discriminatory policing, lack of economic opportunity, disproportionate discipline in schools, and inadequate healthcare access are just some of the factors that lead to arrest and conviction of our families - people in poverty and people of color. In Washington, the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 eliminated the possibility of parole for all but a few categories of people. Today, more than 10,000 Washingtonians face sentences of 15 years to life without any hope of early release. This is particularly an issue in Pierce County, one of the poorest counties in the state, home to many Black and Latino neighborhoods and two Native reservations. Not coincidentally, more than 60% of all criminal convictions in Washington occur in Pierce County, and sentences are longer here, on average, than anywhere else in the state. As a society, we often talk about prison as an issue primarily impacting men, but in reality, the problem puts an enormous emotional and economic burden on women and children as well. The sudden disappearance of a loved one is traumatizing, and has well-documented, lasting consequences for mental health. As family and friends of people in prison, it often feels like we're doing time ourselves, worrying about when and whether our loved one will be moved to another facility, put in solitary confinement, or denied phone or visitation privileges. Households are stripped of a primary breadwinner. We may be out in the community, but we pay the costs of purchasing commissary items, paying for phone calls, and driving hundreds of miles to visit. We often have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, and we take on many parenting roles, no matter how hard our family member in prison tries to maintain ties to their children. In spite of these efforts, children who grow up with a parent in prison are more likely than their peers to end up in prison or poverty as adults. The harsh political reality is that policies benefiting people of color in poverty and people with serious felony convictions are rarely popular. We face an uphill political battle that will take a broad movement of families, formerly incarcerated people, and people in prison, as well as allies like labor unions, faith communities, and social service organizations. But, it IS possible, we have every reason to hope. As a fearless and unified movement, we know that we will overcome these challenges. One of the members of our group recently expressed what I think a lot of us are beginning to feel: "I will be in the fight until the day my son comes home or the day I die." That is the kind of courage and commitment that will get us to the finish line. We are moving quickly and building power, a snowball rolling downhill. We already have a number of legislators and major political players listening to our community, recognizing the power we have built, and by the time we hit legislative session in January, we know we will have a broad coalition of support. Join us every Tuesday at 6:00 pm at the People's Community Center, 1602 MLK Jr Way in Tacoma, as we continue to build movement, and stay tuned for upcoming forums, events, and demonstrations.
