My first three weeks at the Prisoners’ Rights Project have been incredibly meaningful. The dedicated attorneys at PRP work on many different issues in both NYC jails and state prisons. I have been lucky enough to learn from the passionate PRP team about the many forms of advocacy they practice, including their current litigation docket. From solitary confinement to access to medical care, the rights of people who are incarcerated are continually being violated and are in need of defense. It is far too easy for people in jails and prisons to be ignored, which makes the team’s care for and centering of their clients even more impactful to witness.
As part of the larger Legal Aid Society, my internship with PRP has also provided me with the opportunity to learn from and participate in other units’ work. Yesterday I made my first visit to Rikers Island, where myself, other interns, and members of the Community Justice Unit registered people to vote. We visited multiple housing blocks and met with dozens of people—most of whom were between 19 and 25 years old. As with other my other visits to various carceral institutions, the most striking part of the experience was how meaningful our presence was to those inside. This speaks to the isolation and alienation of incarceration and the profound impact it has on people’s sense of self-worth.
Another big take away from this experience was how few people outside of this field know that Rikers is a pretrial detention facility and therefore the vast, vast majority of people there have yet to be convicted of a crime. Many are there simply because they cannot afford to pay exorbitant bail. Further, even if they had been convicted of a crime, they would still have the right to vote in NY state! In some states (such as Florida), people must pay a myriad of fees and restitutions before their right to vote is reinstated. These laws and practices are just a few of the many ways we punish people for their economic status. If you are as outraged by this as I am, please use the link below to donate to Equal Justice America. This helps fund fellowships for people like me that are working to ensure access to civil representation for everyone—regardless of wealth status.
https://lnkd.in/gkvURST5 #EJAFellowUpdate, Equal Justice America, The Legal Aid Society, Loyola Law School, Los Angeles