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10 things criminalised people do not want to hear:
{Obviously there is more than ten, but here’s the first ten}
{Obviously there is more than ten, but here’s the first ten}
1. “If you didn’t do the crime you would not be doing the time”
You don’t know us or our circumstances, and acting like you’ve never made a mistake or broken the law is cute, but ridiculous.
You don’t know us or our circumstances, and acting like you’ve never made a mistake or broken the law is cute, but ridiculous.
2. “You don’t deserve a second chance”
You don’t get to grant me nor deny me a second chance. I am entitled to humanity and who made you Lord of the Second Chance Realm, anyway?
You don’t get to grant me nor deny me a second chance. I am entitled to humanity and who made you Lord of the Second Chance Realm, anyway?
3. “You don’t look like a criminal”
We are not a monolith, and this phrase which suggests that we all look the same and behave a particular way is both stereotypical and frankly, offensive
We are not a monolith, and this phrase which suggests that we all look the same and behave a particular way is both stereotypical and frankly, offensive
4. “You’re not like the other criminals”
This phrase is born out of reductive stereotypes of people who have been criminalised. I do not welcome nor do I feel comfortable with you trying to seperate me from other criminalised people as if I deserve more humanity than them.
This phrase is born out of reductive stereotypes of people who have been criminalised. I do not welcome nor do I feel comfortable with you trying to seperate me from other criminalised people as if I deserve more humanity than them.
5. “You’re too vocal about the system, get over it and move on”
This phrase is nothing but a tool to minimise our experiences, delegitimise our voice and deny us any recourse. And when has telling anyone to “get over it” ever helped?
This phrase is nothing but a tool to minimise our experiences, delegitimise our voice and deny us any recourse. And when has telling anyone to “get over it” ever helped?
6. “If it was up to me, I would have sent you away for a longer time”
Well firstly, it’s not up to you
And secondly, nah no second point, it’s just not up to you
Well firstly, it’s not up to you
And secondly, nah no second point, it’s just not up to you
7. “You made choices, now you have to live with the consequences”
Many of us live with an illusion of choice, because the reality is not everyone has REAL choices, and for those that do, context is hugely important
Many of us live with an illusion of choice, because the reality is not everyone has REAL choices, and for those that do, context is hugely important
8. “Jail is like a holiday camp”
Oh hell no. Have your liberty deprived, be emotionally isolated from everyone who cares about you and withstand daily acts of physical, emotional and sexual violence and tell me what bloody holiday camp looks like that!
Oh hell no. Have your liberty deprived, be emotionally isolated from everyone who cares about you and withstand daily acts of physical, emotional and sexual violence and tell me what bloody holiday camp looks like that!
9. “What are you moaning about, you got three meals a day and a roof over your head?”
See answer to number 8 for general gist of my response
See answer to number 8 for general gist of my response
10. “You brought this on yourself”
NOT HELPFUL
Most of us feel some level of culpability and accept a certain level of responsibility, but what we need is love and support and space and opportunity to rebuild our lives
NOT HELPFUL
Most of us feel some level of culpability and accept a certain level of responsibility, but what we need is love and support and space and opportunity to rebuild our lives
