There is a growing tendency in this country toward the incarceration of the poor and minorities, many of whom will spend at least some or a large part of their life under the jurisdiction of the prison industrial complex, whether in jail, about to go to jail, or on parole, the prison industrial complex has become the new slave master, criminalizing an entire generation of americans.
In addition to the war on the poor and on minorities, the prison industrial complex has also been weapon number one of the far right wing in the war on drugs. This war, which has cost the federal treasury billions of dollars, is an acknowledged failure which has failed to curb drug use and has helped to perpetuate plantation capitalism in this country.
I support ending all federal funding for Tennessee based Community Correction Corporation of America, the nation's largest private prison corporation, whose multiple failures to properly house, feed, and care for prisoners is well documented in the media.
I support the re-introduction of programs eliminated by previous administrations such as education training, general education equivalency programs and college level educational access for those incarcerated.
I support the elimination of convictions for drug use and instead support treatment programs for those in need of addiction treatment and counseling. I support the elimination of the death penalty at the federal level.
