[ad_1]
Vermont is planning to construct four new carceral facilities over the next decade, costing as much as half a billion dollars. Despite its reputation as a progressive state, Vermont’s prison-building boom mirrors a national trend of expanding mass incarceration under the guise of creating “trauma-informed prisons.” In an interview, abolitionist Jayna Ahsaf discusses the campaign by FreeHer Vermont to halt the state’s prison-building plans, revealing the troubling conditions in the current women’s prison and the questionable motives behind constructing a new one.
Ahsaf criticizes the concept of “carceral humanism,” which attempts to soften the impact of incarceration by creating seemingly compassionate prisons. She emphasizes that this approach does not address the abusive culture inherent in prisons. The state’s plans also include building men’s prisons and juvenile detention facilities, locking Vermont into a cycle of incarcerating community members for decades.
FreeHer Vermont is organizing protests, advocating for a moratorium on new prison construction, and seeking alternatives to incarceration such as reentry facilities run by service providers. The campaign faces opposition from corporations, government institutions, and politicians, including those who portray prison construction as a necessity. Ahsaf highlights the immense financial resources spent on incarceration, arguing that these funds would be better utilized for climate disaster mitigation, school updates, affordable housing, and social services.
The prison boom in Vermont reflects a broader national pattern of expanding mass incarceration, despite successful efforts in some states to delay or halt prison construction. Ahsaf stresses the importance of continued abolitionist organizing, advocating for mutual aid systems, and building coalitions to achieve lasting change. Abolitionists must prioritize grassroots movements and community empowerment over relying on politicians or government institutions. The fight for abolition requires strategic, organized, and determined efforts to create a society free from prisons and oppression.
Source
Photo credit truthout.org
