Prison abolition

Prison abolition is a movement that seeks to abolish prisons as an institution. Unlike prison reform, prison abolition aims to establish a criminal justice system that avoids the use of detention entirely. Supporters commonly advocate for a restorative justice approach that aims to rehabilitate criminals, as opposed to retributive justice, which aims to punish the criminal in proportion to the crime. Prison abolitionists often advocate major structural changes to prevent crime at the societal level by addressing its root causes. According to this view, crime is a consequence of societal issues such as racism and poverty. The prison abolition movement in the United States formed in part as a response to the 1971 Attica Prison riot, which drew attention to the inhumane conditions common in prisons. High profile activists, most notably Angela Davis, brought the issue of prison abolition to some attention, though it has been largely restricted to left-wing, academic circles. Interest surged following the 2020 murder of George Floyd and the civil unrest that followed, which highlighted racial disparities in the criminal justice system.