Session 1: Intro to Abolition
2018-2021 Core Readings:
Angela Davis. (2003) ‘Introduction: Prison Reform or Prison Abolition?; Are Prisons Obsolete? New York: Seven Stories Press, P. 9-21. Available from: [12 pages]
Critical Resistance. (no date) What is Abolition? [1 page]
Prison Research Education Action Project (1976) ‘Nine Perspectives for Prison Abolitionists’
from Instead of Prisons: A Handbook for Abolitionists. [2 pages ]
Prison Research Education Action Project (1976)
‘Diminishing / Dismantling the Prison System,’ from Instead of Prisons: A Handbook for Abolitionists. [5 pages]
Further readings:
If you’re joining this Abolitionist Futures Reading Group for the second time, we recommend you read these instead of the core readings.
Rachel
Kuchner
(2019) Is Prison Necessary? Ruth Wilson Gilmore might change your mind. New York Times 17 April 2019.
Begum, Hajera (2020) Rethinking Our Justice System: Abolition in the UK. Amaliah.com (5 pages)
Ruth Wilson Gilmore Makes the Case for Abolition. The Intercept Podcast. (Part 1: 54 min, Part 2: 31 min.) Transcript also available from link. Highly recommended.