Decarceration & Ending Solitary confinement Statement of belief/purpose
The UU Mass Action Decarceration campaign seeks to address the harmful impact of our carceral system, white supremacy culture, and its impact on the most vulnerable people in our state with the end goal of abolition. We work with the policy team at Families for Justice as Healing, Prisoner Legal Services, and the newest iteration of Black and Pink Boston run by a group of incarcerated folks in the Norfolk prison here in MA. We work on bills that both focus on ending solitary confinement as well as other abolitionist reforms including (elder/medical parole, prison moratorium, visitation rights) Please stay tuned later this summer for a abolition learning event, this fall for an opportunity to join a newly organized decarceration team, and for a fundraiser for our partner Black and Pink.
HOw to get involved
Please fill out this form or contact rev. jo murphy at jmurphy@uumassaction.org
Partners
Past Priority Priority Bills
Our lead coalition partners include Black & Pink Massachusetts, Families for Justice as Healing, Prisoners’ Legal Services and our National Partner, National Religious Coalition Against Torture (UnLock the Box). An integral part of this campaign is to build relationships with survivors of solitary and invite them to the leadership team. Centering the voices of survivors is central to our work.
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S.1979/H.1795An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium. (Rep. Tyler/ Sen. Comerford) House Version Referred to Joint Committee on the Judiciary Senate Version Referred to Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight
SD.1406/HD.822 An Act Relative to Rehabilitation, Re-Entry, and Human Rights for Incarcerated Persons (Sen. Creem/Rep. Tyler) Fact Sheet
S.1578/H.2504 Criminal Justice Protections to all Prisoners in Segregated Confinement (Sen. Eldridge / Rep. Miranda) Fact Sheet Status: Joint Committee on Public Safety Awaiting hearing
S.1283/H.2089 Ensure the Constitutional rights and Human Dignity of Prisoners on Mental Health Watch (Eldridge/Fluker-Oakley) Fact Sheet Status: Joint Committee: Mental Health, Substance Use & Recovery Hearing date: 6/28/21
S.1559/H.1900 No Cost Phone Calls for Incarcerated People (Sen. Creem/ Rep. Tyler) Fact Sheet Status: Joint Committee on Judiciary Awaiting hearing
S.2030/H.1905 An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium. (Sen. Comerford / Rep. Tyler) Fact Sheet Status: Senate Bill: Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Hearing date: 7/20/21 House bill: Judiciary Awaiting hearing
Resources
On Abolition:
Abolition Is a Collective Vision: An Interview With Mariame Kaba
So You’re Thinking About Becoming an Abolitionist
What alternatives can look like:
On our Criminal Justice System and Solitary Confinement
In June 2023, women incarcerated at MCI-Framingham testified virtually at a legislative hearing for the first time in Massachusetts history. The women who testified unanimously support the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium.
Making phone calls from prison is now free in Massachusetts
A Blueprint For Ending Solitary Confinement by the Federal Government
Solitary: the Family Experience, Citizens for Prison Reform
Dept of Justice Report on the Dept. of Corrections, 11/17/20
Racial Justice Disparities in the Massachusetts Criminal System, Harvard University, 10/14/20
Right on Crime Report; A Window Into Solitary Confinement and Its Many Alternatives 1/28/20
Prisoners’ Legal Services Press release in response to the violence that occurred at Souza-Baranowski in Jan 13, 2020
Quarterly Report on Restrictive Housing, An Initial Analysis
DOC Staffing and Costs, 2012 - 2019, Summary of Data and Findings: Questions to Pose
Changing culture is key to fixing prisons, Updated December 3, 2019
Federal officials investigate Mass. prisons on elderly, ill inmates, solitary confinement By Maria Cramer Globe Staff,May 23, 2019
Solitary Confinement: The Case for Change in Massachusetts PLS White Paper, 2016
Join Black Lives UU & Love Resists to disrupt mass incarceration and end cash money bail! Download their End Money Bail Community Workbook and sign up to facilitate a group. See Love Resists resources on how mass incarceration starts with money bail, our freedom starts with ending it!
Facts Over Fear, by Rahsaan Hall and Nasser Eledroos, ACLU MA The benefits of declining to prosecute misdemeanor and low-level felony offenses
Council of State Governments, Justice Center: 2016-2017 Reports
Resource list, compiled by Colleen Kirby, LWV: Criminal Justice Reform Reading List
Study: “Every Second, The Impact of the Incarceration Crisis on American Families.” Study conducted by Fwd.us and Cornell University