Perceptions and Realities of Incarceration
- The concept of incarceration is often misunderstood, with people associating prisons with "cages" that imply the occupants are dangerous, uncontrollable, and inhuman, which perpetuates the stereotype of the violent, irredeemable criminal, 10s.
- Incarcerated people spend a lot of their time in a cell about the size of a walk-in closet, but when interacting with them in a book club setting, they are just like anyone else, wanting to learn and engage in conversation, 2m6s.
- The book club meetings take place in a room that resembles a classroom, with tables, chairs, and a whiteboard, where participants greet each other with smiles and handshakes, and discuss the book, creating an environment that fosters learning and equality, 4m30s.
Background and Purpose of the Prison Book Club
- The personal background of the individual involved in running the book clubs has brought them to where they are today, having grown up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, alongside friends and family who were involved in the criminal legal system, 6m10s.
- Part of the work involves running book clubs in prison for incarcerated people and University of Washington (U-Dub) students, where the goal is to balance the training the students receive from the Department of Corrections with a more nuanced understanding of the incarcerated individuals, 8m20s.
Preparing Students for Prison Engagement
- When preparing students to go inside the prison for the first time, the focus is on being respectful, letting go of curiosity about why the incarcerated people are there, and recognizing the privilege of being able to walk in and out of the prison, 10m40s.
- Trusting incarcerated people and students to work together means trusting in the value of human interaction, and when they sit around a table together, they could be anywhere, having a conversation that can grow into something meaningful, 12m50s.
Challenging Institutional Barriers
- The artificial differences created by the Department of Corrections, such as the prison setting, are what the book club seeks to overcome, aiming to create an environment where everyone is equal and can engage in a meaningful conversation, 15m0s.
- The Department of Corrections' practices, such as uniforms and rules, can have a lasting impact on the people inside the prison, and the goal is to share common humanity and express individuality, despite these constructs that damage the identities of incarcerated people 10s.
The Role of Education in Incarceration
- Education has value for all people, whether incarcerated or free, but changes to Washington state and federal law and policy have led to a contraction of educational opportunities inside prison, with Washington DOC policy restricting access to educational programming to people who have 7 years or less to serve 2m6s.
- The COVID-19 pandemic brought all programming inside prison to a halt, and education has been slow to return to its pre-pandemic levels, with only about 12% of incarcerated people having access to higher education, and for those who do, recidivism is reduced by about 20% 2m6s.
- Providing education to incarcerated people makes a statement about their value, and failing to do so tells them they are not worth the effort and resources, with people serving life sentences being particularly affected, as they are not eligible for educational programming and are seen as beyond hope 2m6s.
The Transformative Power of Education and Interaction
- Education is not just about subjects, content, or exams, but about creating opportunities for incarcerated people and students to interact and explore their selves, with the interactions in prison book clubs being a pathway to learning that is qualitatively different from other classrooms 2m6s.
- Examples of the value of these interactions include Meredith, who was excited to access eyeshadow and blush, Joan, who shared her recipe for making granola bars, and Thomas, who attends book club meetings because of the conversations with outsiders, despite feeling that programming inside prison validates his confinement 2m6s.
Impact on Students and Incarcerated Participants
- Students are impacted by their experiences in the prison book club, as evidenced by one student bursting into tears during a goodbye meeting, and these impacts extend into their daily lives 0s.
- Incarcerated people who participate in education are less likely to return to prison after release, receive fewer infractions while incarcerated, and contribute to a more calm and violence-free environment inside the prison 0s.
- The prison book club experience prompts students to ask themselves uncomfortable questions, such as why they deserve to be free while their classmates are incarcerated, and how they can interact with their classmates with respect and humility 0s.
Shared Humanity and Meaningful Conversations
- The book club meetings involve discussions about the shared humanity of the participants, including talking about things people said, laughing at jokes, and appreciating vulnerabilities shared in discussion 0s.
- Specific individuals, such as John and Corey, have made notable contributions to the book club meetings, with John frequently using the phrase "je ne sais quoi" and Corey sharing his gardening work and offering advice on planting seeds 0s.
Reflections and Conclusion
- The experience of facilitating education in the prison book club is deeply gratifying and humbling, and it provides an opportunity for inclusive and unique conversations that cannot be found elsewhere 0s.
- The importance of learning alongside people who are different from oneself is emphasized, and it is urged that people find opportunities to do so, as everyone can learn from each other 0s.
