Practice Makes Permanent

When asked about his greatest accomplishment since his release from Michigan prisons in January, Adam responds “that I still care when it hurts to do so,” touching on the temptation to shut down emotionally to avoid the pain and trauma that formerly incarcerated people carry. In this episode, Adam discusses how he created opportunities where none were provided during his three decades in prison due to budget cuts. Adam continues to advocate for opportunities and compassion for those still inside. Adam and our hosts cover reentry topics including prison abolition, educational opportunities for people who are incarcerated or who have a criminal record, convict criminology, and the damage done by indeterminate sentencing. For more on convict criminology in particular, navigate to Season 3, Episode 2 of While We Were Away.

Important Information and Definitions

Statistics about Budget Cuts:
In the 2018 - 2019 fiscal year, the MDOC had a budget of about $2 billion. Then the budget for the 2019 - 2020 fiscal year included about $27 million in budget cuts. Some of these budget cuts went towards reducing the strong presence of prisons in Michigan--for example, the state closed one correctional facility. However, a significant portion of these budget cuts was accounted for by the elimination of 13 different rehabilitative programs.
Convict Criminology Definition:
The concept that you have an entire field of academia that is about penology, prisons, crimes, and what causes crimes and this has been devoid of those who have been inside
Convict Criminology is trying to bring people with lived experiences to the forefront so they can be a part of the conversation
Abolitionist
The prison abolition movement is a network of groups and activists that seek to reduce or eliminate prisons and the prison system, and replace them with systems of rehabilitation that do not place a focus on punishment and government institutionalization.

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Practice Makes Permanent

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