Project, Justice Education
Description
**This book has been authored by the Justice Education Project and revised by the National Police Accountability Project, Equal Justice Initiative, an
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d the Education Justice Project.**
FIRST STEPS INTO CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACTIVISM: FOR YOUTH
Many youth obtain a basic understanding of courtrooms and incarceration via mainstream entertainment shows such as Suits or Criminal Minds. However, this layman’s understanding glosses over the nuances of the American criminal justice system, which is known as one of the most complex legal establishments in our nation. Importantly, many forms of media such as retweeted social media posts, biased news sources, and the social media-centered debates on the criminal justice system often propagate unfounded misconceptions about the criminal justice system, most of which are rooted in racial perceptions. Unfortunately, this causes clashes of information and misinformation, both of which serve as detrimental for inexperienced activists trying to enter discourse surrounding the topic.
In February of 2019, a MyVoice poll concluded that 56% of youth aged 14-24 said they knew little to nothing about the justice system.
That’s why we, the Justice Education Project, published First Steps Into Criminal Justice Activism: For Youth. We want to explain the foundations and flaws of the U.S. criminal justice system — and efforts to reform them — in a way that the everyday reader can easily digest. This book is catered towards beginner activists looking for a foundational understanding to jumpstart their learning in the field of criminal justice activism. The guide will include 10+ interviews with formerly incarcerated individuals and professors, definitions of key terms, and a timeline of important moments in U.S. criminal justice history.
REVIEWS:
REBECCA GINSBURG, Professor at UIUC:
"I'm so impressed! This is an incredible resource... congratulations and well done!"
MIRIAM GOHARA, Professor at Yale Law School:
“Impressive… I hope that this [book] ignites a real interest in passion among many young people to think carefully about these issues. You're the young minds and bodies that are going to overhaul the justice system forward.”
AHMED LAVALAIS, Clinical Teaching Fellow at UC Berkeley School of Law:
“It's a valuable project, making this kind of information available to people at a younger age. I didn't get exposed to this until I was well into my adulthood. Thank you so much.”
PROFESSOR SEEMA PATEL, Lecturer at UC Berkeley School of Law:
"A resource like yours is.. so powerful.”
For more information visit www.justiceeducationproject.org
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