When it first opened in 1829, the Eastern State Penitentiary outside Philadelphia was touted as the future of criminal justice. Within little more than a decade, it had degenerated into a hellhole of madness and abuse, sparking public outcries—both for its closure (which did not occur for nearly 150 years), and for the abolition of prisons in general. Those cries have only grown louder in the…, Chokehold: Policing Black Men, (the New Press, 2018) is essential reading in the field. Butler was at RWU Law to address students on the prison abolition movement, as part of the school’s groundbreaking new required course on the impact of race on the development and application of American law. “A lot of people believe that the problems with prisons have become too entrenched to be reformed,” Butler said in an interview…, and, treat people in a more humane way at the same time.” Butler added that he was excited to take part in RWU Law’s new required course, fully titled “Race and the Foundations of American Law.” “It’s an extremely important asset for a student to understand how law works in the US,” Butler said. “The fact is that law has sometimes acted as a force for justice, liberation, and fairness—but at other…, Let's Get Free: A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice, (The New Press, 2010)] come and speak to our students was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” added Nicole Dyszlewski, RWU Law Director of Special Programs and Academic Affairs. “It allowed students to starkly see the injustices involved and hear about prison abolition, one possible solution to address the dehumanization of mass incarceration and the prison industrial complex. I’m proud and…, ‘A Man Buried Alive’, Butler began his discussion of prison abolition by looking at history. “The abolition of prison is not a new movement,” he said. “People have been talking about it since prison was invented.” Originally, however—in theory at least—the idea of prison was conceived as a forward-looking development. “Prison actually started as a liberal reform; a kind of humane, progressive alternative to the way…, before, there were prisons—that is, by killing them, or hurting their bodies, usually in public,” Butler said. “The idea with prison, by contrast, was that people would be put into these individual cells by themselves, and they’d have to be quiet all day—what we would now refer to as solitary confinement.” The Eastern State Penitentiary model was in fact inspired by Quaker religious ideals, with cells…, American Note, s, for General Circulation, . Every inmate at Eastern State, Dickens wrote, was essentially, a man buried alive…. I believe that very few men are capable of estimating the immense amount of torture and agony which this dreadful punishment, prolonged for years, inflicts upon the sufferers.… I hold this slow and daily tampering with the mysteries of the brain to be immeasurably worse than any torture of the body., “In a sense, Dickens was actually the first prison abolitionist,” Butler noted. “And since then, there have been important waves of prison abolition.” Most recently, he noted “there were reform movements in Norway and other Scandinavian countries in the 1990s; in Argentina in the 2000s.”, Restorative Justice, Many if not most people today can readily agree that prisons are not the ideal solution to criminal justice. But if they are abolished, what is the alternative? That, Butler replied, is a matter for serious societal debate. But one possible approach involves the idea of “restorative justice.” “Most of the world doesn’t use prison in nearly the same way that we do in the US,” Butler explained. “…
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According to the World Health Organization , depression is a common mental health disorder that affects an estimated 5% of the world’s adult population. Some studies suggest that lawyers experience depression at a higher rate than the general population. Attorneys and law schools across the country have begun to realize how extensive this issue is. October 10th is the American Bar Association…, you are not alone, . There are many resources (including people!) ready to support you and your mental wellness as you navigate the stressful years of law school and beyond. On that note, please stop by the Law Library the week of October 10 to view our, Wall of Hope, . The library has placed a board on which to share post-it notes of positive thoughts, inspiring quotes, and encouraging ideas. The Wall is intended as a user-generated source for help with the motivation to get you through the long days (and nights) of classes, reading, and studying. Already have a phrase or mantra that you find particularly helpful? Please consider submitting it to the Wall of…
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After five-plus years working for the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI),, Mike Smitsky ’15, was eager to share the benefits of his experience with students from his alma mater. As t he world’s largest nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics , AUVSI gives those involved the chance to take part in changing how the world looks at transportation and technology, Smitsky explains. But he knew that the idea of working for a trade association like AUVSI did not…, Dylan Collins ’22, ended up being a perfect fit for the AUVSI internship. As a 3L at the end of 2021, he had completed all of his required credits and was looking to gain some real-world experience to complement his studies. In addition, the chance to intern under the supervision of a young alum like Smitsky was an opportunity that just seemed too good pass up. “Mike is not only an alum of RWU Law, he’s an alum of…
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