Prison Justice Committee/Blog

"Mass Incarceration Affects us All"

Our committee is a proud Virginia Prison Justice Network member and a sponsor of VAPOC (Virginia Prisoner of Conscience).

Every day we get letters from prisoners. We advocate for their human rights, provide information and address their grievances. If you'd like to help, let us know! Contact justicebburg@gmail.com

We produce the journal, "Unlocked: Art and Experiences Inside Virginia's Prisons"

It is available on Amazon and includes poems, art, music, and reflections and celebrates the talent of those inside.

BLOG POSTS

MY FRIEND, JAY TORRES

My friend Mr. Jay Torres, is currently incarcerated. Four years ago, Jay decided to work on earning a higher education degree during his incarceration. He enrolled himself in the Adams State University Prison Education Correspondence Program and worked tirelessly to complete his studies during evenings while also working during the days. To say that there were many hurdles and setbacks would be an understatement. Jay had to overcome not just the difficulties associated with

Sep 92 min read

Patience Through Suffering

Taheem Abdul-Haliim Anyone socially conscious can see that society is going through some very trying times. Chaotic leadership, corruption, inflation, making it difficult for people to survive, and the mass shootings that consistently take place all too often. Even acts of nature leave devastating results at any given time. So many life-changing events take place daily that they alter people's lives forever. These events make it easier to appreciate the small things in life m

Jul 173 min read

A CALL FOR UNDERSTANDING

I'm sure you are aware of the incident at River North Correctional Center that resulted in the death of an officer by an inmate. The violence between officers and offenders is starting to rise. I don't condone any form of violence against either party or person at all. To my knowledge and understanding, from doing five years as a teen to the ten years I've been down now, I see a lack of respect and understanding on both sides. Whenever you are dealing with people, you must ha

Dec 7, 20251 min read

Democracy Denied

Wesley T. Gallop (River North Correctional) Everybody should know that human nature is inherently flawed, and being that humans run and control the criminal justice system, it is, by its essence, equally flawed. However, when you allow the power of government to fall into the hands of a few people, the system can move from flawed to tyrannical. Allow me to use an example from my home state of Virginia. Research allowed me to discover two very interesting clauses in the Consti

Oct 23, 20253 min read

A Story of Hope

Author: Corinthian Sublett I am a lifer who has spent 10 of my first 11 years in incarceration in the mountains between WRSP and Keen...

Sep 5, 20253 min read

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Our committee logo was designed by incarcerated artist Kareem Carr/

The Coalition for Justice is a founding member of the Virginia Prison Justice Network (VAPJN) and a sponsor for VAPOC.

VAPJN is a network of organizations around the state who work for change in the prison system by seeking solutions to the judicial racism that plagues our criminal justice system and by also providing a platform for prisoners to be heard. For more information on VAPJN, go here.

The CFJ Prison Justice Committee believes that our current retributive justice system focuses on punishment, blame, and isolation. Restorative justice focuses on healing and rehabilitation with an understanding that race and class are major factors in mass incarceration. By allowing prisoners to take responsibility for their actions, they can not only repair harm but can learn how to make responsible choices and prevent future harm. We need more dialogue, community support, inclusion, and involvement. We believe in reducing the role of criminal law and creating alternatives to punishment and imprisonment with a focus on rehabilitation. We do not excuse criminal behavior by any means. We believe in accountability, but we see the need to treat prisoners with respect and allow them their human rights. Only then can they truly successfully reintegrate into the larger community.

Our committee works for the survival of the incarcerated and advocates for the human rights of prisoners. We are prisoner-led and directly work with hundreds of prisoners throughout the state.

Our steering committee consists of Margaret Breslau, Jennifer Deegan, Kay Kay Goette, Askari Danso, Chanell Burnette, and Hassan Shabbaz.

Get involved.

Read the blog. Learn more.

Coalition

for Justice

est. Blacksbug

Virginia, 1981

¡Presente!