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10.13: Resistance, Reform, and Paths Forward- Social Movements and Advocacy

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    324944
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    Contemporary movements for criminal legal reform have brought renewed attention to the racial dimensions of mass incarceration and police violence. The Black Lives Matter movement, emerging in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s killer and further catalyzed by police killings of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and others, has centered the experiences of communities most impacted by punitive policing and incarceration. Through street protests, social media campaigns, and policy advocacy, this movement has elevated public awareness of systemic racism within law enforcement and the broader legal system.

    Parallel movements led by formerly incarcerated individuals have advocated for “ban the box” policies limiting employment discrimination against people with criminal records, restoration of voting rights, and improved reentry services. These movements emphasize the expertise of directly impacted communities in designing solutions to the problems of mass incarceration. Their advocacy has contributed to significant policy changes at local, state, and federal levels, including sentencing reforms, decarceration initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased scrutiny of prosecutorial practices (Prison Policy Initiative. n.d.).


    10.13: Resistance, Reform, and Paths Forward- Social Movements and Advocacy is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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