Introduction:

When a person makes any mistake, America’s focus is on punishing that person, rather than solving the problem that was caused. The American justice system is not broken; it is functioning exactly as intended, since its inception to catch runaway slaves. The U.S. police force has been intentionally and consistently oppressive within a system that has proven to be lethally corrupt. Cops have acted as judge, jury, and executioner when they should be de-escalating fraught situations and promoting the overall safety and well-being of the community they serve.

Excessive Force & Corruption:

The United States has the highest number of police shootings of any developed country with an average of approximately 1,000 people killed annually by police officers which disproportionately impacts BIPOC communities nationwide. Law enforcement and correctional officers are unable to protect and serve their respective communities. Attempts to phase out archaic ideologies within police academies and justice education have proven ineffective as the outdated mentality and protocols of these methods are deeply entrenched and interwoven within the judicial system across our nation stunting any potential for progress and reform.

With more protections for the corrupt system than the whistleblowing officer, confidence in our justice system continues to diminish, causing hesitation to call authorities for help. Nearly half of law enforcement officers believe that ‘always following the rules is not compatible with the need to get their job done’. Disturbing yet unsurprising, 84% of surveyed officers have witnessed excessive force by a fellow officer and over half admitted to not always reporting observed misconduct.

There are few plans to reconcile and reform the obvious issues ingrained within our justice system and virtually zero accountability for the misconduct of those working within the crumbling structure. There is loyal preservation of the law enforcement fraternity and they cannot be trusted to govern themselves.

Far too often, officers that report the misconduct face consequences instead of the perpetrators positioned within the organization. Internal investigations rarely result in charges being raised against offending officers. The officers that report complaints have been fired, have had to relocate to avoid harassment, and have been put into dangerous situations resulting in their death.

In recent years, the highlighting of police brutality merely scrapes the surface of the inadequacies that make up America’s injustice system. Problems throughout the criminal justice system can be reduced to three contributing factors; (1) inconsistency, (2) the lack of accountability and transparency, and (3) systemic racism.

Ineffectiveness:

According to the most recent Federal Justice Statistic report there were over 63,000 new incarcerations, of which only 3% were for violent offenses. This is an adequate indication of the misguided priorities of punishment, mass incarceration, and constitutional slave labor within our justice system. The simultaneous increase in funding and decrease in clearance rates suggests alternative solutions which reduce crime and increase public safety are more viable than previously believed.

Of course, there are exceptions and “heroes”, but when you look at the indisputable statistics alongside the relationship between law enforcement and the communities they’re supposed to serve, more harm than good is being done. When the justice system fails one of us, it fails all of us. We will no longer accept excuses and inaction, now is the time for a significant overhaul of how we view and implement justice.

Justice Should Never Be Revenge:

The United States’ justice system prioritizes punishment and revenge over restitution and rehabilitation. Of course, there needs to be consequences for immoral actions and behaviors within a society, but these consequences should ultimately encourage personal development, create a sense of community, and decrease the recidivism rates. Offenders are human and most crimes are an act of desperation or lack of resources.

The current justice system habitually violates our constitutional rights as Americans. Inconsistent sentencing for the same offense is varied by demographic, jurisdiction, and income or societal status. Legal appeals of a verdict are simultaneously considered an attack on those directly involved as well as on the entire justice system, and it is much more difficult to overturn a verdict once it’s issued.

The consequences of crime should be proportionate to and reflective of the criminal activity and behavior. Increasing public resources and ensuring access to opportunities will decrease the occurrence of criminal activity. There is more than one way to allocate justice. Solving crime at the source requires the elimination of social obstacles that lead to disenfranchisement.

Justice reform is criticized as being an unnecessary investment for individuals deemed unworthy of better treatment. Many citizens are misinformed or unaware of the immense financial burden the current justice system has on taxpayers nationwide. By defunding the police and allocating those funds into vital public resources, we will directly benefit the citizens who reside in each community.
Simultaneously, investing in resources for the imprisoned population will decrease the reliance of criminal activity and behaviors and increase the overall wellbeing of society. The current justice system trivializes the needs of offenders; defining them by their crime and negating their personhood. The United States has some of the highest recidivism rates in the world and the current system has proved incapable of resolving the problems proactively.

A variety of factors contribute to recidivism rates including individual circumstances prior to incarceration, events during incarceration, and available resources upon release. Nearly half return to prison within five years of release. Recidivism rates vary amongst types of crime and it is not a mystery as to what causes reoffending nor how we can prevent offending altogether.

Not all released inmates reoffend. Many intend to abide by the law and manage to do so despite the disadvantages. The existence of successful reintegration does not indicate an effective rehabilitation system and should not be used to thwart justice reform. A study revealed that serving prison time correlates to greater illegal earnings making prisons a sort of finishing school for certain crimes, enabling former inmates to make $11,000 more on average than before. An important part of rehabilitation is reintegration.

We cannot limit their humanity and expect them to change their ways. Restricting their opportunities and providing conditional stability following release only encourages a reliance on crime to survive. Meanwhile, they’re eligible for promotion as a criminal. The correctional facilities do more than punish and train inmates to be better criminals; it abuses them and exploits their labor.

“While many agree now that the enslavement and bondage of human beings is immoral, unethical and against American democratic values, many are unaware of the forms slavery takes in today’s society and the institutions and practices that are its direct descendants.” Clapp, A., Towlers, K. & Ritter, R. (September 17, 2020)

The 13th Amendment did more than abolish slavery, it created the loopholes that make modern day slavery constitutionally achievable. This exception allowed states & localities to pass Black Codes [and eventually Jim Crow Laws] to target black communities. Yet it inadvertently burdens all Americans. Forced labor was made profitable through convict leasing to private businesses. With no obligation to protect their workforce as a business asset people were at a greater risk of death than those enslaved.

Whilst convict leasing has become unfavorable over time, ‘the enslavement of incarcerated people and the racial subjugation that accompanied it never did.’ The ruling of Ruffin v. Commonwealth defined those incarcerated as “slaves of the state” ultimately legitimizing the notion that incarceration is a socially accepted form of slavery. As a nation, we collectively recognize this systemic immorality.

American voters in five states will determine their state’s subsequent enforcement of constitutional slavery in November 2022. Yet, roughly 20 state constitutions have exception clauses allowing slavery or involuntary servitude. Despite proposals by congress members, constitutional amendments are rare and require approval by two-thirds of the House and Senate, and three-quarters of state legislatures. Abolition activists have expressed the harmful ramifications of language within the nation’s constitution that contradicts and inhibits potential reform.

No longer should we begrudgingly accept performative gestures in place of legitimate cumulative policies and effective reform. No longer should we wait for legislators to pass necessary policies to undo the injustices of those before them. No longer shall we ask nicely, nor have our demands dismissed. We have already undertaken the work that has been long overdue and we will continue the work to change the inexcusable systems and policies that abuse the masses.

Our modernized Community Safety Task Forces are devoted to the safety and collective wellbeing of the people. These community-based task force units work to de-escalate dangerous situations with proper training and resources whilst promoting safety, stability, and community. In all cases, non-military community service will be more beneficial than police. We are investing in obligatory public resources and enabling citizens to govern themselves. As we change the way we implement justice and support our communities, we change society’s relationship with crime entirely. Those who are struggling now, will finally feel relief and ultimately find success.

If multiple communities are involved, such as someone committing a crime in another district, task forces from both districts will work together.

Types of Task Forces:

• Medical (EMS)
• Traffic Access Safety Knights (T.A.S.K.)
• Forensic
• Forensic Psychology (when children or abuse is involved)
• Data analysis
• IRS (wage theft & white collar crime)
• Evacuation Teams
• Community Task Force
• Civilian Oversight Board (COB)
• Judiciary Assistance Navigation Team
• Dispatch

Respond With Every Call

• Social Work
• Investigatory

Mandated Training

• Basic Education
• De-escalation
• Safety
• Apprenticeship following education (Training for the above items)

Resources/Tools Available

• Language Translator (electronic device or bilingual personnel)
• Judiciary Guidance / Legal Representation before, during and after mediations

Traffic Access Safety Knights (T.A.S.K.)

• What is it?
  • Responsive team to manage traffic-related disputes, collisions, and obstacles
• Who?
  • Must live in area which the incident has occurred
  • Must have proper traffic safety certifications/training
  • Basic CPR & first aid knowledge
• Functions:
  • Respond to traffic incidents
  • Maintain a safe driving experience for all drivers & passengers
• Operations:
  • Coordinate with Social worker & investigator
  • Arrive at the scene
    • Teams of 3+ (determined by emergency response operator)
  • Assess the situation upon arrival
    • Determine if any additional services are required
      • Contact them immediately
• Incident report
  • Identify conditions of the situation
    • Relevant details
    • Record damage
    • Cause, concerns & risks
  • Determine best course of action
    • Use safety equipment
      • Ensure safety of commuting traffic
      • Efficient removal of obstructing/damaged vehicles
• EMS on “speed-dial”
• Monitor & maintain control until risks are eliminated
• Resolution
  • What caused this?
  • Was this preventable?
    • What could prevent this?
  • Victim support
  • Victim & offender connected with services

Dispatch

• What is it?
  • The community service contacted for emergency and non-emergency incidents
• Who?
  • Trained personnel, efficient in gathering vital, relevant information to determine the best suitable responders for each individual situation
• Functions:
  • Gather relevant information
  • Determine best response team
  • Dispatch appropriate response team(s)
• Operations:
  • Answer call
  • Gather relevant information
    • Name of caller
    • Location of incident
    • Description of events
    • Inquire the caller’s safety & safety of all stakeholders
• Determine best response team
• Dispatch response team (including Social Worker and Investigator to all scenes)
• Keep caller on the line until responders arrive
  • Ensure the security of stakeholders before ending the call

Community Task Force

• What is it?
  • Paid citizens from the community
• Who is on the task force:
  • Must live in mailing ZIP code and mailing district code. (Eg. 12345-0034)
  • Must have successfully  completed neighborhood watch training.
    • CPR, first aid, de-escalation training
    • Self-defense & disarm training
  • Needs to be able to be a first responder
• Functions:
  • Anything you might call 911 for
  • De-escalating conflict
  • Non-emergency complaints
• Operations
  • Contact social worker every time an event happens, before going to scene
  • Do not approach scene without social worker
  • Triage with social worker- consult and engage
  • Identify and prioritize – Investigation of situation (find the why)
    • Social worker helps create preventative measures
  • Monitor (follow up)
    • With people on House arrest
    • Check-ins with task force
  • Resolution
    • Victim support
    • Victim and offender connected with services
    • Community mediation
    • Offender reintegration services
    • Enforcing of offense repercussions

Civilian Oversight Board

• What is it?
  • A collaboration of community members who reviews, investigates & holds their CTFs accountable for a strict adherence to community standards of ethical conduct.
• Who is on the task force:
  • Volunteer based
  • Determined by community population & jurisdiction of the task force
    • Community must approve each individual appointment
      • Minimum: 5 members
      • Maximum: 15 members
    • No minimum residency requirement
    • Minimum age requirement 16 years old
  • Must live in the same mailing ZIP code & mailing district code. (Eg. 12345-0034) as the task force under review
  • Shan’t be affiliated with any members of the Task Forces to avoid bias &/or nepotism
    • Relationships/connections will be identified & acknowledged as public record
    • Self disclosure form submission for relatives or close personal relationship(s). This will be reviewed for accuracy by the community for approval. This will need to be updated when any information changes that would require disclosure. Not doing this could result in termination/release from position.
    • Questionable relations (potential for bias) require that member to recuse vote or input during specified review
• Functions:
  • Compile data/statistics about Community Task Force work:
    • Both success & failures
    • Evaluate areas needing improvement
  • Review handling of incidents to determine efficacy of Task Forces
    • Gather & document data
    • Compile information for review & future use
  • Survey all participants & stakeholders preceding an incident
    • Gain an understanding of the overall community perception of task force’s work/duty within the community
    • Monitor mental & physical health of victims
    • Monitor mental & physical health of offenders
    • Monitor mental & physical health of task force members
• Operations:
  • Meet weekly/bi-weekly
    • Discuss imperative matters & community concerns
    • Meetings open to public
  • Implement remote/open to the public meetings
    • Recorded sessions to ensure transparency & accountability
    • Enables unaffiliated community members the ability to ensure the morality & honorable functions of the board
  • Neighborhood platform app
  • Community members can raise concerns about functionality & operations of the board
  • Determine & report on areas of concern for the community
    • Collaborate with all members within the community on how to best handle these concerns and how to eliminate them going forward
  • Works with community & task forces to promote wellbeing and safety

Judiciary Assistance Navigation Team

• What is it?
  • A team that educates, prepares, and aids in the navigation of and available resources in the justice system to enable clients, victims, and communities to get the most out of their experience & reach a successful resolution.
• Who is on the task force:
  • Social workers, legal experts, & law students
  • Must live in the town, city, or county
• Functions
  • Educates clients on their options & resources
  • Prepares them for the processes going forward
  • Connects them with resources & support systems
• Operations
  • Intake
  • Consultation
  • Assisted
  • Follow up