ENDING CARCERAL TRAUMA

Tending The Peace been working on improving the conditions of confinement in prisons through the awareness of carceral trauma. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration defines trauma.

Trauma is generally defined as living in impoverished conditions, experiencing or witnessing physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or living with persons who have mental health or substance abuse conditions.

All of the causes of trauma are present in most prisons on a daily basis. These environmental traumas are not part of a prisoners sentence, but part of the deplorable conditions of confinement.

The American Correctional Association (ACA) Standards and the American Bar Association (ABA) Standards are designed to keep the conditions of confinement safe and healthy.

Their should be a podcast about carceral trauma. Who could be contacted at the N.Y. Times about this? ACLU National Prison Project or VERA Institute for Justice?

A podcast would provide the ability to develop the research and evidence from prisoners and professionals. This information would provide the basis for reducing and eliminating carceral trauma in our jails and prisons.

Tending The Peace supports the victims of crime. We find a distinction between the stress associated with an offenders sentence (the rights of victims) and the additional stress associated with the deplorable conditions of confinement (not associated with victim rights). Tending The Peace believes that following National Standards in jails and prisons could only help make crime victims and the community safer.

Thank you for your comments and feedback. Let’s walk together in the footsteps of peace today!