CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM
Our leaders organize for a merciful, rehabilitative justice system that maintains the hope and human dignity of every person within it, on all sides of the law.
OUR NORTH STAR
From the beginning of any encounter with law enforcement officers, through jails, the courts, prisons, and back into life outside, every step of the system must be radically devoted to the healing and restoration of all those who are part of it.
- Our goal is an entirely non-violent justice system, particularly jails and prisons. Violence robs human beings of their dignity, is contrary to restoration and rehabilitation, and should have no place in a system of justice.
- Everyone who is touched by the justice system—victims of crime; perpetrators of crime; people accused of, detained, arrested, and incarcerated for crime, regardless of guilt or innocence; law enforcement & corrections officers, and court officials; and the family members of all of these groups—are all part of the community.
- We oppose the practice of state and federal governments handing responsibility for building and operating jails and prisons over to for-profit companies. It is wrong to profit from the pain of other human beings, that such profit incentives always lead to attacks on human dignity, and that they take our society down a path of moral debasement.
- A true justice system must include a deeper awareness of how trauma affects us all and a commitment to supporting all people in the justice system in healing from trauma.
We are organizing for a transformed justice system that reckons with and undoes its role in upholding the legacy of slavery and white supremacy and that insists on equitable care for all persons inside and outside of that system.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE CAMPAIGNS
UPDATE: On November 6, 2018, Colorado voted yes on Amendment A to remove slavery and involuntary servitude as punishment for a crime from the Colorado Constitution.
Did you know:
The Colorado Constitution allows the Institution of Slavery to continue to this day. Article II, Section 26 states: “There shall never be in this state either slavery or involuntary servitude EXCEPT as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.”
We have the power to strike the exception clause from our constitution. We can vote to take these inhumane and outdated words out of our constitution. We have the right and moral obligation to provide families and communities affected by the act of slavery the opportunity to begin a healing process. We can make a strong statement that slavery is not a Colorado value.
Our vote will change our constitution to say: “There shall never be in this state either slavery or involuntary servitude.” PERIOD.
OTHER WORK
CLIMATE JUSTICE
The earth is sacred. We must live in balance with all of creation, using only what we need, and recognizing that there is enough for all.
ECONOMIC JUSTICE
We desire a moral and communal economy based on the infinite value of human beings, not material objects.