Not Giving Up on People: A Feminist Case for Prison Abolition

Feminist philosophers Barrett Emerick and Audrey Yap argue that prisons should be abolished and replaced with communities of moral solidarity that allow wrongdoers to make up for their wrongs. They argue that contemporary carceral systems fail to treat people as genuine moral agents and are harmful to victims and their larger communities. They propose an orientation towards justice that is grounded in moral repair and incorporates elements of restorative justice, mutual aid, and harm reduction.

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 04 December 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Feminist philosophers Barrett Emerick and Audrey Yap engage in a thought-provoking dialogue with activists and the experiences of incarcerated individuals to advocate for the abolition of prisons. They contend that contemporary carceral systems in the United States and Canada fail to recognize individuals as genuine moral agents, resulting in harm to both victims and their communities. Emerick and Yap refer to this phenomenon as "institutionalized moral abandonment." They propose an alternative approach that emphasizes the creation of communities of moral solidarity, which provide opportunities for wrongdoers to make amends for their actions. The book directly challenges the use of rape as a justification for carceral systems, highlighting the harmful effects of treating perpetrators as irredeemable monsters. Instead, Emerick and Yap advocate for a justice orientation grounded in moral repair, incorporating elements of restorative justice, mutual aid, and harm reduction. They emphasize the importance of multigenerational collective action to build resilient communities that prioritize the well-being of all individuals.

Weight: 485g
Dimension: 237 x 158 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538176474