每周阅读 第一周

黄心

原文
Can you imagine what a world without prisons would look like?Happier? Safer? Scarier? Or is it just impossible to imagine?
Maybe that's because it feels as if prisons have just always been part of society?Even though they haven't.The idea that prison can reform and rehabilitate is only around 200 years old.Or perhaps it's because we're told we need prisons to deter criminals?Even though there's no consistent link between the prison population and levels of crime.Or is it because we think prisons keep us safe? For some offenders,their time in prison can be a period of reflection and growth,but others struggle and can become traumatised or more dangerous, and re-offending rates are high.But just because it's hard to imagine - and we don't have all the answers yet- that mustn't stop us trying to consider a world without prisons.And asking ourselves if there is a better approach?
A world without prisons would mean upending our current system,and putting the needs of those who are harmed first.Right now, prisons are too often used as a kind of last resort for dealing with the inequalities and problems,that our health, welfare, education and employment systems aren't solving.Which is one reason why people from some ethnic minorities,from poorer communities, those with a history of mental health problems,or people who've grown up in care, are all more likely to end up in prison.Crime won't be reduced by continuing to lock all these people up.What will help is tackling the societal problems that have led them to commit harm in the first place.So, in a world without prisons, funding priorities would need to shift.Using some of the current prisons budget might help.
But this would just be a small contribution - in fact,far bigger and systemic change is needed.Because while we focus on blaming, prosecuting and punishing the harms and crimes of the poor,all too often we ignore the wider economic, structural and psychological harms committed by the powerful.A world without prisons would be fairer. But could it also be safer?Yes, a small number of people do need to be kept out of society for the safety of us all.But although the idea of evil looms large in our culture,our prisons contain fewer dangerous people than we imagine.Nevertheless, any attempt to reduce danger and harm in society would need a new culture of safety and respect,ensuring those who may be harmed are properly protected.
And preventing violence in the first place,rather than allowing it to breed in prisons and return into communities.Properly funded interventions to safeguard vulnerable children from harm,and refuges for victims of sexual or domestic violence, would be essential.And how would victims feel in this world without prisons?Wouldn't they want... well, justice to be done?In fact, most victims don't cite revenge or punishment as their priority.What they care about most is protecting themselves and others from harm in the future.Restorative justice, or a truth and reconciliation process,is a very effective way of doing this - allowing victims to talk through grievances,accept what has happened to them, and rebuild their lives.
The impact of any harm is formally recognised by the one who caused it - but also by society.This encourages communities to take responsibility for helping both victim and offender.Because when you can't simply lock someone up,everyone has a vested interest in finding ways to live more peaceably together.In a world without prisons, justice isn't about punishment.It isn't about repeating cycles of violence and harm.It's a world where justice is about righting systemic wrongs,about supporting people to meet their employment, education, and health needs.It's a world focused on social justice rather than vengeance.So a different approach isn't impossible.But maybe many of us are still imprisoned by old ideas?Imagining a world without prisons will require all of us to think outside the box.（from:BBC）
大意
你能想象没有监狱的世界会是什么样子吗？更快乐？更安全？更吓人？还是无法想象？
也许那是因为感觉好像监狱一直都是社会的一部分？尽管他们并不是一直都是社会的一部分。监狱可以改正和改造罪犯的想法只有200年之久。或者是因为我们被告知我们需要监狱来威慑罪犯？尽管监狱人口和犯罪率之间没有一致的联系。还是因为我们认为监狱能保护我们的安全？对一些罪犯来说，他们在监狱里的时光可能是一段反思和成长的时期，但其他人挣扎着，可能会受到创伤或更加危险，再犯率很高。但是仅仅因为很难想象——而且我们还没有所有的答案——这就不能阻止我们去思考一个没有监狱的世界。问自己有没有一个比监狱更好的方法？
一个没有监狱的世界意味着颠覆我们目前的制度，把那些被伤害的人的需要放在第一位。现在，监狱经常被用作解决不平等和问题的最后手段，那些我们的健康福利，教育和就业系统没有解决的不平等和问题。这也是为什么一些少数民族的人，来自较贫穷的社区，那些有精神健康问题史的人，或者那些在看护下长大的人，更有可能最终被关进监狱。继续把这些人关起来是不会减少犯罪的。首先解决导致他们造成伤害的社会问题将会有所帮助。所以，在一个没有监狱的世界里，供资优先事项需要改变。使用一些目前的监狱预算可能会有所帮助。
但事实上这只是一个小小的贡献，需要进行大得多的系统性变革。因为当我们把注意力集中在责备别人的时候，起诉和惩罚穷人的危害和罪行，我们常常忽视强者造成的更广泛的经济的，结构的和心理的伤害。一个没有监狱的世界会更公平。但世界还能更安全吗？是的，为了我们所有人的安全，少数人确实需要被排除在社会之外。但是，尽管我们文化中邪恶的想法令人惊恐，我们的监狱里关押的危险人员比我们想象的要少。然而，任何减少社会危险和伤害的尝试都需要一种安全和尊重的新文化，确保可能受到伤害的人得到适当保护。
首先要防止暴力，而不是让暴力在监狱里孕育并返回社区。提供适当的资金干预措施为保护弱势儿童不受伤害，以及为性暴力或家庭暴力受害者提供庇护，是必要的。在这个没有监狱的世界里，受害者会有什么感受？他们难道不想要伸张正义吗？事实上，大多数受害者并没有把报复或惩罚作为他们的首要任务。他们最关心的是在未来保护自己和他人不受伤害。恢复性司法或真相与和解进程，是一种实现这一目标非常有效的方法——让受害者诉说不平，接受发生在他们身上的事，重建他们的生活。
任何伤害的影响不仅是由造成伤害的人正式承认的，但也是由社会承认的。这鼓励社区承担起帮助受害者和罪犯两方的责任。因为当你不能简单地把某人关起来的时候，在想办法更和平地生活在一起的时候每个人都有既定利益。在一个没有监狱的世界里，正义与惩罚无关。这不是重复暴力和伤害的循环。在这个世界里正义就是要纠正系统性的错误，就是支持人们满足他们的就业，教育，以及健康需求。这是一个关注社会正义的世界，而不是关注复仇的世界。因此，另一种方法并不是不可能的。但也许我们中的许多人仍然被旧观念所束缚？想象一个没有监狱的世界需要我们所有人跳出思维定式去思考。