'Second look' legislation can free longtime prisoners | Rattling the Bars

The system of mass incarceration in the US offers few second chances to prisoners, and Maryland is no exception. As The Real News has previously reported, the state's parole system puts incarcerated people at the mercy of an inefficient, capricious process that is unlikely to deliver a speedy release for many. Now, a new bill in the Maryland legislature could create new pathways to freedom for prisoners who've served 20 years or more behind bars. Alonzo Turner Bey and Desmond Haneef Perry of the MD Second Look Coalition join Rattling the Bars to discuss the Second Look Act (SB123).
Studio / Post-Production: Cameron Granadino
Additional links:
Website: mdsecondlook.com
Facebook: mdsecondlook
An Action Alert to contact legislators about the bill: action.aclu.org/send-message/...
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[@jeanettecameron7530]

Technical schools should be part of rehabilitation. Recidivism is a huge problem. These people need a skill set to help become self sufficient. Also if you have done your time, after parole there should be no "Convict" label on any job application.

[@oldreprobate2748]

Second Look should on this subject of the US prison system and long-term incarnation should invite the prison system of Norway to discuss their prison system. Norway is humane and social reentry from arrest to release. I'd like you to bring that to the attention of your viewership.

[@davidmarston207]

The System isn’t going to change itself, we need to work together and Speak up about problems within the system, pressure from the people and preposing new legislation is the right direction towards changing this old corrupt System. Keep up the Good work guys.

[@lorriebrand8085]

To many in our judicial system are dirty. I love this idea, but we must fix the system first.

[@Loku242]

There's no fixing the system in the state its in now, because its been warped by corporate greed which only compounded the merciless absolution of lifelong punishment that comprises the framework of the justice system (aka the fact the system locks people up regardless of guilt or innocence by promising a life sentence for not falsely pleading guilty to take a plea deal, this is compounded by the 'Guilty till proven rich' even further, by holding people awaiting trial behind bars indefinately for being too poor to afford bail. Throw in the fact that multiple corporate chains do business in the prison industry means the system has economic reasons to keep people locked up for the rest of their lives. Too many billionaire profiteeers are making so much goddamn money in profits, they will be goddamned if anyone even attempts to change their greatest sources of profits. The justice system has nothing to do with crime anymore, its basically a black hole that pulls in everyone and everything into it, distinguishing not between guilt and innocence, but rather between rich and poor. The system is too far gone to be reformed, it needs to be scrapped entirely so only the Constitution remains, then rebuild the whole thing from the ground up. Because our current system in its infinite merciless cruelty exists only to net a profit off of human suffering on a mass scale. Its a business of damnation and despair, it cant be salvaged.

[@lynner1770]

Great discussion, thanks Mansa

[@Turdfergusen382]

Excellent discussion. Keep up the good work y’all.

[@lynner1770]

I like the universality of this proposed legislation. And it encourages inmates to work toward their release

[@megacide84]

I actually support this. Prisons should not become defacto nursing homes for elderly convicts. Especially since at that point. They're way past the point of being a physical threat to the general public. I say release them all and let them fend for themselves. Afterwards, those resources that would have been wasted on those prisoners could be allocated to more important things. Such as... The greening of the prison industrial complex. With the current climate crisis, all new and existing prisons must be built or retrofitted with environmental sustainable materials. All power, water, and everything in between must come from renewable sources only. Absolutely no exceptions. Any and all material going to prisoners must be fully recyclable. There will be absolutely no wastage. All meals would be strictly healthy vegan dishes. No more heavily salted slop nor sugary snacks. Also, all reading and video material will be geared towards indoctrination for a healthy sustainable world. Remember people... There is no planet B.

[@user-nb4ex5zk3w]

I imagine most people get into crime due to poor family values. Surely ongoing therapy would do a lot to enable criminals to rehabilitate themselves after release...I am assuming the system wants to rehabilitate.

[@bronxmosthated1]

All drugs and prostitutions should be legal people should watch the ted talk About a world without money by Colin R. Turner

[@eamar0509]

✊✊🏽✊🏿🌍💚🇵🇸

[@theideaplace]

Problem is "they" get to determine who gets set free back into society and "they" can't be trusted

[@gjbell3127]

The law is the law! Operate within it & you won't have a problem! Operating outside of it, there are consequences. Make the right choice, simple!