Unlearning “Tough on Crime”

Did you know? 💡 With its “Tough on Crime” approach, the U.S. legal and judicial system imprisons more people per capita than any other nation. At a staggering rate of 565 people per 100,000 residents incarcerated, and many more individuals experiencing probation and parole — the system is highly punitive. Yet what does the mounting data show about the effectiveness on this approach to improve public health outcomes and reduce violent crime?

Join us for an eye-opening live discussion on Wednesday, July 5th as we dissect the long-standing “Tough on Crime” narrative and explore innovative pathways toward a more equitable criminal justice system.

Register for free, and meet the panelists below! Registrants get the recording post-event, along with resources and research.

Hosted by Lindsey T.H. Jackson, this vibrant panel will delve deep into the intricate design of our current incarceration infrastructure, the prison-industrial and nonprofit-industrial complex connection, and reveal the effectiveness of a “Tough on Crime” approach vs. the research on actual outcomes.

This fireside chat panel with public safety, policy and law enforcement experts may include:

• The role of the state in outcomes accountability and responsibility
• Ways law enforcement can partner strategically with community organizations for a supportive approach to community issues
• Insight into the recent crime wave that escalated around when Covid started
• The realities of police precincts’ funding after calls to ‘defund the police’
• A reimagination of what “Tough on Crime” would look like if it was aimed to be tough on crime, not tough on people
• A first-hand account of the limited pathways re-entering life after prison
• A deep dive into the mass incarceration situation
• The panelists’ work in providing true support to justice-impacted people
• The bottom line of public safety
• And, your questions in the final 15 minutes!

⌚ 1-2:15pm PT | 3-4:15pm CT | 4-5:15pm ET
📅 Wednesday, July 5th via Zoom.
🧏🏾‍♂️ This event is ASL interpreted by ProBonoASL.

Meet Your Panel

Dana Rachlin (she/her):
With over a decade of experience, Dana Rachlin is a public safety expert and the Executive Director of “We Build The Block” (WBTB), co-founded with the late actor Michael K. Williams and Hot 97’s Shani Kulture. WBTB aids communities facing over-policing, mass incarceration, and gun violence by co-creating new infrastructure and protocols.

Dana has pioneered numerous innovative public safety initiatives, including NYC Together, Project LEAD, and WBTB’s get-out-the-vote youth organizing arm, Crew Count. In 2022, she was named a John Jay Public Safety Initiatives Fellow and has since become the Associate Director of Community and Precinct Based Initiatives. Since her tenure began as District Leader for the 50th Assembly District, she has focused her efforts to bring greater transparency, inclusion, and integrity to the judicial endorsement process. You can read more about her work as the newly appointed Chair of the Judiciary Committee for the Kings County Democrats in Politico.

Learn more in the press: 📰 Healing Circles (NY Times) 📰 Brownsville Safety Alliance 🌐 We Build the Block

Captain Derby St.Fort (he/him):
Captain Derby St.Fort is a native New Yorker with over 18 years in law enforcement. He began his career as a police officer with the New York City Police Department in 2005, and has since risen to the executive level, serving as a Commanding Officer of the 61st Precinct, Brooklyn.

Captain St.Fort is a proponent of alternative crime reduction strategies rooted in public health, and has demonstrated success by creating innovative approaches to address community concerns through collaboration with community-based organizations, service providers, city agencies, and institutions. Captain St.Fort continues to seek and develop strategies that are responsive to communities and address the core issues experienced by those who are most impacted by violence.

Learn more about Captain St.Fort: 📰 NY Times Article 🌐 Linktree

Josh Hoe (he/him):
Formerly incarcerated, Josh has been a Policy Analyst, a social media and messaging consultant, an organizer, and is the host and creator of the Decarceration Nation Podcast (now in its sixth season).

Josh has a background in public speaking, debate, and public policy research. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Relations and is a former national college debate champion (1990) and long-time college debate coach. Today, he serves as the Policy Manager at Dream.Org. Josh has been featured for his keen insights into policy reform by outlets including the ACLU, Center for American Progress “Off-Kilter” Podcast, Politico Magazine and more.

Learn more from Josh: 🎧 Decarceration Nation Podcast 🐦 Twitter

Host, Lindsey T. H. Jackson (she/her)

Lindsey T. H. Jackson: Often called “America’s DEI Teacher,” Lindsey brings 15+ years of experience and a lifetime of creative facilitation to bear on the work of supporting individuals & organizations in breaking down the barriers that hold them back from their highest potential.

Lindsey is the well-loved host of Unlearning with Lindsey T. H. Jackson. She is leading a more diverse, equitable and inclusive future of work as a DEI Consultant and Lead Executive Officer at the consulting firm LTHJ Global and new DEI tech-enabled platform, Sojourn.

You can learn more from Lindsey on LinkedIn, Instagram or right here on the LTHJ Global site.

REGISTER NOW

Register to unlearn the current version of “Tough on Crime” together, and work toward a more inclusive and equitable society to reduce crime, and increase public health.
Want more unlearning? Join our community on LinkedIn!