Prison visits are making America safer. Here’s how. 

America has the highest incarceration rate in the world - but it’s not improving public safety. While people should be held accountable for their actions - these two men believe the role of the prison system has to change, and their vision for a safer future could change millions of lives:
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The Frederick Douglass Project is an innovative program aimed at rehabilitating incarcerated individuals through direct, face-to-face conversations with outside visitors - as well as inspiring understanding and empathy in those visitors when they meet the people inside.Spearheaded by Dr. Mark Howard and J.J. Velasquez, this initiative challenges the conventional approach to the United States' prison system, which currently houses two million people but often fails in addressing underlying issues that can lead to crime like addiction and trauma.
The project is rooted in the belief that individuals who have committed crimes should be accountable for their actions - but also that they are capable of change and should be equipped for successful reintegration into society. Equally central to the project is the humanization of incarcerated individuals by focusing on shared humanity rather than past mistakes. By facilitating these interactions, the Frederick Douglass Project seeks to dismantle the narrative of fear and demonization often associated with incarcerated people.
As the project grows, encompassing multiple prisons and engaging thousands of participants, its goal extends beyond individual transformation. It envisions a society that welcomes returning individuals with acceptance and support, fundamentally shifting how reentry and rehabilitation are approached. This shift is not only humane but also strategic, with the potential to lower recidivism rates and enhance public safety.
You can schedule a prison visit with the Frederick Douglass Project here: www.douglasspr...
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Watch more videos about the people taking on the American justice system and changing it for the better in our Transforming Criminal Justice playlist ► • Transforming Criminal ...
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