The program DARE — in which police officers stepped into the role of teacher to warn 5th and 6th graders away from drugs — is an object of humor today. But historian Max Felker-Kantor argues that we should take DARE seriously. He posits that the program, which at its height brought police into 75% of … Continued
Over a decade ago — in response to grassroots organizing against mass incarceration and police violence — a bipartisan coalition took shape. It brought together billionaires, large liberal non-profits, universities, rightwing think tanks, and politicians from both parties. Its stated aim was to reform the bloated criminal justice system on humanitarian grounds. Kay Whitlock argues … Continued
Today hear a recent talk by Professor Sarah Haley about her new groundbreaking book “No Mercy Here: Gender, Punishment and the Making of Jim Crow Modernity.” Drawing upon black feminist criticism and a diverse array of archival materials, Sarah Haley uncovers how black women were imprisoned and brutalized in the late 19th century and early … Continued
