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Deconstructing Disability: Unlocking Freedom through Decarceration and Prison Abolition

Ernest Hemingway

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In the tapestry of human rights, threads of disability and incarceration intertwine, creating a complex and often overlooked intersection. Decarcerating Disability: Deinstitutionalization and Prison Abolition, a groundbreaking work by renowned scholar and activist Liat Ben-Moshe, unravels this intricate relationship, challenging long-held assumptions and illuminating pathways to a more just and equitable society.

Decarcerating Disability: Deinstitutionalization and Prison Abolition

by Liat Ben-Moshe

4.5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1337 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
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Print length	:	365 pages

Deconstructing Societal Norms

Ben-Moshe begins by deconstructing the societal perceptions that often equate disability with deviance and danger. She argues that the medical model of disability, which views disability as a deficit to be "fixed" or "cured," reinforces the idea that individuals with disabilities are inherently inferior or incapable. This model perpetuates the cycle of exclusion, institutionalization, and criminalization.

The author challenges the prevailing narrative that people with disabilities are more likely to engage in criminal activity, emphasizing that disability does not inherently lead to violence or harm. Rather, she contends that it is the systemic barriers faced by people with disabilities, such as poverty, lack of access to adequate housing and healthcare, and discrimination, that contribute to their disproportionate representation in the criminal justice system.

The Prison-Industrial Complex and Disability

Ben-Moshe delves into the role of the prison-industrial complex in perpetuating the incarceration of people with disabilities. She exposes the ways in which the profit-driven nature of the prison system creates incentives for expanded incarceration, including the targeting of marginalized populations such as individuals with disabilities.

The author argues that prisons and jails are inherently inaccessible and harmful environments for people with disabilities. They lack the necessary medical care, accommodations, and support services, leading to a cycle of neglect, abuse, and further traumatization. Ben-Moshe also highlights the disproportionate use of solitary confinement against individuals with disabilities, a practice that has been widely recognized as cruel and inhumane.

Deinstitutionalization and Prison Abolition

At the heart of Decarcerating Disability lies Ben-Moshe's vision for a more just and inclusive society. She advocates for deinstitutionalization, a shift away from institutionalization and towards community-based supports for people with disabilities. This model emphasizes self-determination, dignity, and the right to live in the least restrictive environment possible.

Ben-Moshe proposes prison abolition as the ultimate step towards decarceration. She argues that prisons do not effectively address the underlying causes of crime and that they disproportionately harm people with disabilities. She envisions a society where resources are invested in community-based alternatives to incarceration, such as housing, healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.

Intersectional Advocacy

Decarcerating Disability is not merely an academic treatise but a call to action. Ben-Moshe urges readers to embrace an intersectional approach to advocacy, recognizing the interconnectedness of disability, race, class, gender, and other forms of oppression.

She emphasizes the importance of listening to the voices of marginalized communities and collaborating with activists and organizations working at the intersection of disability and criminal justice reform. Through collective action, Ben-Moshe believes, we can transform the systemic barriers that perpetuate the incarceration of people with disabilities and create a more just and equitable world for all.

Decarcerating Disability: Deinstitutionalization and Prison Abolition is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the complex relationship between disability and incarceration. Liat Ben-Moshe's groundbreaking work challenges prevailing assumptions, exposes the injustices faced by people with disabilities, and offers a transformative vision for a more just and inclusive society.

This book is not only a call for change but a roadmap for action. It empowers readers with the knowledge and tools to advocate for deinstitutionalization, prison abolition, and the full inclusion of people with disabilities in our society. By dismantling the barriers that separate us, we can create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential.

Decarcerating Disability: Deinstitutionalization and Prison Abolition

by Liat Ben-Moshe

4.5 out of 5