As a person deeply affected by this issue, I know firsthand the consequences of the current penal system. I lost my dad and brother while they were incarcerated. This personal loss has driven me to seek change not only for my family but for all others who are entangled in the cycle of recidivism.

Efforts to rehabilitate offenders and gradually reintegrate them into society can substantially break this cycle. Such programs have been shown to reduce re-offending rates, as seen in Scandinavian countries where their rehabilitative penal system has a recidivism rate of only 20%, as opposed to the U.S.'s rate of over 76% after five years, according to the National Institute of Justice.

Mass incarceration not only affects individuals, but also communities, families, and the economy. It is high time we switch to a harm reduction approach that acknowledges the human rights, values, and needs of the people involved. We must also strive to reduce the stigma towards people who are formerly incarcerated to increase their prospects of becoming productive citizens upon their release.

Given all these reasons, I urge our legislators and policymakers to reconstruct our penal system to promote rehabilitation and harm reduction, reduce recidivism, and ultimately, end mass incarceration. This is more than a policy issue; it is about people's lives. Please, let us not lose more lives like those of my dad and brother. Please sign this petition and help us advocate “Rehabilitation Over Incarceration.” 

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