FROM THE INSIDE OUT
Project Scope: Changing perceptions about people in the criminal justice system
From the Inside Out is an action-research-based multidisciplinary project that advocates for the use of humanizing language and representative imagery and depictions of people in prison to decrease punitive triggers in the US criminal justice system, as well as to change the existing negative narratives of people in prison and those formerly incarcerated. The core hypothesis of this project is that the widespread pejorative labels and depictions of people touched by the criminal justice system—in both real life and the media—dehumanize incarcerated populations. This tendency contributes to the maintenance of punitive attitudes, abusive penal policies, a general desensitization to prison malpractices and, ultimately, a reluctance to the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society. Thus, targeting negative label use and misrepresentations of people in prison could have the impact of reducing dehumanization and its detrimental consequences for the lives of those who are or have been affected by the prison system.
The goal of From the Inside Out is to collaboratively deconstruct these degrading and inaccurate narratives by showcasing the perspectives of directly impacted artists and creative voices. By providing a platform for these individuals to express themselves, we hope to dispel misrepresentations and reframe the conversations surrounding people in prison and our present carceral state. If the public is better able to understand the malpractices of the prison system and view the incarcerated as people rather than criminals, these individuals will have an easier time reentering society and working towards personal development. Over the project’s duration, we will work with both new and experienced artists to deconstruct widespread misperceptions about incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals in order to create a counter-narrative where their humanity is understood and honored.
From the Inside Out is an action-research-based multidisciplinary project that advocates for the use of humanizing language and representative imagery and depictions of people in prison to decrease punitive triggers in the US criminal justice system, as well as to change the existing negative narratives of people in prison and those formerly incarcerated. The core hypothesis of this project is that the widespread pejorative labels and depictions of people touched by the criminal justice system—in both real life and the media—dehumanize incarcerated populations. This tendency contributes to the maintenance of punitive attitudes, abusive penal policies, a general desensitization to prison malpractices and, ultimately, a reluctance to the reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society. Thus, targeting negative label use and misrepresentations of people in prison could have the impact of reducing dehumanization and its detrimental consequences for the lives of those who are or have been affected by the prison system.
The goal of From the Inside Out is to collaboratively deconstruct these degrading and inaccurate narratives by showcasing the perspectives of directly impacted artists and creative voices. By providing a platform for these individuals to express themselves, we hope to dispel misrepresentations and reframe the conversations surrounding people in prison and our present carceral state. If the public is better able to understand the malpractices of the prison system and view the incarcerated as people rather than criminals, these individuals will have an easier time reentering society and working towards personal development. Over the project’s duration, we will work with both new and experienced artists to deconstruct widespread misperceptions about incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals in order to create a counter-narrative where their humanity is understood and honored.
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The role of Popular Media in dehumanizing people in the criminal justice system
People in prison, including those suffering from mental illnesses, are victims of mistreatment such as violence due to the use of excessive force and severe neglect in the form of moral exclusions and disengagement by prison guards and other staff (Haslam, 2006; Blackler, 2015; Gullapalli, 2015), as per correctional policy. This mistreatment is not conducive to a successful reentry back into society. The US rate of recidivism in 2014 was 76.6% compared to Norway’s 20%. This difference is attributed to Norway’s implementation of the concept of “restorative justice” (Sterbenz; 2014). This concept prioritizes the humanization and rehabilitation of people in prison. Acknowledging their humanity and treating people in prison as people instead of irredeemable and unworthy of acceptance (Dreisinger; 2016). Despite the above research, existing information, and efforts made by activist and organizations lobbying against these conditions, the inhumane treatment continues to occur (Blackler, 2015). This would suggest that a larger constituency remains compliant with, and/or ignorant to, these abuses.
The general public’s negative perception of who people in prison actually are encourages their willingness to legitimize or ignore prison injustices and the dehumanization of people in prison. Mainstream media characterizes these negative beliefs about people who go to jail or prison. According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day. According to the Television in American Society Reference Library, watching television influences viewers’ attitudes about people from other social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Watching TV also influences the way people think about important social issues such as race, gender, and class. Not only does television, movies and other shared media actively shape attitudes, but they also condition people to respond to things in a collective way, to develop shared feelings of ill-will and hatred, and to react impetuously without further thought or self-examination. Forms of media such as TV and film actively (p)redefine and engineer negative subconscious beliefs about people who go to jail or prison. These beliefs then feed into emotional responses. This is a technique that allows information to bypass any conscious thought.
People in prison, including those suffering from mental illnesses, are victims of mistreatment such as violence due to the use of excessive force and severe neglect in the form of moral exclusions and disengagement by prison guards and other staff (Haslam, 2006; Blackler, 2015; Gullapalli, 2015), as per correctional policy. This mistreatment is not conducive to a successful reentry back into society. The US rate of recidivism in 2014 was 76.6% compared to Norway’s 20%. This difference is attributed to Norway’s implementation of the concept of “restorative justice” (Sterbenz; 2014). This concept prioritizes the humanization and rehabilitation of people in prison. Acknowledging their humanity and treating people in prison as people instead of irredeemable and unworthy of acceptance (Dreisinger; 2016). Despite the above research, existing information, and efforts made by activist and organizations lobbying against these conditions, the inhumane treatment continues to occur (Blackler, 2015). This would suggest that a larger constituency remains compliant with, and/or ignorant to, these abuses.
The general public’s negative perception of who people in prison actually are encourages their willingness to legitimize or ignore prison injustices and the dehumanization of people in prison. Mainstream media characterizes these negative beliefs about people who go to jail or prison. According to the A.C. Nielsen Co., the average American watches more than 4 hours of TV each day. According to the Television in American Society Reference Library, watching television influences viewers’ attitudes about people from other social, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Watching TV also influences the way people think about important social issues such as race, gender, and class. Not only does television, movies and other shared media actively shape attitudes, but they also condition people to respond to things in a collective way, to develop shared feelings of ill-will and hatred, and to react impetuously without further thought or self-examination. Forms of media such as TV and film actively (p)redefine and engineer negative subconscious beliefs about people who go to jail or prison. These beliefs then feed into emotional responses. This is a technique that allows information to bypass any conscious thought.
Words from
Director and Lead Artist of The Confined Arts,
Pastor Isaac Scott
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The public’s perceptions of people in prison is influenced largely by stereotypical mainstream media portrayals of:
1. prison threats, i.e. dialogue such as “If you go to jail something violent and sexual will happen to you.” 2. prison situations, and i.e. New prisoner entering a violent facility. 3. physical characteristics of people in prison. i.e.Tattoos, baldheads, huge muscles, and big-black-mean. |
The average TV viewer is not presented with honest representations of:
1. who people in prison actually are, i.e. parents and students vs. murderers and drug dealers. 2. how they productively utilize their prison time, and i.e. Self-advocating, creating programs inside, maximizing limited resources for professional development, and physical care. 3. the good they are capable of when given fair and equal opportunities. i.e. or example: College in prison, skills building projects, and transitional support. |
These representations manipulate attitudes to fit within a particular frame, which like all frames excludes everything that doesn't fit within its parameters.
The role of Punitive Attitudes in the criminal justice system
The importance of public attitudes towards people in the criminal justice system cannot be denied. In modern democracies, the legitimacy of the criminal justice system depends on the willing participation of members of the public (Viki & Bohner, 2008). The public’s willingness to support the criminal justice system depends strongly on their attitudes towards the criminal justice process (Viki, Culmer, Eller, & Abrams, 2006; Wood & Viki, 2004). As is well known, the USA has increasingly become more punitive and exclusionary over the last thirty years. According to some scholars (Yeomans, 2010), this recent focus on punitiveness and social exclusion have resulted from the interconnections between the media, public opinion and legislative changes. One important aspect of understanding such interconnections is the tendency to dehumanize (Haslam, 2006) people who get involved in criminal justice and in the prison system.
Dehumanizing language and misrepresentative imagery are often used to address and describe people in prison and those formerly incarcerated. The spectacularization of criminal trials, together with false depictions of institutional life in and by the media has provided a misleading and individualistic image of people touched by the criminal justice system, by depicting them as “bad” individuals who willingly break the law and harm others for the sake of their own interest or pleasure. Such misrepresentative imagery has fueled subconscious negative beliefs about people who go to jail or prison within public opinion.
Altogether, the dehumanization and, derivatively, the mistreatment of people in prison largely impedes their rehabilitation and is not conducive to their successful reentry back into society. If criminality is viewed in essentialistic ways and people in prison are regarded as irredeemable criminals and unworthy of acceptance (Dreisinger, 2016), then public attitudes are likely to be negative about their actual social rehabilitation and reintegration (Kury & Ferdinand, 1999). Examples from Northern Europe endorsing restorative approaches to crime have shown significant success.
The importance of public attitudes towards people in the criminal justice system cannot be denied. In modern democracies, the legitimacy of the criminal justice system depends on the willing participation of members of the public (Viki & Bohner, 2008). The public’s willingness to support the criminal justice system depends strongly on their attitudes towards the criminal justice process (Viki, Culmer, Eller, & Abrams, 2006; Wood & Viki, 2004). As is well known, the USA has increasingly become more punitive and exclusionary over the last thirty years. According to some scholars (Yeomans, 2010), this recent focus on punitiveness and social exclusion have resulted from the interconnections between the media, public opinion and legislative changes. One important aspect of understanding such interconnections is the tendency to dehumanize (Haslam, 2006) people who get involved in criminal justice and in the prison system.
Dehumanizing language and misrepresentative imagery are often used to address and describe people in prison and those formerly incarcerated. The spectacularization of criminal trials, together with false depictions of institutional life in and by the media has provided a misleading and individualistic image of people touched by the criminal justice system, by depicting them as “bad” individuals who willingly break the law and harm others for the sake of their own interest or pleasure. Such misrepresentative imagery has fueled subconscious negative beliefs about people who go to jail or prison within public opinion.
Altogether, the dehumanization and, derivatively, the mistreatment of people in prison largely impedes their rehabilitation and is not conducive to their successful reentry back into society. If criminality is viewed in essentialistic ways and people in prison are regarded as irredeemable criminals and unworthy of acceptance (Dreisinger, 2016), then public attitudes are likely to be negative about their actual social rehabilitation and reintegration (Kury & Ferdinand, 1999). Examples from Northern Europe endorsing restorative approaches to crime have shown significant success.
This project was successfully launched by Pastor Scott with an artist lecture talk and solo exhibition,
April 11, 2018 at the Delaware County Community College in PA.
PART 1: RESEARCH
Center for Justice at Columbia University
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND MEET OUR RESEARCH TEAM
PART 2: ARTISTIC RESPONSE - PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
EXHIBITIONS: Produce several distinctive exhibitions as a centerpiece of the project. The headline exhibition will be a solo presentation, curated by lead artist, Pastor Isaac Scott, which will visually articulate the thoughts, feelings, goals, and hardships of people doing time and returning home. Subsequent group exhibitions will follow a similar theme.
FILM PROJECT: A team of directly and indirectly impacted filmmakers will create a fictional film series that will explore the experiences of five characters as well as non-fictional short video testimonies from people who have survived incarceration.
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS: This project will include the artistries of young people and community members from diverse backgrounds by connecting teaching artists with community and youth leadership groups. Collaborative workshops and art activities will be offered and designed to guide participants in addressing their own misperceptions of incarcerated people and misperceptions others may have that can lead to incarceration for women and youth.
By artistically disseminating research information The From the Inside Out Project integrates and expands the scope of The Confined Arts (TCA), an art-based initiative founded in 2014 by Pastor Isaac Scott as a recently released visual artist. TCA is a platform that illustrates and showcases the talents and creative voices of currently and formerly incarcerated artists. TCA has a two-part mission: 1) to change narratives that are commonly associated with individuals who are formerly incarcerated as well as those currently in prison, 2) to create a consistent stream of public, research-based education. TCA was born as a response to Pastor Scott’s personal experience in the NYS prison system.
“Through 9 years of lived experience, I personally understand the need for realistic representations of individuals like myself, who have been convicted of a crime in the past, to facilitate their social reintegration and well-being.” -Pastor Isaac Scott
FILM PROJECT: A team of directly and indirectly impacted filmmakers will create a fictional film series that will explore the experiences of five characters as well as non-fictional short video testimonies from people who have survived incarceration.
YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS: This project will include the artistries of young people and community members from diverse backgrounds by connecting teaching artists with community and youth leadership groups. Collaborative workshops and art activities will be offered and designed to guide participants in addressing their own misperceptions of incarcerated people and misperceptions others may have that can lead to incarceration for women and youth.
By artistically disseminating research information The From the Inside Out Project integrates and expands the scope of The Confined Arts (TCA), an art-based initiative founded in 2014 by Pastor Isaac Scott as a recently released visual artist. TCA is a platform that illustrates and showcases the talents and creative voices of currently and formerly incarcerated artists. TCA has a two-part mission: 1) to change narratives that are commonly associated with individuals who are formerly incarcerated as well as those currently in prison, 2) to create a consistent stream of public, research-based education. TCA was born as a response to Pastor Scott’s personal experience in the NYS prison system.
“Through 9 years of lived experience, I personally understand the need for realistic representations of individuals like myself, who have been convicted of a crime in the past, to facilitate their social reintegration and well-being.” -Pastor Isaac Scott
Click Here to Learn More About the Project Artists
Full Project Timeline
This timeline of events does not reflect all of the events, exhibitions, and activities that will take place throughout the duration of the project.
This timeline of events does not reflect all of the events, exhibitions, and activities that will take place throughout the duration of the project.
