In court, judges tell people that their conviction carries a sentence of years, or probation. The truth is far more terrible. People convicted of crimes often become social outcasts for life, finding it difficult or impossible to rent an apartment, get a job, adopt children, access public benefits, serve on juries, or vote.

Our system never treated the failure of prison as a reason not to try more prison.

Mass incarceration and its never-ending human toll will be with us until we come to see that no crime justifies permanent civic death.

James Forman, Jr. Quotes