Week 1: Getting Acquainted & Emerging Carceral Opportunities

Welcome back to my Senior Project blog! I am pleased to inform you all that this first week has been immensely conducive to my ongoing exploration of the American Criminal Justice System. 

Among other ventures, I had the privilege of interviewing a volunteer—who asked to remain anonymous—at Princeton’s Petey Greene Program: an initiative that strives to address the rising levels of illiteracy and ineducation pervading the imprisoned through individualized tutoring and academic support. Our discussions were largely based upon their own, firsthand experiences working closely with incarcerated individuals in the New Jersey prison system. They recalled how proud they felt when one of their students “had a breakthrough with one of the subjects they struggled with.” But they also spoke of the institutionalized squalor and neglect that many of their incarcerated students are faced with. This “neglect,” they allege, is emergent from the limits imposed by ratified carceral statutes: from deliberately cold temperatures to unsanitary water supplies, my interviewee contends that these improper penal practices have risen in ubiquity as governments prioritized cost-cutting and punitive policies over restorative treatment. ​Their perspective provided me with a deeper understanding of the challenges present within the field of penology, and will be integral to the broader scope of my research moving forward.

Toward the culmination of our interview, and one of the more exciting developments this week, was their offer to connect me with two preeminent figures in the carceral field: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson and Former Head of the Petey Greene Program Ian Gabriel. My interviewee kindly offered to facilitate these introductions once they’ve expressed their consent, which, if granted, could afford me invaluable insights and information for my ongoing query. Moreover, my interviewee also posed a potential opportunity for my direct, hands-on involvement with the Petey Greene Program at Princeton; so, for the time being, I will be waiting for them to send over the necessary governmental documents and waivers for me to fill out in order to participate. Their contributions to my project mark a transitionary period in my research endeavor, as it will allow me to observe and possibly assist in educational efforts aimed at incarcerated individuals. 

Rest assured, I will keep you all thoroughly updated and informed on any developments as they arise. Thank you so much for tuning in!