“When One Voice’s work is done, we will have… a criminal justice system that has been totally dismantled and looks a lot different for impacted communities…” – Nsombi Lambright–Haynes, One Voice Executive Director
Mississippi leads the nation with an imprisonment rate of 584 per 100,000 residents. Outside of prison, there are over 180,000 people with felony convictions who encounter excessive fines and fees, unemployment, and a loss of voting rights. In our state, even after serving your debt to society, you can continue to face the consequences for the rest of your life.
One Voice assembled its Criminal Justice team to work to see that change.
We continue to deepen its strategy around reforming the criminal justice system in Mississippi by developing leaders in underserved communities, working to restore voting rights to disenfranchised citizens, and creating a network of individuals impacted by the justice system. Our Criminal Justice team collaborates with returning citizens to advocate for public policy to improve the quality of life for these Mississippians and their families.
One Voice is partnering with the People’s Advocacy Institute to propose the development of an Office of Public Safety and Violence Prevention in the City of Jackson. Reported violent incidents have increased worldwide in the last few years, and Jackson has not been remiss in its part. We have all been looking for answers, and relying solely on law enforcement is not good enough.
Our communities also need mental health providers, domestic violence negotiators, and conflict resolution facilitators. We can provide these resources to our community by incorporating a common-justice-modeled healing services program and other evidence-based violence intervention models. The city can develop these programs by designating funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for community organizers to apply for funding to implement proven programs for positive impact and to reduce violence in the community.
In Mississippi, one out of every thirteen people is disenfranchised. For African Americans, the number is even worse: one out of every seven African Americans in Mississippi is disenfranchised because of a felony conviction. When we incarcerate and take the vote from disproportionately Black Mississippians, we continue deferring a fundamental promise of freedom in this country and the notion that one can pay their debts for violating the values of their community and move forward as productive members of society. One Voice’s Criminal Justice team and its partners continue to fight for those impacted by this system and their ability to help shape their future and the future of the communities in which they live.
Our mission is to ensure an equal voice for traditionally silenced communities. When One Voice’s work is done, we envision a Mississippi with a healthy vibrant thriving neighborhoods, schools, economy, and most importantly families.
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