Ujamaa. Ujamaa. Greetings, my friends. This is Dontie S. Mitchell, better known as Mfalme Sikivu, reporting to you from Great Meadow Correctional Facility in Comstock, New York. In my last commentary I mentioned Governor Cuomo’s executive order directing that 16 and 17 year old prisoners be placed in juvenile units separated from older prisoners. When these guys turn 18 years old, they end up in adult facilities like this one, where they graduate deeper into criminality. I appreciate Governor Cuomo for his good intentions, but he is unfortunately misinformed about the real problems affecting young prisoners. Separating 16 and 17 year old prisoners doesn’t solve anything, but only prolongs the inevitable. Even if the various juvenile units were conducive to rehabilitation, once a young prisoner turns 18 years old, he’s placed among the big boys. Research shows the adult prison environment negatively impacts young prisoners as old as 24 years old, because their brains aren’t fully developed until after the 25th birthday. But by that time, the damage and corruption done to their personalities becomes deeply entrenched and much harder to correct. But because they’re adults now, no one cares to look at this, but instead blame the offender for being incorrigible. It’s truly a vicious cycle whose roots are found in a flawed approach to corrections.
As I’ve said before, many adult offenders had their start as juvenile offenders who the system has failed. I recently petitioned the United States Supreme Court to hear my case in which I argue juvenile offenders have a constitutional right to rehabilitation, and that placing them in prisons, and prison-like facilities that make them worse, violates that right. What’s sad is that none of the so-called “raise the age” and juvenile rights advocates stepped up to help me in this fight. I stand alone. Not only in my legal battle, which has cost me money I don’t have, but I also stand alone in these prison yards trying my best to save young prisoners through UFD [Ujamaa Fraternal Dynasty], a battle I’m losing because nobody seems to give a s**t but me. I’ve reached out to a few people and organizations for help only to be ignored or lied to. It’s because of this same kind of bulls**t, the Raise the Age bill passed in New York was so watered down.
I’m calling on people who truly care about these issues to help me launch and raise a new Raise the Age campaign in New York, that includes the voices of conscious prisoners like me, who stand on the front lines and who are experiencing the injustice. We need a bill that addresses the prevention of youth crime and the real rehabilitation of young offenders. UFD can play a pivotal role in this, if only given a chance. Follow me on Facebook at Free Dontie Mitchell, share your comments, and if you’re interested in volunteering to assist me, please write me. Thank you for listening.
These commentaries are recorded by Noel Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
