Next SP, April 16: Nate DeWard and I discuss our prison system and our country's philosophy of punishment

Details: “Prison and Punishment,” with Nate DeWard, Executive Director of Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry, April 16, 7pm, Port 393, Holland, MI

My apologies for all of the changes to April’s gathering. Nate DeWard was always supposed to be our guest. A few weeks ago, it looked like he had a scheduling conflict. Then, for a variety of reasons, that conflict disappeared. So we are back to our regularly scheduled programming, which focuses on Nate’s work with those in our system of incarceration.

During Nate’s tenure at Reach the Forgotten, they have begun to focus on identifying and healing trauma, which is so common amongst those who end up in our justice and incarceration system.

More broadly, Nate and I will discuss our country’s focus on punishment/law and order/elimination. Domestically and internationally, the United States often uses violence or threats of violence to control people.

Not all countries treat criminals in this way. Norway has an approach that focuses on rehabilitation.