Forum takes a look at mass incarceration locally and nationally

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – An event put on by the Unity Group sheds light on mass incarceration locally and nationally.

“It’s going to take all of us rolling up our sleeves, honest, frank conversation. So that we can all find a solution to these very challenging social issues that we face,” community advocate and Unity Group Corresponding Secretary Eric Atkins said.

On Monday, several people came to the forum at the Bessie Smith Cultural Center.

The event included three panelists, Jeannie Alexander with No Exceptions Prison Collective, Timothy Dempsey of Chattanooga Endeavors, and Chattanooga-Hamilton NAACP Education Chair Jennifer Woods.

“I hope and pray that we will leave not only with the ideology of knowing that there is a great problem with mass incarceration in the black community, but with a plan of action of how we can slow it down and how we can all work together for the good of the community,” Rhema Alive Church Pastor Dwight Harrison said.

After the panel discussion there was a presentation by A.C.L.U. Tennessee Executive Director Hedy Weinberg on racial disparities in the criminal justice system.

Hamilton County inmate population numbers obtained by News 12 showed that on Monday afternoon Hamilton County had 492 inmates in jail, 489 male, 3 female, 232 black, and 238 white.

Weinberg said African Americans make up 24.3 percent of Tennessee’s total population, but 45 percent of Tennessee’s felony inmate population.

“Even though blacks and white use marijuana at roughly the same rates, in Tennessee blacks are four times as likely to be arrested than whites for marijuana possession and this disparity treatment starts early.”

“We need to look at the front end and and the back end. We need to ensure that we end the school to prison pipeline so that students when they enter school have opportunities, have community schools, wrap around services so that they can be successful,” Weinberg added.

It’s criminal justice reform, Weinberg pointed to as a way to combat mass incarceration.

“We also need to make sure that on the back end when individuals come out of prison that they are able to reintegrate and that they are offered opportunities for good jobs.”

“I think that the criminal justice reform movement is recognizing that every individual deserves a second chance,” Weinberg said.