Year of Graduation
2025
Document Type
Thesis
Major
Political Science
Directing Professor
Dr. Ashleigh Breske
Abstract
Concerns about the efficacy and sustainability of the U.S. carceral system have persisted throughout the country’s history, recently fueling renewed activism and bipartisan calls for reform. However, proposed solutions remain divisive. This thesis first defines the current status of our prison systems, then explores collaborative alternatives to incarceration and policing that support communities and break cycles of incarceration.
Focusing on partnerships among local governments, community organizations, justice-involved individuals, and law enforcement, this study examines holistic approaches to crime prevention, reentry, and reintegration. Using an interdisciplinary framework incorporating restorative justice, community resilience, and systems theory, it investigates how community-based strategies can counteract “carceral creep” and shift resources toward prevention and rehabilitation.
The research uses a qualitative approach, employing case studies of justice system collaborations with non-governmental actors in Camden, New Jersey and Santa Clara County, California to establish a foundation for a possible framework laying out a potential transitional pathway from a punitive, carceral-focused public safety system to one focused on resolving the core issues impacting crime rates. Initial findings indicate that initiatives prioritizing stability, mental health support, and restorative justice reduce reliance on punitive measures and promote sustainable community resilience.
Recommended Citation
Gillson, Jessica E., "Healing Communities With Police Divestment: Seeking Abolition Through Transformative Reform and Community-Government Collaboration" (2025). Undergraduate Honors Theses, Hollins University. 75.
https://digitalcommons.hollins.edu/ughonors/75
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