(27) Post-Conflict and Transitional Justice Mechanisms: Rikers Island/ NY judicial system/ US criminal justice system

The focus of this study is to investigate how our criminal justice system has used unconstitutional and elitist practices to carry out pretrial detentions which have led to overcrowded prison systems and an abuse on... [ view full abstract ]

The focus of this study is to investigate how our criminal justice system has used unconstitutional and elitist practices to carry out pretrial detentions which have led to overcrowded prison systems and an abuse on predominately black and brown men between the ages of 18-26 nationwide. We have chosen to focus on Kalief Browder’s experience to further contextualize the way systemic racism, our past slavery economy, and the United State’s current criminal justice systems all uphold severe human rights abuses. We seek to address the way these three institutions have proven to be connected over the United States history from the beginning of the constitution's conception until the twenty first century in hopes of garnering a better understanding of how we now grapple with the possibility of restorative justice within our criminal justice systems. We hope to add to the  possibility of reparations being given to the people affected by the system.