Mass Incarceration and Abolition

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Once incarcerated, inmates are subjected to inhumane wages for difficult work, traumatic solitary confinement, guard abuse, and punted trials. The criminal justice system--from police brutality and abundant arrests to insurmountable bail, sentencing, inhumane treatment once incarcerated, and a neglected reintegration process--needs reform from top to bottom. Many people in jail are yet to be convicted but can’t afford bail.

In collaboration with Columbia University’s Center for Justice, ARTE has led workshops at Rikers and believes in increasing resources for those incarcerated and impacted by the broken system at all levels, most importantly in preventative systemic reform.

By the numbers: 75% of people released from Rikers aren’t sentenced to prison; 80% of those in Rikers are yet to be convicted but can’t afford bail.

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ARTE takes great inspiration from the artists and activists that fight for those affected by the criminal justice system. Here are a just a few of our favourites.