Let's Talk Reform SJAIP

TW: Sexual Assault, Mental Health, Substance-Use Disorder

In this episode of Let's Talk Reform, Riya Dange and Nuha Naqvi talk with Kandia Milton and Amanda Hall, the Policy Director and Campaign Director for Dream Corps JUSTICE, about culture change in the criminal justice system. In candid conversation, they discuss Amanda and Kandia's personal experiences in the carceral system, health disparities and the EQUAL Act, and ways that individuals can get involved in the Federal Prison Closure Campaign. 

Learn more about Kandia's work here: https://www.thedreamcorps.org/bio/kandia-milton/

Learn more about Amanda's work here: https://www.thedreamcorps.org/bio/amanda-hall/

Are you a student invested in creating a more just world? In this episode of Let's Talk Reform, Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles talk about how students can effect change with Dr. Taja-Nia Henderson, a professor of law and the dean of the Rutgers Graduate School - Newark. Together, they talk about the ways in which young leaders can pursue their passion projects.
Read Dr. Henderson's article #LivingWhileBlack: Blackness as Nuisance here: bit.ly/LWBAULR
You can find her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/hyphenatedprof?lang=en

What does society owe to those behind bars? In this episode, Professor Sharon Dolovich of the UCLA School of Law breathes a fresh perspective into the established view of the American prison system – and the moral obligation of a just society to those it incarcerates. The "carceral burden" theory posits that, in imprisoning an individual, the state or federal government has deprived them of the means to live autonomously and support themselves; as a result, the government takes on the responsibility of caring for the incarcerated individual until their release. In the age of COVID, this relationship has come into question more frequently than ever. Join us as Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles guide Professor Dolovich through a riveting discussion of moral philosophy, policy-making, and data-driven advocacy in these unprecedented times.

You can learn more about Professor Dolovich’s work and the UCLA Law COVID Behind Bars Project here: https://www.uclacovidbehindbars.org/

Can you handle the truth? In this episode of Let's Talk Reform, Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles delve into the world of investigative journalism with Nicole Lewis, a staff writer for The Marshall Project. Together, they explore the roles of writers and journalists in uncovering social injustices and holding power to account. Then they hone in specifically on the American incarceration system, covering felony disenfranchisement and the devastating impact of COVID-19 in prisons. 

To learn more about Nicole's work and the pervasive effects of COVID-19 in the American prison system, please visit: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/04/23/how-we-survived-covid-19-in-prison 

You can also read Nicole's most recent article on voting rights for incarcerated persons here: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/06/23/millions-of-people-with-felonies-can-now-vote-most-don-t-know-it

How far does the Hippocratic Oath extend? When incoming medical students swear to "do no harm or injustice" to their patients, are they shouldering a responsibility to speak out against social injustices as well as provide medical care? Riya Dange and Antoinette Charles tackle these crucial questions alongside Dr. Edjah Nduom, a Black neurosurgical oncologist and associate professor at the Emory School of Medicine. Together, they trace Dr. Nduom's journey from medical student to attending physician and how he came to found Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform, an organization that unites doctors across specialties to advocate against the health disparities created by the American incarceration system. Their conversation explores the complexities of pursuing a successful career in medicine as a member of an underrepresented minority group and the critical roles that health care professionals can play in dismantling social injustices.



To learn more about Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform, please visit: https://pfcjreform.org/

Welcome to another episode of Season 2 of Let's Talk Reform! In our second episode, Riya Dange and Jenna Kanner talk with Katherin Hervey, the director, writer, and producer of the documentary The Prison Within. Hervey's experience as a Los Angeles Public Defender and volunteer prison college instructor inspired her to look into the intricacies of the injustices in the prison system. In the film, viewers get to know a group of men convicted of murder and involved in the Victim-Offender Educational Group. Our conversation explores sociopolitical factors contributing to mass incarceration and the benefit of restorative justice programs. 

To watch the trailer of The Prison Within, please visit: https://vimeo.com/190048873