Socialist Party on Crime

	Socialist Party on Crime Socialist Party Platform

End racism, police brutality, mass incarceration

Mass incarceration and racist policing are symptomatic of the 400 years of brutal repression meted out to African-descended peoples in the U.S. and the genocide committed against the Native nations. Reparations must be paid to the African American and Native communities! More than 2.2 million people are behind bars in the largest prison complex in the world. End mass incarceration of oppressed and all working class people. Fully prosecute all acts of police brutality and violence. Source: PSL's 2020 Ten Point Program (2020 Socialist Convention) , Aug 15, 2020

Allow prisoners to unionize to negotiate living conditions

We call for support services for prisoners and prisoners' families to reduce ostracism, maintain family ties, and provide for non-degrading visitation policies. We call for the abolition of prison labor for profit, forced labor ("chain gangs") and the use of prison labor to perform state services. We call for the right of prisoners to organize unions and cooperative groups to negotiate for better living conditions Source: Socialist Party Platform at 2020-2021 PSL Convention , Aug 3, 2020

Oppose death penalty; abolish FBI and DHS

The Socialist Party is committed to the rights of free speech, free press, free assembly, and personal privacy, and the freedom of religious choice through the separation of church and state.

We condemn the so-called War on Terrorism and call for the immediate repeal of the USA PATRIOT Acts and the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act.
We call for the elimination of the Department of Homeland Security and the sweeping police powers accorded to it.
We demand the exclusion of the military from domestic law enforcement.
We call for the abolition of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
We oppose so-called anti-terrorist measures and criminal code reforms that restrict legitimate dissent.
We oppose all forms of censorship both legislative and institutional.

Source: Socialist Party USA: 2013-2015 National Platform , Nov 4, 2014

Abolish for-profit prisons; free legal services for all

The Socialist Party recognizes the right of all people to equal treatment under the law, and to a humane criminal sanction system based on prevention, mediation, restitution, &rehabilitation rather than on vengeance and profits for the prison-industrial complex.

We call for free, quality, legal and court services with skilled and experienced attorneys of choice for all.
We call for prosecution of the criminal activities of politicians, corporate managers, and other privileged individuals, rather than the over-emphasis on minor infractions by working class people and for a sliding scale of fines based on income
We call for the expansion of community release programs and other alternatives to prisons, and for a moratorium on new prison construction.
We call for the immediate closure of all "Supermax" prisons and abolition of "prisons for profit".
We call for the abolition of prison labor for profit, forced labor ("chain gangs") and the use of prison labor.

Source: Socialist Party USA: 2013-2015 National Platform , Nov 4, 2014

Abolish the death penalty

We call for the abolition of the death penalty and a moratorium on new prison construction. We support alternatives to prisons and immediate closure of all "Supermax" prisons and "prisons for profits." Source: Interview of Socialist nominee Brian Moore with OnTheIssues , Apr 3, 2008

Base justice system on mediation and rehabilitation

We expect equal treatment under the law and a criminal system based on prevention, mediation, restitution, and rehabilitation rather than on vengeance, forced labor and private sector profits. We also call for the prosecution of the criminal activities of politicians, corporate managers and privileged individuals. We support the right of prisoners to organize unions. Source: Interview of Socialist nominee Brian Moore with OnTheIssues , Apr 3, 2008

Eliminate the racist prison-industrial complex

Socialists understand that the components of the US criminal "justice" system--the prisons, the jails and the courts--are integral parts of the capitalist state apparatus. The state serves as a means of ruling-class repression against the working class. Under capitalism, prisons are concentration camps for the poor and the unemployed. The LaRiva/Puryear PSL Presidential Campaign demands the elimination of the racist criminal "justice" system and the prison-industrial complex. Source: Party for Socialism and Liberation website, pslweb.org , Jan 16, 2008

Abolish the death penalty

We call for the abolition of the death penalty. Source: Socialist Party Platform (via 2000 nominee David McReynolds) , Jan 1, 2000

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Page last updated: May 05, 2021