A year ago, we had the honor to work with @freewritechi , a multi-disciplinary arts organization that engages with incarcerated and court-involved youth. Together, we developed a comprehensive booklet to be included in @ilhumanities "Envisioning Justice" exhibition. "The Justice Archives: A Projective History of Free Write and The Carceral State" Chronicles Chicago's criminal justice system, as well as the evolution, and impact of Free Write’s work within these systems. Please visit Freewriteartsliteracy.org for more information and full access to The Justice Archives. _______________________________________________________ The Justice Archives is a living document that traces and connects histories of policing and incarcerating youth in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, and nationally. It also documents the work toward community-centered alternatives to police, criminalization, and mass incarceration. This history should provide context for today's struggle, and serve as a jumping-off point as we lay the groundwork and build a case for defunding and abolishing the police and prisons. Among the several threads to follow, you can trace a history of police brutality and misconduct within the Chicago Police Department, the exact functions of structural racism, and the immense work of activists, academics, and organizers working towards alternatives and abolition. Lead researched and compiled by Mathilda de Dios with the support of Free Write staff, students, alumni, and many community partners and stakeholders. Graphic design by Normal Studios. Curation and project management by Chelsea Ross (@queenofhaerts ). Print and share widely. Please email [email protected] to contribute to The Archives. Special thanks to Illinois Humanities and the Envisioning Justice Initiative. #envisioningjustice #abolishprisons