Society’s perception of prison and people who are incarcerated is usually

shaped by the way news is reported and what is depicted in movies and

television. Unless people are directly impacted, few ever look beyond that.

The ripple effect of the carceral system is primarily seen in how

incarceration impacts victims, as well as the family the incarcerated person

leaves behind, such as parents leaving behind children, parents, spouses,

and domestic partners. But it also goes beyond that, into politics, where

over four million people cannot vote because of felony convictions, and

new laws are enacted that pretend to solve problems but rarely do. The

impact is seen in people in need of mental health services, treatment for

drug and alcohol addiction, and being denied employment and housing.

And there is also the ripple effect of what happens to a person during their

time in jail and/or prison. Some people find religion or spirituality, putting

them on a different path. They can also learn new ways to express

themselves through writing, painting, and music, while others find

themselves diminished because of the physical and mental abuse they

suffer.

This season, Escaping Time is exploring The Ripple Effect, extending the

view beyond the generic idea of an incarcerated person’s experience

through visual art and writings.