The Impact of Incarceration on Loved Ones with Alesha Monteiro

Stepping Into Truth: Conversations on Social Justice and How We Get Free

Alesha Monteiro

When someone is incarcerated there are impacts that land far beyond those to the incarcerated person. People without partners, children without parents, communities without those who may fill critical roles, and the elderly without a caregiver to name just a few.

The truth is that it's rare that we even think about the people left behind. My guest, Alesha Monteiro, knows exactly what it's like to have an incarcerated spouse. She knows the isolation, the shame, and the ripples of impact that are too often ignored.

With all of this Alesha is very fortunate. She found a community of women experiencing what she is, Essie Justice, and in that community found a place of welcome, support, and understanding.

In this conversation Alesha and I talk about what life is like for those with someone on the inside and what she believes we need to do to address our broken criminal justice system.

The impacts of mass incarceration affect all of us whether we know an incarcerated person or not. At the very least, our tax dollars are going to support this inequitable, flawed system when they could be better spent in many other places.

Have a listen and deepen your understanding of what mass incarceration and the way our justice system works (or doesn't) means for all of us.

About Alesha:

Alesha Monteiro is a social justice advocate, and a dedicated member of the Essie Justice Group, a black feminist organization that supports and uplifts the experiences and solutions of women with incarcerated loved ones. Alesha is a prison abolitionist who believes that there is a very different, much more humane way to respond to the consequences of actions that hurt people.

Alesha's Action Steps:
1) Learn the message and push the message. Educate yourself on what is happening in these systems and then work to change that.
2) Donate your time, money, or both to local and statewide groups working in this arena.
3) If you know someone with an incarcerated person in their life, check in on them.

For a written transcript of this conversation click here.

Resources:

Essie Justice

Connect with Alesha:

https://www.facebook.com/aleshamonteiro
https://twitter.com/AleshaMonteiro
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alesha-monteiro-avid-advocate/
https://alesha-advocates.org/