A People’s Guide to Abolition and Disability Justice

by Katie Tastrom

Disability justice and prison abolition are two increasingly popular theories that overlap but whose intersection has rarely been explored in depth.

A People’s Guide to Abolition and Disability Justice explains the history and theories behind abolition and disability justice in a way that is easy to understand for those new to these concepts yet also gives insights that will be useful to seasoned activists. The book uses extensive research and professional and lived experience to illuminate the way the State uses disability and its power to disable to incarcerate multiply marginalized disabled people, especially those who are queer, trans, Black, or Indigenous.

Because disabled people are much more likely than nondisabled people to be locked up in prisons, jails, and other sites of incarceration, abolitionists, and others critical of carceral systems must incorporate a disability justice perspective into our work. A People’s Guide to Abolition and Disability Justice gives personal and policy examples of how and why disabled people are disproportionately caught up in the carceral net, and how we can use this information to work toward prison and police abolition more effectively. This book includes practical tools and strategies that will be useful for anyone who cares about disability justice or abolition and explains why we can’t have one without the other.

Genres: Disability, Nonfiction, Politics

222 pages, Paperback

Published May 28, 2024

Reviews

[Gingy Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, this book is very straightforward and accessible, particularly if the reader is just getting into abolitionist work or disability justice. The language is easy to parse, and the topics are presented in a clear and direct matter. At times it felt more like summary than analysis, and I almost wish that some sections had been cut so that the rest could be better expanded upon with more concrete evidence and examples. But overall, this is a good read to get your feet under you when you're beginning to learn about abolition, ableism, and the intersectionality of different forms of oppression as they exist in the 21st-century United States.

[miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book 5 stars because of how informational it was. The author makes it very clear at the start how nuanced all of the information is. I went into the book with an open heart and mind. Having an able-body I’m very ignorant about the lives of people with disabilities. I haven’t gone to prison myself so I have no experience nor knowledge on how the prison system works. Going into it ignorantly this way, I found myself understanding what the author was saying. The Virgo in me appreciates the organization the books offers. They are split into chapters each going into different examples supporting the claims of various subjects that mean a lot to me. Most importantly, it connected two major concepts for me. Fighting for disability rights come hand to hand with fighting for a future with no prisons, or surveillance. Concepts I will now be able to articulate and explain to others. I am very thankful for this book and also thankful for the author who clearly put so much effort into this easy to read guide on how to combat and be a better ally.
There’s also a ton of bibliography at the end of every chapter and a glossary at the end of the book that has meaningful definitions of words.

[Jessica Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anyone could pick this book up to become acquainted with the problems within the U.S. related to the intersections of disability, incarceration, poverty, and race. Very helpful potential resource for those developing an initial understanding. Appreciated the direct discussion about race and acknowledgement of the author’s position and experience being influenced by her whiteness. Also appreciated the direct clarification and reminder to center the most marginalized among us.

[heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Trauma is a failure of community — and government — not a problem inside an individual... To be truly trauma-informed, we need to be working on the conditions of society and the government to minimize the trauma that happens to people."

Wonderful book that explains how many systems are themselves disabling, alongside how people with disabilities — especially people with other marginalized identities — are disproportionately harmed by these systems, all of which purport to be helpful. I appreciate the author's thoroughness, frank writing style, and humor, all of which made this a pleasurable read.

[Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This is a book with good bones, but a bit thin in its execution. Tastrom covers many topics regarding abolition and disability justice, and I wish that these could've been explored more deeply than the interconnected summaries we receive.

A solid choice for someone brand new to either of these movements, with lots of foundational texts to reference for more in-depth reading.

[Mike McCormack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Required reading if you work for the state, a non-profit and other places. A challenging but rewarding read

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I intended to only read a few of the chapters on topics I was less familiar with, but found those so informative that I ended up reading the whole book cover to cover. Despite feeling like I was already well-versed on much of the subject matter, I got so much out of this book. I also really appreciated the author’s straightforward/common vernacular voice which was much easier to read than a lot of the more academic nonfiction I read. Every sentence feels deliberately included and valuable to the book as a whole, which contributes to it being easy to read and including a lot of information in a book that’s not extremely long. Highly recommended!