I spend most of my creative time exploring edges, complexities, and intersections. These are places where we find the most compelling stories.

To help you think find your own compelling stories for your brand, organization, or movement, dive into these prompts.

*A person with dreadlocks brainstorming | Created by Jay W. Austin & DALL•E*

I wrote these for other decarcerators who are looking to develop their next round of content, conversations, or campaigns about mass incarceration and reforming the criminal justice system.

These prompts are inspired the concept of intersectionality, coined by Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw. You can learn more about this analytical framework here.

Explore these intersections with a curious mind. At least one of these questions will jump out to you (and your team). Then go where they take you.

The intersection of mass incarceration and the climate crisis.

In what ways does mass incarceration affect a community’s response to the climate crisis?
Is the mentality that drives mass incarceration the same as the mentality that has screwed up our climate?
Does the quest to build that new jail or prison seem silly when we consider how little time we have to reverse climate change?
Why is the war on drugs and misdemeanors more important to us than a war against climate change?
In what ways do we treat incarcerated people like trash, and in what ways do we treat them like recycling? Why can’t we look to them in a more regenerative way?
How does the perpetuation of mass incarceration prevent organizations, activists, and governments from acting swiftly to combat climate catastrophe?

The intersection of mass incarceration and poverty.

Why are there so many poor people behind bars?
Why do so many poor people become corrections officers and police?
How does the system prey on poor people?
In what ways does mass incarceration create poverty?

The intersection of mass incarceration and health.

What are the short-term and long-term effects of solitary confinement?
Why do you think our response to drug use and mental illness has been criminalization and incarceration?
Have we fooled ourselves into thinking that drugs are flat out harmful?
Really, how many people actually have substance abuse disorders that need to be cured?
In what ways has mass incarceration contributed to collective community trauma?
Should jails and prisons receive top level healthcare?
Would a neighborhood’s crime rate decrease if its health improved?

The intersection of mass incarceration and capitalism.

What are the differences between incarceration in capitalistic societies and non-capitalistic ones?
How do private corporations benefit from mass incarceration, and how is it allowed that they do so?
What do we have to do to convince viewers that incarcerated people aren’t commodities?
If incarcerated people were seen as investments, what would the returns look like?

The intersection of mass incarceration and emotion.

What are the primary emotions that have driven mass incarceration? If those emotions were colors, what would they be and how would they interact with one another?
What are the most prominent emotions of an incarcerated person?
What would happen to this system if we learned to say and receive these words: “I’m sorry”?
When the system breaks someone—makes them no longer want to go on—did the system work?

The intersection of mass incarceration and religiosity.

In what ways did Christian beliefs set the stage for mass incarceration?
Why do so many people find God while they’re incarcerated?
What are some examples of when law and order became someone’s religion?
Can you identify some of the dogmas of mass incarceration? What about the doctrines of safety? What do they say?

Aight that’s all for now. If you or your organization could use some support in finding your voice, then don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Aye, I’m Jay. You’re on my personal site where I post things I make about interrupting mass incarceration, protecting migration, environmental justice & sustainability, language, communications, storytelling, creativity, and tech.

Learn about my ventures here, check out my non-profit initiative here, or explore my consultant services here.