What prosecutors and incarcerated people can learn from each other | Jarrell Daniels

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Amanda Chu

When I look in the mirror today,

今天，對著鏡子，

I see a justice and education scholar at Columbia University,

我看見一位哥倫比亞大學的 司法及教育學者、

a youth mentor, an activist

一位青年導師、一位社會運動者，

and a future New York state senator.

以及一位未來的紐約州參議員。

(Cheering)

（歡呼）

I see all of that

我能看到我的現在和未來，

and a man who spent a quarter of his life in state prison --

也明白我的過去，是一位四分之一的 人生都在州立監獄中渡過的男子——

six years, to be exact,

明確來說，有六年時間。

starting as a teenager on Rikers Island

事情的開端是 里克斯島的一名青少年

for an act that nearly cost a man his life.

差點犯了一項害死人命的罪刑。

But what got me from there to here

但，把我從那裡帶到這裡的，

wasn't the punishment I faced as a teenager in adult prison

並不是我青少年時期 在成人監獄中所面對的懲罰，

or the harshness of our legal system.

也不是我們司法制度的嚴厲。

Instead, it was a learning environment of a classroom

反而是一間教室中的學習環境，

that introduced me to something I didn't think was possible for me

在其中，我接觸到了我認為在我身上 或整體司法制度中不可能發生的事。

or our justice system as a whole.

A few weeks before my release on parole,

在我假釋出獄的前幾週，

a counselor encouraged me to enroll in a new college course

心理輔導師鼓勵我報名參加在監獄中 提供的一門新的大學課程。

being offered in the prison.

It was called Inside Criminal Justice.

它叫做「刑事司法的內幕」。

That seems pretty straightforward, though, right?

聽起來很直接，對吧？

Well, it turns out,

結果發現，

the class would be made up of eight incarcerated men

這班的成員包括八名在監的男子，

and eight assistant district attorneys.

以及八名助理地方檢察官。

Columbia University psychology professor Geraldine Downey

哥倫比亞大學的 心理學教授潔若丁·道尼

and Manhattan Assistant DA Lucy Lang

以及曼哈頓助理檢察官 露西·連恩共同教授這門課，

co-taught the course,

and it was the first of its kind.

它是這類課程的始祖。

I can honestly say

我老實說，

this wasn't how I imagined starting college.

我完全沒有想像到 我會這樣開始大學生涯。

My mind was blown from day one.

打從第一天開始我就感到驚奇，

I assumed all the prosecutors in the room would be white.

我以為房間中的所有 檢察官都會是白人。

But I remember walking into the room on the first day of class

但，我記得，在開課的 第一天我走進房間，

and seeing three black prosecutors

看見三名檢察官是黑人，

and thinking to myself,

我心想：

"Wow, being a black prosecutor --

「哇，黑人當檢察官——

that's a thing!"

有這種事！」

(Laughter)

（笑聲）

By the end of the first session,

在第一堂課的尾聲，

I was all in.

我已全部投入。

In fact, a few weeks after my release,

事實上，在我獲釋後幾週，

I found myself doing something I prayed I wouldn't.

我竟然做了一件過去我曾祈禱 不會再犯的事情。

I walked right back into prison.

我又走回監獄了。

But thankfully, this time it was just as a student,

但，謝天謝地， 這次我的身分只是學生，

to join my fellow classmates.

我是去加入我的同學們。

And this time,

這次，

I got to go home when class was over.

在下課後我可以回家去。

In the next session, we talked about what had brought each of us

在下一堂課，我們每個人談到 自己怎麼走到生命中的這個時點，

to this point of our lives

並一起走進這間教室。

and into the classroom together.

我最後相當安心，

I eventually got comfortable enough

to reveal my truth to everyone in the room

因為我能敞開心胸地 向房間中的所有人揭露出

about where I came from.

關於我來自何方的真相。

I talked about how my sisters and I watched our mother suffer years of abuse

我談論到我和我的姐妹 是如何看著我們的母親

多年來在繼父手中受虐，

at the hands of our stepfather,

escaping, only to find ourselves living in a shelter.

逃開了，發現我們只能住進收容所。

I talked about how I swore an oath to my family

我談到我對家人發誓，

to keep them safe.

要確保他們的安全。

I even explained how I didn't feel like a teenager at 13,

我甚至解釋了我不覺得 自己是個十三歲的青少年，

but more like a soldier on a mission.

我比較像是出任務的士兵。

And like any soldier,

和所有的士兵一樣，

this meant carrying an emotional burden on my shoulders,

我肩上背負著情緒重擔，

and I hate to say it,

以及，我很不想說的，

but a gun on my waist.

我不該像士兵一樣在腰間插一把槍。

And just a few days after my 17th birthday,

在我十七歲生日後幾天，

that mission completely failed.

那個任務完全失敗了。

As my sister and I were walking to the laundromat,

當我和我妹妹一起 走去自助洗衣店時，

a crowd stopped in front of us.

一群人在我們面前停下來。

Two girls out of nowhere attacked my sister.

不知哪裡冒出來的 兩個女孩攻擊了我妹妹。

Still confused about what was happening, I tried to pull one girl away,

我一邊困惑到底怎麼回事， 一邊試圖把一個女孩拉開，

and just as I did, I felt something brush across my face.

當我這麼做時，我感到 有什麼東西掃過我的臉。

With my adrenaline rushing,

我的腎上腺素飆高，

I didn't realize a man had leaped out of the crowd and cut me.

我沒有意會到那群人中 有一名男子跳出來並割傷了我。

As I felt warm blood ooze down my face,

就在我感覺到熱熱的血液 從我臉上流下時，

and watching him raise his knife toward me again,

看著他再次舉刀朝我砍來時，

I turned to defend myself and pulled that gun from my waistband

我開始自我防禦， 把槍從腰帶上拔出來，

and squeezed the trigger.

扣下了扳機。

Thankfully, he didn't lose his life that day.

謝天謝地，那天他沒有丟掉性命。

My hands shaking and heart racing, I was paralyzed in fear.

我的雙手發抖，心跳加速， 恐懼讓我癱瘓了。

From that moment,

從那一刻開始，

I felt regret that would never leave me.

我就感到了永遠揮之不去的後悔。

I learned later on they attacked my sister in a case of mistaken identity,

我後來才知道，他們攻擊 我妹妹是因為認錯人了，

thinking she was someone else.

他們以為她是另一個人。

It was terrifying,

當時十分嚇人，

but clear that I wasn't trained, nor was I qualified,

但，很顯然，我沒有受過訓練，

也不夠格成為我認為 我所必須要扮演的士兵角色。

to be the soldier that I thought I needed to be.

But in my neighborhood,

但，在我住的地區，

I only felt safe carrying a weapon.

只有帶著武器才能讓我感到安全。

Now, back in the classroom, after hearing my story,

回到教室裡， 在聽完我的故事之後，

the prosecutors could tell I never wanted to hurt anyone.

檢察官可以分辨得出來， 我從來沒有想要傷害任何人。

I just wanted us to make it home.

我只希望我們能平安回到家。

I could literally see the gradual change in each of their faces

我真的可以看到他們 臉上的神情漸漸在改變，

as they heard story after story

隨著他們聽了房間中

from the other incarcerated men in the room.

其他在監者所講的故事 而漸漸在改變。

Stories that have trapped many of us

這些故事讓我們許多人被困在 監禁的惡性循環當中，

within the vicious cycle of incarceration,

that most haven't been able to break free of.

大部分人都無法脫身。

And sure -- there are people who commit terrible crimes.

當然，有人犯下很可怕的罪行。

But the stories of these individuals' lives

但這些人在做出 那些行為之前的生活，

before they commit those acts

是那些檢察官從來沒有聽過的故事。

were the kinds of stories these prosecutors had never heard.

And when it was their turn to speak -- the prosecutors --

輪到檢察官說話時，

I was surprised, too.

我也同樣驚訝。

They weren't emotionless drones or robocops,

他們並非是沒有情緒的 機器人或機器戰警，

preprogrammed to send people to prison.

也不是預設立場 就是要把人送進大牢。

They were sons and daughters,

他們也是別人的兒子和女兒，

brothers and sisters.

別人的兄弟姐妹。

But most of all, they were good students.

但，最重要的，他們都是好學生。

They were ambitious and motivated.

他們有野心，有動力。

And they believed that they could use the power of law to protect people.

他們相信他們可以 用法律的力量來保護人民。

They were on a mission that I could definitely understand.

我絕對可以了解他們所投身的使命。

Midway through the course, Nick, a fellow incarcerated student,

課程到一半的時候，

一位在監的學生尼克 丟出了他的擔憂，

poured out his concern

that the prosecutors were tiptoeing around the racial bias and discrimination

他擔心檢察官是在司法體制中

踮著腳走在種族偏見和歧視上。

within our criminal justice system.

Now, if you've ever been to prison,

如果你曾經到過監獄，

you would know it's impossible to talk about justice reform

你就會知道，在那裡， 若要談論司法改革，

without talking about race.

就一定會談到種族。

So we silently cheered for Nick

所以，我們無聲地為尼克歡呼，

and were eager to hear the prosecutors' response.

且很渴望聽聽檢察官會怎麼回應。

And no, I don't remember who spoke first,

不，我不記得誰先開口，

but when Chauncey Parker, a senior prosecutor, agreed with Nick

但當資深檢察官強西•帕克認同尼克

and said he was committed to ending the mass incarceration of people of color,

並說他承諾要終止 有色人種的大規模監禁時，

I believed him.

我相信他。

And I knew we were headed in the right direction.

我知道我們在朝著正確的方向前進。

We now started to move as a team.

我們現在是一個團隊，一起前進。

We started exploring new possibilities

我們開始探索新的可能性，

and uncovering truths about our justice system

揭露出我們司法體制中的真相，

and how real change

以及思考我們要如何真正做出改變。

happens for us.

For me, it wasn't the mandatory programs inside of the prison.

對我來說，這不只是 在監獄中的強制參加的計畫，

Instead, it was listening to the advice of elders --

而是在傾聽前輩的忠告——

men who have been sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison.

這些前輩是被判終身監禁的人。

These men helped me reframe my mindset around manhood.

這些人讓我改變了 對於男子氣概的態度。

And they instilled in me all of their aspirations and goals,

他們慢慢向我說明 他們的希望和目標，

in the hopes that I would never return to prison,

希望我永遠不會再回到監獄，

and that I would serve as their ambassador to the free world.

而我，會扮演他們 在自由世界的大使，

As I talked, I could see the lights turning on for one prosecutor,

當我說話時，我看見了一位 檢察官的光明面，

who said something I thought was obvious:

我認為他已經明白地說明：

that I had transformed despite my incarceration

我會轉變雖然是因為我被關過，

and not because of it.

但不是主要原因。

It was clear these prosecutors hadn't thought much about

很顯然，這些檢察官並沒有考慮到

他們贏得判決後， 我們會發生什麼事。

what happens to us after they win a conviction.

But through the simple process of sitting in a classroom,

但透過坐在教室裡的這個簡單過程，

these lawyers started to see that keeping us locked up

這些律師開始了解，

將我們一直關起來 對我們的社區或我們都沒有益處。

didn't benefit our community

or us.

Toward the end of the course, the prosecutors were excited,

在課程尾聲，檢查官們很興奮地

as we talked about our plans for life after being released.

跟我們談論我們 被釋放之後的人生計畫。

But they hadn't realized how rough it was actually going to be.

但他們並不知道， 出獄之後其實會有多艱苦。

I can literally still see the shock

我還記得其中一位助理地方檢察官 當時臉上的驚訝表情：

on one of the junior ADA's face when it hit her:

the temporary ID given to us with our freedom

我們獲得自由時 所拿到的臨時身分證件

displayed that we were just released from prison.

顯示出我們剛從監獄獲釋。

She hadn't imagined how many barriers this would create for us

她沒辦法想像在我們 重新回到社會中時，

as we reenter society.

那會給我們帶來多少障礙。

But I could also see her genuine empathy for the choice we had to make

但我也能看出她真的很同情 我們必須做出的選擇，

between coming home to a bed in a shelter

是要去睡在收容所的床，

or a couch in a relative's overcrowded apartment.

還是擠在親戚家的沙發上。

What we learned in the class

我們在那堂課上所學到的， 最後變成了實在的政策建議。

worked its way into concrete policy recommendations.

We presented our proposals

我們將我們的提案

to the state Department of Corrections commissioner

上呈給州矯正司的長官

and to the Manhattan DA,

以及曼哈頓的地方檢察官，

at our graduation in a packed Columbia auditorium.

且是在擠滿人的畢業會堂中上呈。

As a team,

身為一個團隊，

I couldn't have imagined a more memorable way

我無法想像還有什麼更難忘的方式

to conclude our eight weeks together.

可以一起為我們的這八週畫下句點。

And just 10 months after coming home from prison,

從監獄回到家大約十個月後，

I again found myself in a strange room,

我再次發現自己身處在 一間奇怪的房間中，

invited by the commissioner of NYPD to share my perspective

這次是受到紐約市警局的局長邀請，

去治安高峰會分享我的觀點。

at a policing summit.

And while speaking,

演說時，

I recognized a familiar face in the audience.

我在觀眾中看到了一張熟悉的面孔。

It was the attorney who prosecuted my case.

是起訴我的案件的律師。

Seeing him,

看到他，

I thought about our days in the courtroom

我想起了我們在法庭中的日子，

seven years earlier,

七年前，

as I listened to him recommend a long prison sentence,

我聽著他建議讓我坐很久的牢，

as if my young life was meaningless

就好像我的年輕生命毫無意義、

and had no potential.

毫無潛力。

But this time,

但，這次，

the circumstances were different.

情況不同了。

I shook off my thoughts

我擺脫掉我的想法，

and walked over to shake his hand.

走過去和他握手。

He looked happy to see me.

他看起來很高興見到我。

Surprised, but happy.

很驚訝，但仍是高興的。

He acknowledged how proud he was about being in that room with me,

他承認他有多驕傲能夠 和我一同在那間房間中，

and we began a conversation about working together

我們開始談到一起合作 來改善我們社區的狀況。

to improve the conditions of our community.

And so today,

所以，現今，

I carry all of these experiences with me,

我帶著所有這些經歷，

as I develop the Justice Ambassadors Youth Council at Columbia University,

在哥倫比亞大學發展 「司法大使青年會」，

bringing young New Yorkers -- some who have already spent time locked up

將年輕的紐約人—— 有些人已經被關過一段時間，

and others who are still enrolled in high school --

其他的還在就讀高中——

together with city officials.

和市官員結合。

And in this classroom,

在這間教室中，

everyone will brainstorm ideas

大家一起腦力激盪，

about improving the lives of our city's most vulnerable youth

思考如何為我們城市中 最脆弱的青年改善生活，

before they get tried within the criminal justice system.

在他們被司法體制 審判之前採取行動。

This is possible if we do the work.

如果我們去做，這是有可能的。

Our society and justice system has convinced us

我們的社會和司法體制 一直在說服我們，

that we can lock up our problems

可以把我們的問題關起來， 用懲罰來擺脫社會挑戰。

and punish our way out of social challenges.

But that's not real.

但，實情並非如此。

Imagine with me for a second

和我一起想像一下，

a future where no one can become

在未來，任何人若想要當

a prosecutor,

檢察官、

a judge,

法官、

a cop

警察，

or even a parole officer

或甚至假釋官，

without first sitting in a classroom

就必須要先坐在教室中，

to learn from and connect with

了解和連結那些

the very people whose lives will be in their hands.

命運將會被交到他們手上的人。

I'm doing my part to promote the power of conversations

我這邊能做的是提倡對談的力量

and the need for collaborations.

以及合作的必要性。

It is through education

必須要透過教育，

that we will arrive at a truth that is inclusive and unites us all

我們才會達到包容的真相，

這真相能將我們所有人 在追求正義的過程中團結起來。

in the pursuit of justice.

For me, it was a brand-new conversation

對我來說，這是全新的對談，

and a new kind of classroom

新式的教室，

that showed me how both my mindset

它可以向我展現，我心中的想法 以及刑事司法體制將會如何轉變。

and our criminal justice system

could be transformed.

They say the truth shall set you free.

大家都說，真相會解放你。

But I believe

但我相信，

it's education

能解放你的，是教育和溝通。

and communication.

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）