Anonymous (02) oral history interview, 2021 April 21

Anonymous (02) oral history interview, 2021 April 21

The discussion centered on health. The participant shared that their perception of health and how the criminal justice system impacts that concept. They expanded on personal health to include community health. They gave a holistic definition of health which included physical, mental, and community wellbeing. The conversation focused on how incarceration impacts intergenerational health. The incarceration system creates communities in which people feel a heightened sense of antagonism towards one another, which youth witness and perpetuate. This may manifest as trauma and PTSD. The participant also discussed prison culture and how the institution undermines health and promotes competitive behavior. This competitive behavior exacerbates interactions or situations in daily life in prison. Lastly, the participant spoke to the fact that generations of children grew up without their parents due to incarceration.