world without prisons would look like?

沒有監獄的世界會是什麼樣子？

Happier?

幸福嗎？

Safer?

更安全？

Scarier?

更可怕？

Or is it just impossible to imagine?

還是無法想象？

Maybe that's because it feels

也許是因為它的感覺

as if prisons have just always been part of society?

彷彿監獄一直是社會的一部分？

Even though they haven't.

儘管他們沒有。

The idea that prison can reform and rehabilitate

監獄可以改造和康復的想法。

is only around 200 years old.

只有200年左右的歷史。

Or perhaps it's because we're told we need prisons to deter criminals?

或者是因為我們被告知我們需要監獄來震懾罪犯？

Even though there's no consistent link

儘管沒有一致的聯繫

between the prison population and levels of crime.

監獄人口與犯罪率之間的關係；

Or is it because we think prisons keep us safe?

還是因為我們認為監獄能保證我們的安全？

For some offenders, their time in prison

對一些罪犯來說，他們在監獄裡的時間

can be a period of reflection and growth,

可以是一個反思和成長的時期。

but others struggle and can become traumatised or more dangerous,

但其他人卻在掙扎，可能會受到創傷或更危險。

and re-offending rates are high.

和再犯罪率很高。

But just because it's hard to imagine -

但是，只是因為很難想象------------------------------------------------------------------。

and we don't have all the answers yet -

而且我們還沒有所有的答案。

that mustn't stop us trying to consider a world without prisons.

這不能阻止我們考慮一個沒有監獄的世界。

And asking ourselves if there is a better approach?

並自問有沒有更好的方法？

A world without prisons would mean upending our current system,

一個沒有監獄的世界將意味著顛覆我們目前的制度。

and putting the needs of those who are harmed first.

並把受傷害者的需求放在第一位。

Right now, prisons are too often used as a kind of last resort

目前，監獄往往被用作最後的手段。

for dealing with the inequalities and problems

不平等現象和問題而採取的措施

that our health, welfare,

我們的健康，福利，

education and employment systems aren't solving.

教育和就業制度沒有解決。

Which is one reason why people from some ethnic minorities,

這也是為什麼一些少數民族的人。

from poorer communities,

來自貧困社區。

those with a history of mental health problems,

有精神健康問題史的人；

or people who've grown up in care,

或在照顧中長大的人。

are all more likely to end up in prison.

都更有可能最終入獄。

Crime won't be reduced by continuing to lock all these people up.

繼續把這些人都關起來，犯罪率是不會降低的。

What will help is tackling the societal problems

解決社會問題才有幫助

that have led them to commit harm in the first place.

導致他們首先做出傷害的行為。

So, in a world without prisons,

所以，在一個沒有監獄的世界裡。

funding priorities would need to shift.

籌資的優先事項需要改變。

Using some of the current prisons budget might help.

利用目前監獄的一些預算可能會有幫助。

But this would just be a small contribution -

但這只是一個小小的貢獻

in fact, far bigger and systemic change is needed.

事實上，需要更大的、系統性的變革。

Because while we focus on blaming, prosecuting and punishing

因為當我們專注於指責、起訴和懲罰的時候

the harms and crimes of the poor,

窮人的危害和罪行；

all too often we ignore the wider economic, structural

我們往往忽視了更廣泛的經濟、結構和社會發展問題。

and psychological harms committed by the powerful.

和強權者造成的心理傷害。

A world without prisons would be fairer.

一個沒有監獄的世界會更公平。

But could it also be safer?

但是否也能更安全呢？

Yes, a small number of people do need to be kept out of society

是的，一小部分人確實需要遠離社會。

for the safety of us all.

為了我們所有人的安全。

But although the idea of evil looms large in our culture,

但是，雖然邪惡的概念在我們的文化中佔據了很大的比重。

our prisons contain fewer dangerous people than we imagine.

我們的監獄裡的危險人物比我們想象的要少。

Nevertheless, any attempt to reduce danger and harm in society

然而，任何減少社會危險和傷害的努力都是不可取的。

would need a new culture of safety and respect,

將需要一種新的安全和尊重文化。

ensuring those who may be harmed are properly protected.

確保可能受到傷害的人得到適當保護；

And preventing violence in the first place,

而首先要防止暴力。

rather than allowing it to breed in prisons and return into communities.

而不是任由其在監獄中滋生並返回社區。

Properly funded interventions

資金充足的干預措施

to safeguard vulnerable children from harm,

保護弱勢兒童不受傷害；

and refuges for victims of sexual or domestic violence,

性暴力或家庭暴力受害者的庇護所；

would be essential.

將是必不可少的。

And how would victims feel in this world without prisons?

而在這個沒有監獄的世界裡，被害人會有怎樣的感受？

Wouldn't they want... well, justice to be done?

難道他們不希望... 正義得到伸張嗎？

In fact, most victims don't cite revenge or punishment

事實上，大多數受害者並不以報復或懲罰為由。

as their priority.

作為其優先事項，

What they care about most

他們最關心的是什麼？

is protecting themselves and others from harm in the future.

是保護自己和他人在未來不受傷害。

Restorative justice, or a truth and reconciliation process,

恢復性司法，或真相與和解進程；

is a very effective way of doing this -

是一個非常有效的方法----------。

allowing victims to talk through grievances,

允許受害者傾訴冤情；

accept what has happened to them, and rebuild their lives.

接受他們的遭遇，並重建他們的生活。

The impact of any harm is formally recognised by the one who caused it -

任何傷害的影響由造成傷害的人正式承認------------。

but also by society.

但也被社會。

This encourages communities to take responsibility

這就鼓勵社區承擔責任。

for helping both victim and offender.

幫助受害者和犯罪者；

Because when you can't simply lock someone up,

因為當你不能簡單地把人關起來的時候。

everyone has a vested interest

人人有份

in finding ways to live more peaceably together.

尋找更和平地生活在一起的方法。

In a world without prisons, justice isn't about punishment.

在一個沒有監獄的世界裡，正義並不是為了懲罰。

It isn't about repeating cycles of violence and harm.

這不是為了重複暴力和傷害的循環。

It's a world where justice is about righting systemic wrongs,

這是一個正義的世界，正義就是糾正制度性的錯誤。

about supporting people to meet their employment, education,

關於支持人們滿足其就業、教育。

and health needs.

和健康需求。

It's a world focused on social justice rather than vengeance.

這是一個注重社會正義而非復仇的世界。

So a different approach isn't impossible.

所以換一種方式也不是不可以。

But maybe many of us are still imprisoned by old ideas?

但也許我們很多人還在被舊觀念禁錮著？

Imagining a world without prisons

想象一個沒有監獄的世界

will require all of us to think outside the box.

這將需要我們所有人跳出框框。