On November 26, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly declared that February 20th will be celebrated annually as the World Day of Social Justice. At Last Prisoner Project, we’re using this moment to speak to the human costs of marijuana prohibition, as well as highlight the work LPP is doing to redress these harms. This year’s commemoration aims at fostering dialogue with stakeholders on actions needed to overcome the digital divide, provide decent work opportunities, and protect labor and human rights in the modern era of digital technologies. 

Thus, we are calling out the digital divide faced by thousands of people incarcerated for cannabis. When accessing online services they face barriers that include inflated costs, lack of device availability, & a need for digital literacy training. Today's digital economy demands access to online services if we are going to increase the quality of life behind bars, reduce recidivism, and support effective reentry. As of 2018, people who were formerly incarcerated have an unemployment rate greater than 27% (5x higher than the general population). Digital tools and skills can help bridge this gap.

LPP offers reentry grants that can be used for whatever our constituents or their families sees fit—including electronics, digital education, or everyday living expenses. Additionally, we are in the process of developing a program to provide computers and other digital resources to modernize reentry for individuals affected by cannabis charges.

Furthermore, on World Day of Social Justice, we can leverage the momentum behind this movement to galvanize public and political support for a more just, equitable, and effective approach to cannabis policy and related criminal justice reforms. Amplify our call to fight for social justice by sharing LPP-branded graphics on your social media using #SocialJusticeDay.

Visit lastprisonerproject.org/takeaction to find out how to support our efforts to redress the harms of cannabis criminalization.