Joan Ruzsa is the coordinator of Rittenhouse, an abolitionist organization that advocates for alternatives to incarceration, based on traditional Indigenous justice practices. Abolitionists believe that prison is a failure as a response to social harm, and that certain groups, such as Indigenous people; people from racialized communities; people with cognitive, intellectual and physical disabilities; people who use drugs; queer and trans people and people living in poverty are criminalized by and over-represented in the criminal legal system. While people should be held accountable for their actions, it is also important to look at the context in which crime occurs, and the social inequalities and systemic issues that lead to certain people and behaviours being criminalized. Building prisons doesn't make people safer. Building strong communities makes people safer.

For more information about Rittenhouse's mission and programs, please check out Just Blog at joanr73.wordpress.com