Incarcerated Prison Activist finds Unlikely Allies for Justice Reform in Republican Party

    ST. PETERSBURG, FL, August 02, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The last decade has been so marked with vitriol across the aisles that the idea of achieving "consensus" seems alien to most Americans. But recent weeks have seen even some of the staunchest former proponents of the "war on drugs" and "three strikes" doing an ideological about-face, all in the name of addressing prison reform. And these developments have inmates like Christopher Zoukis paying close attention.

The 29-year-old writer and prisoners' rights activist is currently serving 12-year sentence at a federal prison, the length of which is due in part to the federal mandatory minimum sentencing requirements at the heart of recent discussions. Zoukis has been a vocal commentator on prison reform, and how the policies of the last three decades have served to increase recidivism and perpetuate cycles of poverty.

He believes that the recent momentum has come at a critical time: "When you have Speaker of the House John Boehner saying that too many people are being wrongfully incarcerated, and supporting President Obama's push for change, it tells us that the situation has gotten so bad that it simply can't be ignored. We've reached the tipping point."

Like most fellow activists, Zoukis recognizes that prison serves a purpose, and takes full personal responsibility for his actions. But where his disagreement with the system begins is with its failure to fully embrace the rehabilitative rhetoric it espouses.

"This isn't about my individual case, it's about this country perpetuating the cycles of poverty and violence that lead back to incarceration. When these kinds of laws exist, and parole boards choose to ignore any and all measures individuals make towards rehabilitation, it strips away everything from prisoners. It strips away hope and the incentive to better themselves."

Christopher Zoukis' complete story can be read at: http://www.christopherzoukis.com, his work on prisoners' rights at http://www.prisonlawblog.com, and education for the incarcerated at http://www.prisoneducation.com

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