To accomplish the necessary paradigm shift, police and prosecutors must do more to ensure that these unjust convictions do not occur in the first place and to stop the criminalization of victims of trafficking.
Egypt is required to stop its criminalization of the Muslim Brotherhood, designating the group as a terrorist organization, and issuing death sentences against hundreds of people as it did recently.
Hallmarks of this policing style include more officers, more stops, and criminalization of nonviolent activities such as loitering, vandalism, smoking pot, and dancing "recklessly".
Stopping the criminalization of homelessness is critical to preventing so many people - disproportionately racial and ethnic minorities - from entering the criminal justice system to begin with, and interrupting the vicious cycle of being unfairly imprisoned, jailed and burdened with criminal convictions.
Some, who called for legal reforms earlier this month, argue that stopping the criminalization of prostitutes and escorts would make their lives less dangerous, while others have expressed the view that consent can't be bought, and even likened paying for sex to rape.
With an incoming presidential administration that's looking more hostile to equitable drug policies by the day, it's imperative for us to make the most of this opportunity to stop the senseless criminalization of millions more people.
I am the lead organizer of the Moms United to End the War on Drugs national campaign to stop the stigmatization and criminalization of people who use drugs.
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So the criminalization doesn't stop them using drugs, but it does harm their life prospects.
"We know that prohibition and criminalization will never stop women from having abortions," said Lynn Paltrow, executive director of National Advocates for Pregnant Women.
