By Mark Jordan

Last week, Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Director Colette Peters announced the impending closure of six federal prisons, a move that will displace approximately 400 federal prison workers. While the announcement has stirred significant concern among employees and their families, it has also reignited debates about the future of incarceration in the United States. From an abolitionist standpoint, this decision offers a moment to reflect on systemic injustices and advocate for a broader vision: the dismantling of the prison industrial complex in its entirety.

A Flawed System in Decline

The closures highlight a long-acknowledged truth: the federal prison system is unsustainable. Overcrowding, crumbling infrastructure, and a history of abuse have plagued BOP facilities for decades. Reports of inadequate medical care, violence, and neglect dominate narratives from inside these prisons. The BOP’s reliance on incarceration as a catch-all solution to societal problems has repeatedly failed to deliver public safety or justice.

Yet, this announcement appears to focus on operational efficiency rather than substantive reform. By framing closures as a cost-cutting measure, the BOP avoids addressing deeper questions: Why are these facilities so broken? What purpose do they truly serve? And most importantly, why does this system persist despite its failures?

Displacement of Workers vs. Harm to Incarcerated Individuals

The displacement of 400 federal prison workers is a legitimate concern for their families and communities. However, it pales in comparison to the systemic harm inflicted upon the tens of thousands of people incarcerated within the BOP system. Workers in these facilities, while understandably worried about their livelihoods, have long been complicit in upholding a system that disproportionately targets marginalized communities, particularly Black and Brown individuals.

An abolitionist perspective shifts the focus from preserving jobs within a harmful system to creating new, restorative opportunities for both workers and formerly incarcerated individuals. Transitioning employees into roles that support community-building—such as healthcare, education, and housing initiatives—could serve as a meaningful step toward dismantling the prison industrial complex while addressing worker displacement.

The Need for More Closures

Closing six prisons is insufficient when the United States incarcerates more people per capita than any other nation. The BOP operates 122 facilities housing over 150,000 individuals, many of whom are incarcerated for nonviolent offenses or crimes rooted in poverty, addiction, or mental illness. Abolitionists argue that these issues are better addressed through community investment, not incarceration.

Moreover, federal prisons are notorious for their lack of transparency and accountability. Recent scandals involving abuse, corruption, and unsafe conditions—like those exposed at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York or FCI Dublin—underscore the urgent need to reevaluate the entire federal prison system. Closing these facilities is not just a logistical decision; it is a moral imperative.

A Vision for the Future

Instead of simply shifting incarcerated individuals to other facilities or replacing closed prisons with private detention centers, the federal government must seize this moment to reduce its reliance on incarceration. This means:

1. Investing in Communities: Addressing the root causes of crime by funding education, healthcare, affordable housing, and job creation in marginalized communities.

2. Decarceration: Expanding clemency programs, releasing individuals serving excessive sentences, and decriminalizing offenses rooted in systemic inequities.

3. Restorative Justice: Implementing alternatives to incarceration that prioritize healing, accountability, and community safety over punishment.

4. Support for Workers: Transitioning prison staff into roles that contribute to public welfare, such as addiction counseling, youth mentorship, and community development programs.

A Call to Action

The closure of six federal prisons can either be a fleeting bureaucratic maneuver or the beginning of meaningful change. Abolitionists must continue to demand accountability from the BOP while advocating for the permanent closure of more facilities. This includes pressuring lawmakers to shift resources away from incarceration and toward initiatives that genuinely promote justice and equality.

Director Peters’ announcement presents an opportunity to reimagine the role of the federal government in addressing harm. By choosing a path of decarceration and community investment, we can move closer to a society that values restoration over punishment and liberation over confinement. The question is not whether we can afford to close more prisons—it is whether we can afford not to.