Emily Baxter has found that “one in four people in the United States has a criminal record. Four in four have a criminal history.” Wait, what? “Four in four have a criminal history.” Have you ever taken something that wasn’t yours? Driven while intoxicated? Cheated to get ahead? Used illegal drugs? Urinated in public? Trespassing? Theft of services? Failure to obey bicycle regulations? Some other crime you got away with?

I rest my case. Those crimes are part of your criminal history. Behaviors that emerge from the unconscious mind as we become aware of the dark side of ourselves, the shadow. Download

Today’s episode is a call for innovative ideas we can apply to our criminal justice system; we need to implement more humane practices. We do not need to foreclose on our futures. First, we need information before we can start generating ideas to address humanity and shift this culture.

Innovative thinker and social awareness activist, Emily Baxter has captured stories and statistics outlined in her first book, We Are All Criminals, prompting her to start a nonprofit by the same name. Her concept startles you into examining inhumane practices embedded in our criminal justice system. I share one of my early career experiences with the social welfare system as a special education teacher in a residential treatment center.

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words, yet a single word can paint a thousand pictures. Criminal. A thousand pictures and none of them me.” – Delaine Snow

Consider these statistics Emily has gathered. “One-third of all United States young adults have been arrested for an offense other than a minor traffic violation by the time they reach the age of 23. An increase in arrests for drug-related offenses, zero-tolerance policies in schools, and a more aggressive and punitive justice system have resulted in countless youth and young adults cuffed, caged, shackled, and paraded in county courthouses across our country.

More than 2.7 million children in the United States currently have a parent in jail or prison. Most are younger than ten years old. A staggering one in nine African American kids has a parent in lock-up. For Hispanic children, it’s one in 28 and for white children, it’s one in 57.” We can stop a criminal justice system devouring our society. We can do better when we know better. It is time to do better! We are so much more than the shadow part of ourselves!
Find out how Emily’s early beginnings created a thread from her childhood play to her work as an adult. Who does she attribute her love of reading, writing, and gathering of people for a social cause to? Listen to learn, be inspired, generate ideas, and move to action! Why maintain systems that shame us into eternal darkness? 

Mentoring Tips

• Make a list of the crimes you have committed and gotten away with. Write down what would have happened to you if you had been caught. How would your life have changed?
• If you have been caught and prosecuted for a crime, did the process help you work through the shame you experienced or compound it? Did the punishment fit the crime?
  • If you have a substance use disorder, have you been criminalized for your disorder or awakened to get help through the criminal justice system? What would you have preferred?
• If you could influence our criminal justice system, how would you change it? Submit your ideas by clicking here.
• Buy Emily’s book We Are All Criminals
• Join a Peer Mentoring Group! A new WeMentor E.L.M. LAB is starting in September. An irresistible offer awaits those who act. Fill out your name and email address. I will follow-up with you. Join a LAB Starting in September!
  • Here are some questions to ponder if a LAB is a right fit for you. Are you reaching your financial goals? Are you having difficulty with focus and productivity? Do you need new skills and strategies to grow your business? Do you want to participate more fully in this economy?
  • Are you snuffing out creativity and opportunities for innovation because of how you are leading? Is your business running you? Are you tired of your business? Is there a disconnect between you and those you employ? Are you recovering from a major setback and need more skills to recover and rise from the experience with greater clarity, resilience, and a new perspective? Do you want to increase your business acumen and bump up your emotional intelligence while you generate more income? Are you ready to have fun and make more money with how you are leading and mentoring others? Call me at 612-804-8920.

How are we all criminals?   Episode 130   Emily Baxter