Today, is Halloween, and I’m going to let you in on a terrifying secret: mass incarceration has made a lot of kids, a lot of families, incapable of celebrating the holiday today. And because of that, I feel like I need to speak up for the families that are being left behind.
For many families, Halloween is one of many emotional landmines.
While everyone’s busy carving pumpkins and posting matching costume pics, remember this: somewhere, a kid is staring at an empty front porch, wishing Dad was home to help make a goofy ghost out of a pillowcase, or Mom was there to tell them they looked “so scary!” before heading out to trick-or-treat.
For kids of incarcerated parents, holidays aren’t just lonely; they’re haunting. They’re constant reminders of time stolen by unnecessary incarceration. Families torn apart for non-violent offenses that could’ve been handled with diversion, treatment, or simple human decency; something Judges and Prosecutors across the state, the country even, are famous for (especially Judges who claim to love God and Apple Pie but destroy constitutional rights and attack the family unit).
Trauma and Revenue
But I digress, I say all of this not to be Debbie Downer, but to remind you that the system is broken. It’s burdening families so politicians can get reelected. But the problem is families are silenced from talking about it. No one wants to hear how sad people are on Halloween.
Instead, what usually happens, is some Keyboard Warrior who doesn’t understand the criminal justice system spouts off with “tough on crime” nonsense. To those people, today and always: shut your mouth and go away if you don’t have anything helpful or comforting to say, thanks. You’re not helping, and quite frankly, we’re all sick of your shit. Don’t go away bigoted; just go away.
What this all really is? Especially in Michigan, it’s our legislators and long-comfirmed crappy legal system are intentionally creating trauma to keep their revenue cycles going, at the expense of families. And every year that goes by isn’t just another missed Halloween; it’s another layer of trauma added to the pile our justice system pretends doesn’t exist.
How You Can Lessen the Weight Today:
- Invite, don’t isolate. If you know a kid with a parent inside, include them. A seat at the table, a pumpkin to carve, a simple “join us” can mean the world. Even if they aren’t up to it, the fact that you thought of them matters.
- Support reentry orgs providing family reunification and trauma-informed programs; they’re doing the work the system refuses to do and that legislators refuse to fund. Special shoutout to Goodwill of Kent County; love you guys!
- Write or donate to groups that connect kids with their incarcerated parents through calls, visits, or care packages. Connection heals.
- Advocate locally. Push your city and state officials to expand diversion programs and end cash bail systems that lock parents up for being poor, not dangerous.
The Bigger Picture: This Needs to Change.
Michigan, and America at large, could choose differently. Judges, prosecutors, and legislators could stop manufacturing trauma under the guise of “justice.” We could fund family-based interventions instead of breaking homes apart. Instead of doing what Michigan just did, and gutting funding. Because the truth is simple: every time a parent sits behind bars instead of beside their kid on Halloween night, the whole community loses.
STOP pretending this is “normal” because it isn’t.
STOP stealing childhoods.
START make family wholeness our public safety strategy.
As voters, as Americans, we shouldn’t expect anything less.
