On March 3, 2023, Urban Arts Space held an opening reception for the Ohio Justice and Policy Center’s Beyond Guilt initiative. Four previously incarcerated individuals were invited to speak about the circumstances that led to their conviction, their time in the prison industrial complex, and the ongoing stigma that they face in being labeled as a felon. These individuals shared their stories about reformation, redemption, and how their experiences have led them on a journey to redefining their identity as something that is beyond guilt.

The Ohio Justice and Policy Center (OJPC) launched the Beyond Guilt initiative in 2019 as a statewide advocacy program for the unjustly punished. The primary goal of the initiative is to fight for those who have been over-sentenced for low-level and non-violent crimes. By sharing their stories, OJPC gives legislators the opportunity to see the consequences of mass incarceration and excessive punishment. These stories provide transparency to legislators and hopefully serve as catalysts to reforming punitive sentencing laws. The exhibition at Urban Arts Space invited the wider community to gain an insider’s understanding of the legal and societal implications for the over-punished as well as showed what we can do as non-legislators for the fight against inhumane incarceration practices.

Upon entering Urban Arts Space, visitors would see statements and backstories of previously incarcerated people displayed along the walls of the corridor. The exhibition highlighted six journeys of pain, struggle, and reformation for people who had experienced significant obstacles before, during, and after rehabilitation. At the end of the exhibit, attendees were given a QR code for resources and a call to action:

(1)        Learn more about excessive punishment.

(2)       Deepen your knowledge about mass incarceration.

(3)       Volunteer at a local or national level––you don’t have to be a lawyer to help.

After walking through the exhibition, attendees were seated for the discussion portion of the reception. The Ohio Justice and Policy Center’s Executive Director David Singleton began the night by introducing OJPC and its initiatives. Singleton explained how the racist and systemic issues within the prison-industrial-complex system oftentimes disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic communities compared to other populations; however, regardless of race, Singleton concluded there are tremendous legal implications and consequences being thrusted upon individuals who enter the system. The introduction was followed by short films created by students from Northern Kentucky University that featured all four incarcerated speakers and their backgrounds. Afterward, the speakers proceeded to an open discussion with the audience about their overall experiences.

One of the first questions directed to the speakers was “How did you come to terms with your guilt?” A common sentiment they shared was that even though in their hearts they felt like they had redeemed themselves during rehabilitation, after being released, they still felt guilty because society still saw them as guilty people. It was this cognitive dissonance––feeling like reformed people but still being punished and treated like they were outsiders––that made it difficult for them to fully reimmerse themselves back home. 

It was evident that what they needed was to bridge their self-perceptions and society’s perceptions of themselves in order to demystify society’s inaccurate judgments about their character. When asked “What does beyond guilt mean to you?” the speakers were given that opportunity to give new meaning to their identity. For many members of the panel, they want to see themselves beyond their mistakes because there is so much to their journeys that one thing should not define them as a person. However, in order to do that, they need people to give them a second chance to prove it.

Many of the speakers explained that they aren’t the same people they were when they were charged for their crime and that serving time has made them stronger, more understanding, and more empathetic individuals. Currently, all of the speakers are giving back to the community and fighting for criminal justice rights. They’ve not only acknowledged but also over-served sentences for their crimes, yet they have made strides in becoming something greater than what society deems them to be. Ultimately, all they want is an opportunity to prove to everyone, including the justice system, that those actions are part of their past and should no longer be used against their character in the present.

Leading the exhibition was curator Jennifer Suchland, who is also an associate professor in the Department of Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies at The Ohio State University. Harriet Kaufman, a Cincinnati-based artist and activist, photographed the speakers during the event. In the final portion of the discussion, both Suchland and Kaufman left visitors with words of what the community can do to move us toward a better place:

“Excessive punishment is a problem, and we are trying to communicate that to the public. But it’s not just a problem. It is a lived experience, and that personal experience should be the voice leading social change.” – Jennifer Suchland

“Human beings have the capacity to see potential. You know, we all make mistakes, but some of us just weren’t caught. We can see these human beings who served their time and more who need to be welcomed back into the world. We’re all human beings at the end of the day.” – Harriet Kaufman

 Watch the Beyond Guilt Opening Reception:

Watch the Beyond Guilt Panel Discussion: