Concrete, Steel And Paint Analysis

For adult populations, art can help individuals visualize the patterns within their relationships and their life that has contributed to their life of offending. To end the pattern of offending, individuals must first recognize the patterns that encouraged offending. Whether it was a relationship with their mother and father that has continued in their adult life or the interactions they have with friend’s art can provide a visual that they have otherwise been unable to see.
For most incarcerated individuals, art can help then differentiate between the roles of the offender and the victim which is often blurred in individuals who experienced victimization themselves at a young age. It also allows individuals to organize their ideas and memories to pinpoint instances in their life that has left an emotional marker or is considered a turning point in their life. By highlighting these events in an individual’s life, a therapist or group facilitator can zone in on specific issues easier and faster. The faster someone can identify the issues that lead to offending, the faster they can learn how to address the issues in a constructive manner. Restorative justice through art also allows inmates to reconnect with families they left behind. Filmed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the documentary Concrete, Steel and Paint provides an inside look at the effects of art on the community and on inmates. …show more content…
An inmate, Zafir, stated his reason for participating in the program to showcase his gentler side that was tarnished years ago and that he still has and feels an array of emotions. It was tough for Zafir to acclimate himself to prison originally, as he believed he did not belong there. Convicted of murder, he went into court believing that he was innocent by claiming self-defense. However, the trial result deemed otherwise, and he was sent off to jail. Before the program, he would wake up and go to bed each day, going through the same routine start to finish. Zafir was looking for a way to show that his legacy should have more to it than just the murder sentence. He did run into some struggles, as in many occasions he felt as if his efforts meant nothing when it came to the victims. They would talk, air out their grievances, share their perspectives, and still end up with many of the victims being unable to understand and accept offenders such as Zafir. Also, the documentary showcased a sister of an inmate who painted a section of a mural that her brother had worked on. While they weren’t allowed to work on it together it was a beautiful experience for her to see what he had done and place her hands on it to strengthen the connection that had long been strained. They wrote letters and called each other to share their experience and bonded over the project they had worked on together. In standard restorative justice practices, a bond such as this would not be allowed to manifest, encouraging hate to fill the void left by the incarcerated individuals who had to leave behind everyone they knew and cared for. However, the art within restorative justice tackles a much more important issue within the criminal justice system, post-conviction careers. Everybody knows that having a conviction drastically decreases your job opportunities. A study conducted in 2011 stated, “65 million U.S. adults who have criminal records often confront