All This Safety Is Killing Us

Health Justice Beyond Prisons, Police, and Borders--Abolitionist frameworks and practices from clinicians, organizers, and incarcerated activists

Foreword by Rachel Herzing
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$22.95 US
| $29.95 CAN
On sale Apr 15, 2025 | 366 Pages | 9798889841401

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A multi-discipline, multimedia guide to abolition through the lens of healthcare and medicine – featuring writings and artwork from 10+ incarcerated and post-detention activists

Exposing how marginalized communities are vilified by “carceral safety” systems, educators and health justice advocates Carlos Martinez and Ronica Mukerjee call for a radical break with reformist strategies in favor of ones grounded in grassroots organizing and abolition


Prisons, border security, and police forces are meant to protect. Yet for the most vulnerable, they more often cause harm. Funded in response to a never ending “crime wave,” people with disabilities, Black and brown people, trans and queer people, people with mental health diagnoses, and survivors of trauma and abuse are targeted by punitive carceral policies. These policies perpetuate physical, psychological, and intergenerational harm. And they don’t keep anyone safe.

All This Safety is Killing Us reflects this view, combining political strategy with evidence-based medical and social science research to envision a post-carceral society.

With contributions from scholars, activists and artists, All This Safety is Killing Us marks a radical break from punitive frameworks. Special features include: 

  • Contributions from nurses, doctors, doulas, public health workers, physical therapists, acupuncturists, and disability justice workers.
  • Woodcuts, comics, mini-zines, infographics, and drawings by community activists, queer and trans/gender expansive-focused writers, current prisoners, deportees, and survivors of state-sanctioned violence.
  • Interviews with leading abolition and health justice scholars.

Bringing scholarly research into public conversation, this book shows that those working within public health and medical fields have a critical role to play in creating a truly safe and flourishing society.
"A stark first-hand look at the ways policing and carcerality negatively impact health care delivery and patient well-being, and evidence-based steps we can take to create safer and healthier medical settings. This book should be required reading for everyone working in health-care settings."—ALEX S. VITALE, author of The End of Policiing

"These pages evidence a rapidly emerging revolt against an existing order that deputizes caretaking professionals as state-ordained partners in the gendered anti-Black, colonial carceral warfare of hospitals, prisons, detention centers, clinics, and psychiatric/behavioral confinement."—DYLAN RODRÍGUEZ, distinguished professor at UC Riverside and author of White Reconstruction

"Abolitionist health justice is a concept and movement whose time has come. A must-read for health practitioners and all those working to create a more just, life-sustaining world."—JENNA M. LOYD, associate professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison and author of Health Rights Are Civil Rights

"All This Safety Is Killing Us forces a unique reckoning with the US health-care system. In a collective voice, it asks bravely and simply what might it mean to be well?"—CHRISTINA HEATHERTON, Elting Associate Professor of American Studies and Human Rights at Trinity College and editor of Policing the Planet

"A deep, intersectional exploration of our current carceral health system, alongside compelling case studies of groundbreaking abolitionist practice. A wide range of perspectives and lenses are represented in thoughtful, intentional ways—all clearly, accessibly, and beautifully written."—MAKANI THEMBA, chief strategist at Higher Ground Change Strategies

"This creative and innovative volume brings together an unusually wide range of voices to make a clear case that police, prisons, and borders are racist structures that not only fail to keep us safe, but also kill the most vulnerable members of our communities. Anyone who wants to understand and confront how carceral systems exacerbate health inequalities should read this book."—TANYA GOLASH-BOZA, author of Race and Racisms

"Case studies and analyses offer concrete examples of the tactics and tools health care practitioners and organizers are already using to dismantle systems of carceral safety and replace them with abolition medicine. I hope this book becomes required reading for all health workers."—A. NAOMI PAIK, author of Bans, Walls, Raids, Sanctuary

"Grounded in everyday practice and struggle, this engaging collection persuasively demonstrates that abolitionist frameworks are invaluable for health care justice and the collective labor of living otherwise."—ALYOSHA GOLDSTEIN, professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico

"Accessible for everyone, from college campuses to health departments, this instructive text needs to be read and applied with urgency for abolition now and everywhere."—WHITNEY PIRTLE, associate professor at UC Merced

About

A multi-discipline, multimedia guide to abolition through the lens of healthcare and medicine – featuring writings and artwork from 10+ incarcerated and post-detention activists

Exposing how marginalized communities are vilified by “carceral safety” systems, educators and health justice advocates Carlos Martinez and Ronica Mukerjee call for a radical break with reformist strategies in favor of ones grounded in grassroots organizing and abolition


Prisons, border security, and police forces are meant to protect. Yet for the most vulnerable, they more often cause harm. Funded in response to a never ending “crime wave,” people with disabilities, Black and brown people, trans and queer people, people with mental health diagnoses, and survivors of trauma and abuse are targeted by punitive carceral policies. These policies perpetuate physical, psychological, and intergenerational harm. And they don’t keep anyone safe.

All This Safety is Killing Us reflects this view, combining political strategy with evidence-based medical and social science research to envision a post-carceral society.

With contributions from scholars, activists and artists, All This Safety is Killing Us marks a radical break from punitive frameworks. Special features include: 

  • Contributions from nurses, doctors, doulas, public health workers, physical therapists, acupuncturists, and disability justice workers.
  • Woodcuts, comics, mini-zines, infographics, and drawings by community activists, queer and trans/gender expansive-focused writers, current prisoners, deportees, and survivors of state-sanctioned violence.
  • Interviews with leading abolition and health justice scholars.

Bringing scholarly research into public conversation, this book shows that those working within public health and medical fields have a critical role to play in creating a truly safe and flourishing society.

Reviews

"A stark first-hand look at the ways policing and carcerality negatively impact health care delivery and patient well-being, and evidence-based steps we can take to create safer and healthier medical settings. This book should be required reading for everyone working in health-care settings."—ALEX S. VITALE, author of The End of Policiing

"These pages evidence a rapidly emerging revolt against an existing order that deputizes caretaking professionals as state-ordained partners in the gendered anti-Black, colonial carceral warfare of hospitals, prisons, detention centers, clinics, and psychiatric/behavioral confinement."—DYLAN RODRÍGUEZ, distinguished professor at UC Riverside and author of White Reconstruction

"Abolitionist health justice is a concept and movement whose time has come. A must-read for health practitioners and all those working to create a more just, life-sustaining world."—JENNA M. LOYD, associate professor at University of Wisconsin–Madison and author of Health Rights Are Civil Rights

"All This Safety Is Killing Us forces a unique reckoning with the US health-care system. In a collective voice, it asks bravely and simply what might it mean to be well?"—CHRISTINA HEATHERTON, Elting Associate Professor of American Studies and Human Rights at Trinity College and editor of Policing the Planet

"A deep, intersectional exploration of our current carceral health system, alongside compelling case studies of groundbreaking abolitionist practice. A wide range of perspectives and lenses are represented in thoughtful, intentional ways—all clearly, accessibly, and beautifully written."—MAKANI THEMBA, chief strategist at Higher Ground Change Strategies

"This creative and innovative volume brings together an unusually wide range of voices to make a clear case that police, prisons, and borders are racist structures that not only fail to keep us safe, but also kill the most vulnerable members of our communities. Anyone who wants to understand and confront how carceral systems exacerbate health inequalities should read this book."—TANYA GOLASH-BOZA, author of Race and Racisms

"Case studies and analyses offer concrete examples of the tactics and tools health care practitioners and organizers are already using to dismantle systems of carceral safety and replace them with abolition medicine. I hope this book becomes required reading for all health workers."—A. NAOMI PAIK, author of Bans, Walls, Raids, Sanctuary

"Grounded in everyday practice and struggle, this engaging collection persuasively demonstrates that abolitionist frameworks are invaluable for health care justice and the collective labor of living otherwise."—ALYOSHA GOLDSTEIN, professor of American Studies at the University of New Mexico

"Accessible for everyone, from college campuses to health departments, this instructive text needs to be read and applied with urgency for abolition now and everywhere."—WHITNEY PIRTLE, associate professor at UC Merced
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