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& Humiston, 2017). We included tity employs the traditional legisla­ chicken coop, so careful analysis of
a chapter to help CJ professionals tive process to achieve change, we those CBOs is still required.
understand how social movements have a conventional group. What we can take away from
affect the CJ system and, in turn, If that collective identity trans­ the recent past is that new groups
how the CJ system affects social forms into a movement that views of people sharing emerging collec­
movements. Such relationships itself as in opposition to the domi­ tive identities will develop as our
can be either positive or nega­ nant culture to “undermine, reform, material and social worlds change
tive. One of the organizations the or overthrow a system of domina­ around us. Our focus should con­
chapter discussed was the Black tion” (Morris, 1992), we have the tinue to be on implementing the
Lives Matter movement, compar­ development of an “oppositional best EBPs to meet the needs of our
ing it to the Occupy movement. consciousness.” The group is now community.
(Remember them?) Arguably, Black likely to become unconventional New challenges lie ahead of us.
Lives Matter has become one of the and employs what we often con­ Keeping a finger on the pulse of the
driving forces for change within the sider criminal means to change. community and encouraging the
CJ system since that time. Much of this depends on the com­ development of positive relation­
We want to draw on some of that munication channels between the ships with the existing and new
work to help understand how social oppositional group and the broader organizations that provide the EBPs
movements and other events can society. The more grievances can we need for our clientele is impera­
affect the priorities that we think be communicated—and a response tive. We hope these two articles
will be guiding us into the future. It received—the less likely there will have helped you to develop a
is a given that the social world does be a criminal outcome. perception that you can do this in a
not stand still for long. One of the CJ organizations, including manner that links your correctional
great debates in early sociology was corrections, are often viewed as fun­ organization to the dynamic com­
whether it was the material condi­ damentally conservative, seeking munity you serve. 
tions in which people lived that to maintain the status quo. In more
drove ideas or the ideas that drove recent analyses, CJ organizations are References
changes in material conditions. By viewed as participants in the sub­ Goldsmith, S. & Eggers, W. D. (2004).
material, we mean everything from jugation of non­majority peoples, Governing by network: The new shape
technology to housing and econom­ whether that be on the basis of race, of the public sector. Washington, DC:
ics. In fact, more often we see an ethnicity, or gender identity. In fact, The Brookings Institution.
interaction between the material many sociologists argued that hav­ Groch, S. (1994). Oppositional con­
and the ideas rather than one driv­ ing the values and interests of one’s sciousness: Its manifestation and
ing the other. group expressed in the criminal law development. The case of people
This is important because when is the ultimate symbolic victory in with disabilities. Sociological Inquiry,
people share a material and ideo­ our society. If a CJ organization is 64(4), 369–395.
logical existence that is different perceived as being resistant to the Merton, R. K. (1967). Social theory and
from those lived by others, we often plight of a group who are express­ social structure. New York: The Free
encounter disparities. It is also ing a grievance, it is likely that the Press.
important to note that we are mov­ CJ organization will be lumped in Morris, A. (1992). Political conscious­
ing from individual perceptions to with the oppressors—whether it is ness and collective action. In
shared group/class/status percep­ factual or not. A. Morris & C. Mueller (Eds.),
tions here. In the previous sec­ Frontiers in social movement theory
tion we noted that “ressentiment” Concluding Thoughts (pp. 351–373). New Haven, CT: Yale
University Press.
groups could go one of two ways in In this short space, we cannot
addressing their grievances. go into the detail on how social Potter, R. H. & Humiston, G. S. (2017).
Criminal justice organizations:
People in groups who experi­ movements and CJ organizations Structure, relationships, control,
ence a “reality” that is perceived to continue to experience contact with and planning. St. Paul, MN: West
be less valued or advantaged than each other. For now, let us state that Academic Publishing.
they perceive other groups to live a dynamic tension may be required
may begin the development of what to bring a broader range of commu­
has been called “collective identity” nity­based organizations (CBOs) Roberto Hugh Potter (rhpotter@ucf.
(Groch, 1994). This involves a shared into the provision of evidence­based edu) is a professor and Gail Sears
awareness of ideas, perceptions, and practices/programs (EBPs) to cor­ Humiston (gail.humiston@ucf.edu) is
interests similar to those of others in rectional facilities. Again, one must an associate lecturer in the Department
of Criminal Justice at the University of
your “group.” If the collective iden­ be careful not to invite a fox into the Central Florida in Orlando, Florida.

48 | SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2021 AMERICANJails