Mission Statement

We are a collective of family members and activists directly supporting people who have come into contact with the criminal justice system.

We seek to centre and empower those with personal experience of the criminal justice system, and to organise within the community to campaign for truth, justice and accountability at all levels.

We see so many of our children trapped in the revolving door of the criminal justice system. From the preschool to prison pipeline, to probation services and beyond – our communities are criminalised and denied basic justice, liberties, and life opportunities.

We work to tackle injustices and discrimination across multiple systems that exist to oppress our communities, that are deeply embedded in our history of colonialism and slavery and are international in their scope.

Mothers 4 Justice-Ubuntu seeks to create a space for us to come together, empower and support one another, and fight for justice.

Aims

To support people going through the criminal justice system, and their families and loved ones, through advocacy, campaigns and direct action.

To shine a spotlight on local injustices in the criminal justice system and work with those affected to campaign for truth, justice and accountability.

To create spaces for local conversations about how to create tangible change across all elements of the local criminal justice system, to ensure our systems work as services to keep our community safe rather than as a force to criminalise us.

Objectives

To support individuals and families from beginning to end in their interactions with the criminal justice system, and relevant social services.

To organise within our local community in Oxford, centering those with direct experience of the criminal justice system.

To campaign on issues of individual and systemic injustice, including campaigning for the local police, probation and social services to work towards restorative justice.

To provide spaces for community-driven conversations to identify problems with the criminal justice system and associated services, and collectively agree tangible actions to win change – always working towards the ultimate goals of truth, justice and accountability.

To work collaboratively with other organisations across the country working on holding the criminal justice system to account and transforming it to serve our communities.