Come on out! June 18 to the DARE Block Party! Live Music, Free Food, Fight the War on Drugs!

Ban the Box  Probation Reform  Unshackling Pregnant Prisoners  Restoring Prisoner Interest Accounts Recent Victories

Follow the links to learn about our current campaigns.

Behind the Walls is DARE's Prison Committee, uniting people inside the prison with former inmates, their friends and families. Together, we fight for systemic changes in the criminal justice system. Along with working on legislation at the state level, we organize to build strength and solidarity among people affected by the Prison Industrial Complex. 

The project was founded in 1998 at the request of DARE members and people inside the state prison (the ACI).   DARE had been receiving a lot of media attention for work the organization was doing against police brutality.  People inside the prison recognized that police brutality and injustices in other aspects of the criminal justice system are all part of the same picture and urged DARE to broaden its work.  Many of these people have continued to be involved in Behind the Walls by serving on our Inside Advisory Committee or they have joined us in person upon their release from prison.

Join DARE's Behind the Walls Campaign.

DARE Members Lead the Fight

DARE is the only advocacy organization in Rhode Island with formerly incarcerated people and their families in its decision-making structure.  DARE is able to address the systemic problems with full integrity and an honest analysis.  We have provided key reports, analysis, strategies and testimony- particularly sharing details and information only possible because of the direct experience of our members and leaders.

DARE members play a critical and decisive role in the work of the organization. For instance, a Probation Violation sentencing reform stopping probationers from doing time when their new charges are dismissed, which passed with a large coalition and popular support, began with a DARE member who paroled from prison five years ago. While in prison, this member researched possibilities for reform, including legal arguments.  DARE members informed the drafting of the bill with their direct experiences of the injustice of being sent to prison on a probation violation- even when the charges which triggered the violation were dismissed- and then educated other coalition partners about the law, the practice, and the need for change.  This injustice effected peoples lives for decades, but was not taken on until a prisoner was released and joined DARE.