Soc 329 - MoJo

Forty years ago, the US prison population Forty years ago, the US prison population

was less than 200,000. was less than 200,000.

The IR was about 100 per 100,000 The IR was about 100 per 100,000 populationpopulation

(about normal for prosperous countries)(about normal for prosperous countries)

Today, the US prison population is more Today, the US prison population is more than than

1,400,000 – more than seven times larger!1,400,000 – more than seven times larger!

Soc 329 - MoJo

Another 700,000+ people are in jails.Another 700,000+ people are in jails.

The US now has the highest IR on earth!The US now has the highest IR on earth!

2 million + people incarcerated2 million + people incarcerated

IR over 700 IR over 700 (minority IR much higher!)(minority IR much higher!)

Soc 329 - MoJo

How We Got to Two Million:How We Got to Two Million: How did the Land of the Free become How did the Land of the Free become

the the

world's leading jailer?world's leading jailer?

It wasn’t crime -- It wasn’t crime --

political manipulation of fear of political manipulation of fear of crime.crime.

Soc 329 - MoJo

Main Elements:Main Elements:

• War on drugsWar on drugs• Harsher sentences for petty Harsher sentences for petty

crimescrimes• Mandatory sentencing lawsMandatory sentencing laws• Three strikes lawsThree strikes laws• ““Get tough” policies in generalGet tough” policies in general

Soc 329 - MoJo

Targets minoritiesTargets minorities

““Revenge” for the civil rights Revenge” for the civil rights movement?movement?

Soc 329 - MoJo

Cost is huge, but creates Cost is huge, but creates opportunities: opportunities:

• businessesbusinesses• small townssmall towns• politicianspoliticians• the mediathe media• Others (phone, bus, etc.)Others (phone, bus, etc.)

Soc 329 - MoJo

Incubating DiseaseIncubating Disease

Prisons are rife with infectious Prisons are rife with infectious illnesses illnesses

– – and threaten to spread them to the and threaten to spread them to the public.public.

Sex, drug sharing, and simple exposure Sex, drug sharing, and simple exposure

spreads diseases in prisons and spreads diseases in prisons and outside.outside.

Soc 329 - MoJo

• HIVHIV• Hepatitis CHepatitis C• TuberculosisTuberculosis• MeningitisMeningitis

Soc 329 - MoJo

Cheap/poor medical care typical in Cheap/poor medical care typical in prisonprison

why?why?

Medical care is expensive – the “logic”Medical care is expensive – the “logic”

why should “criminals” get medical why should “criminals” get medical care care

that poor people who are not criminals that poor people who are not criminals

can’t afford?can’t afford?

Soc 329 - MoJo

Bad InvestmentBad Investment

Gary Johnson, former Republican Gary Johnson, former Republican governor of New Mexico, on why governor of New Mexico, on why the war on drugs is a waste of the war on drugs is a waste of money.money.

Soc 329 - MoJo

War on drugs is tremendously War on drugs is tremendously expensive, expensive,

.... and is a failure..... and is a failure.

Money would be better spent on Money would be better spent on rehab rehab

and drug treatment, which might and drug treatment, which might actually actually

reduce crime in the long run.reduce crime in the long run.

Soc 329 - MoJo

Breeding ViolenceBreeding Violence

Locking people up is supposed to Locking people up is supposed to make our streets safer, but it may make our streets safer, but it may be doing just the opposite.be doing just the opposite.

Soc 329 - MoJoStress & violence lead to post-Stress & violence lead to post-

traumatic traumatic

stress disorder.stress disorder.

Feuds continue on the outside.Feuds continue on the outside.

Isolation has even worse effects.Isolation has even worse effects.

Prisoners released with nothing --Prisoners released with nothing --

and “help” is mostly blocked.and “help” is mostly blocked.

Soc 329 - MoJo

Left BehindLeft Behind

Hundreds of thousands of children Hundreds of thousands of children have have

a parent behind bars. a parent behind bars.

What are the social costs of their What are the social costs of their loss?loss?

Soc 329 - MoJo

Psychological damage – “at risk” Psychological damage – “at risk” kids.kids.

No resources for them either ---No resources for them either ---

into juvenile and welfare into juvenile and welfare bureaucracies.bureaucracies.

Many get in trouble because of Many get in trouble because of damage.damage.

Soc 329 - MoJo

Liberty and Justice for Some:Liberty and Justice for Some:

Jesse Jackson on the moral costs of Jesse Jackson on the moral costs of mass incarceration.mass incarceration.

Gains of civil rights movement are Gains of civil rights movement are being being

rolled back by binge and war on rolled back by binge and war on drugs.drugs.

Soc 329 - MoJo

What's the alternative? What's the alternative?

Society has to respond to Society has to respond to lawbreakers, lawbreakers,

but it doesn't always have to lock but it doesn't always have to lock them them

up.up.

Soc 329 - MoJo

Because of the huge cost of the Because of the huge cost of the binge, binge,

states are beginning to experiment states are beginning to experiment with with

alternatives.alternatives.

So far the results are mixed.So far the results are mixed.

Soc 329 - MoJo

** Browse state by state atlas

Next

Corr, Inc. Corr, Inc.

… … and yet more problems and yet more problems with the imprisonment with the imprisonment bingebinge