Mass Incarceration 1

Gavin West

Introduction to Criminal Justice CJ 1010

Dr. Anthony J. Nocella II

Week 10

Mass Incarceration
Mass Incarceration 2

Abstract

In the United States criminal justice system there lies many problems and flaws, one of

these major problems being that of mass incarceration. The United States holds more

incarcerated people than any other country. While it is a major issue to have so many people

behind bars being punished instead of helped in many cases, there are a large amount of social

problems that result from mass incarceration. This has been found out through researching the

statistics of economic and racial inequality within the criminal justice system, and observing the

opinions given by scholars working towards reform of the criminal justice system. The ultimate

purpose of this research is to pinpoint prominent social problems that stem from mass

incarceration, state the causes and effects of these problems, and formulate viable solutions. The

disadvantages that people are held to when convicted or imprisoned are fairly drastic to begin

with. When mass incarceration as well as the racial and economic inequality are added to the

equation, there comes a major obstacle. The continuous loop of inequity is only furthered by the

dilemma of mass incarceration in the United States. Punitive reaction is used in far too many

areas in the criminal justice system, voiding the effect in many situations where striving for

equity would be the best possible solution.

Mass Incarceration 3

Biography

Gavin West has been born and raised in Salt Lake City Utah, and is a 19 year old student

at Salt Lake Community College. He is a very active person and enjoys doing things such as

skiing, biking, skating, working out, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Currently, Gavin is

working on general education courses at SLCC with a plan of later transferring to the University

of Utah. He does not have a set goal of what he would like to become just yet, but is interested in

business, finance, and economics.

Mass Incarceration 4

Mass Incarceration

Introduction

The criminal justice system within the United States is extremely defective. This is

because it holds five percent of the world population, but about twenty-five percent of the world

prisoners. Mass incarceration has always been a problem within the United States, but in recent

years it has become even worse than ever. Incarceration rates have reached about five times what

rates have been in previous history. This may be one of the biggest problems facing the criminal

justice system as it promotes economic, social, and racial inequality (Brennan Center for Justice,

2020, para. 1).

Social Problem

Some of the biggest social problems that stem from mass incarceration are racial and

economic inequality. Those who have served time in prison or have been convicted of a crime

are much more likely to suffer from poverty. Minorities have also been disproportionately

affected by the focus of incarcerating individuals being turned to incarcerating entire social

groups. These two social problems within mass incarceration have continued to grow out of

proportion. Eliminating racial and economic inequality among individuals can be highly assisted

by addressing the problem of mass incarceration.

Cause and Reasoning of the Social Problem

When an individual is convicted of a crime or has to serve prison time, their permanent

record is struck for everyone to see, no matter the individual. This greatly affects the opportunity

of that individual to earn a living wage. Employers are often opposed to hiring those with

criminal offenses, even if the person has true intent to work and serve society. Inequality of

economic gain from mass incarceration only continues the loop of poverty. Even minor criminal
Mass Incarceration 5

offenses can affect the ability to profit, resulting in millions of dollars lost by Americans every

year.

In the 1980s and the 1990s, there was a prison boom that gave black men a seventy

percent chance of being incarcerated if they dropped out of high school. Because of this major

disproportionality, today about one in nine African American children have an incarcerated

parent. Children who experience parental incarceration are faced with many issues, especially

that of having a higher likelihood of being incarcerated themselves. However, when the bigger

issue is observed, prison has been used in order to prevent crime as opposed to many other more

effective methods of individual help. Liberty is taken away from those whose liberty was already

deprived from the beginning of the country with slavery (Fair Fight Initiative, 2016, para. 1-3).

Effects of the Social Problem

As was previously said, individuals who have committed crimes are held at a

disadvantage for economic gain. This not only affects the offender, but also the innocent family

of the person, and this capitalizes on those who already face poverty. The disproportionate

incarceration of African Americans also negatively affects families and other innocent

minorities. Both of these social problems only continue a cycle of poverty and racism in society.

Many opportunities of equity are withheld from people due to mass incarceration.

Conclusion

Mass incarceration is one of the more dire problems facing the United States criminal

justice system. Due to this, racial and economic inequality halt advancement as a society. In

order to combat this, the criminal justice system must become more equitable and much less

punitive. The focus of helping and reintegrating individuals into society, regardless of status,

should be held as a much higher priority than using punishment to prevent crime. In order to

change this, the view that equality and safety go together must be acted upon and committed to.
Mass Incarceration 6

References

“End Mass Incarceration.” Brennan Center for Justice, 2022,

https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/end-mass-incarceration.

MULLER, C. (2013). Mass Incarceration, Macrosociology, and the Poor. The Annals of the

American Academy of Political and Social Science, 647, 166–189.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/23479100

Wagner, Peter, and Wendy Sawyer. “Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2022.” Prison Policy

Initiative, Prison Policy Initiative, 2022,

https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2022.html.

Western, B., & Wildeman, C. (2009). The Black Family and Mass Incarceration. The Annals of

the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 621, 221–242.

http://www.jstor.org/stable/40375840

Western, Bruce. “The History, Causes, and Facts on Mass Incarceration.” Fair Fight Initiative,

2016,

https://www.fairfightinitiative.org/the-history-causes-and-facts-on-mass-incarceration/.