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Mass Incarceration in America: A Conservative Turnaround

Miguel de Cervantes

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Published in Prison Break: Why Conservatives Turned Against Mass Incarceration (Studies In Postwar American Political Development)

4 min read · 3 weeks before

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Mass incarceration has been a defining feature of the American criminal justice system for decades, with the United States having the highest incarceration rate in the world. However, in recent years, there has been a growing movement among conservatives to reform the criminal justice system and reduce mass incarceration.

This conservative turn against mass incarceration is a significant development, as conservatives have traditionally been strong supporters of tough-on-crime policies. So, what has caused this change of heart? And what does it mean for the future of criminal justice reform in America?

Prison Break: Why Conservatives Turned Against Mass Incarceration (Studies in Postwar American Political Development)

by James Simpson

4.4 out of 5

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Causes of the Conservative Turnaround

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the conservative turn against mass incarceration. One factor is the growing body of evidence that mass incarceration is not effective at reducing crime. In fact, some studies have shown that mass incarceration can actually increase crime rates.

Another factor is the rising cost of mass incarceration. The United States spends over $80 billion on prisons each year, and this cost is only increasing. This is a huge burden on taxpayers, and it is money that could be better spent on other priorities, such as education and healthcare.

Finally, there is a growing recognition that mass incarceration has a disproportionate impact on minority communities. African Americans and Latinos are incarcerated at much higher rates than whites, even though they commit crimes at similar rates.

This racial disparity in incarceration is a major injustice, and it is one of the reasons why many conservatives have come to oppose mass incarceration.

Consequences of the Conservative Turnaround

The conservative turn against mass incarceration has had a number of positive consequences. One consequence is that it has led to a decrease in the number of people in prison. In 2010, the United States had over 2.3 million people in prison. By 2019, that number had decreased to 1.4 million.

Another consequence of the conservative turn against mass incarceration is that it has led to a change in the way that we think about crime and punishment. For decades, the prevailing view was that the best way to reduce crime was to lock up as many criminals as possible.

However, there is now a growing recognition that this approach is not effective. Instead, we need to focus on finding ways to prevent crime from happening in the first place. This means investing in education, job training, and other programs that can help people to build better lives.

The Future of Criminal Justice Reform

The conservative turn against mass incarceration is a positive development, but there is still much work to be done to reform the criminal justice system. One important step is to reduce the number of people in prison for nonviolent offenses.

Another important step is to address the racial disparity in incarceration. African Americans and Latinos should not be incarcerated at higher rates than whites for the same crimes.

Finally, we need to find ways to prevent crime from happening in the first place. This means investing in education, job training, and other programs that can help people to build better lives.

By taking these steps, we can create a more just and effective criminal justice system that works for all Americans.

The conservative turn against mass incarceration is a significant development that could lead to major reforms in the criminal justice system. However, there is still much work to be done to reduce the number of people in prison, address the racial disparity in incarceration, and find ways to prevent crime from happening in the first place.

By working together, we can create a more just and effective criminal justice system that works for all Americans.

Prison Break: Why Conservatives Turned Against Mass Incarceration (Studies in Postwar American Political Development)

by James Simpson

4.4 out of 5