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Questions and Answers
What is the total number of individuals under correctional supervision in the U.S.?
What is the total number of individuals under correctional supervision in the U.S.?
Which demographic is primarily affected by mass imprisonment according to current trends?
Which demographic is primarily affected by mass imprisonment according to current trends?
What is meant by 'sheer abnormal size' in the context of mass imprisonment?
What is meant by 'sheer abnormal size' in the context of mass imprisonment?
At peak rates, what proportion of Black men aged 20-29 were under correctional supervision?
At peak rates, what proportion of Black men aged 20-29 were under correctional supervision?
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What role does socioeconomic status play in mass incarceration?
What role does socioeconomic status play in mass incarceration?
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Which of the following best describes the 'social concentration of effects' related to mass imprisonment?
Which of the following best describes the 'social concentration of effects' related to mass imprisonment?
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How does community supervision differ from traditional incarceration?
How does community supervision differ from traditional incarceration?
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What is the primary consequence of mass incarceration on communities?
What is the primary consequence of mass incarceration on communities?
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What trend in imprisonment rates was observed starting around the early 70s until the late 90s?
What trend in imprisonment rates was observed starting around the early 70s until the late 90s?
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What relationship drew attention regarding crime rates and imprisonment rates?
What relationship drew attention regarding crime rates and imprisonment rates?
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By how much did crime rates decline after 1991?
By how much did crime rates decline after 1991?
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Which period saw a consistent increase in both crime and imprisonment rates?
Which period saw a consistent increase in both crime and imprisonment rates?
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What phenomenon is often debated in relation to the causes of mass incarceration?
What phenomenon is often debated in relation to the causes of mass incarceration?
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What cumulative risk remained consistent for certain birth cohorts by 1999?
What cumulative risk remained consistent for certain birth cohorts by 1999?
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What can be inferred about crime rates from the late 70s to the early 90s?
What can be inferred about crime rates from the late 70s to the early 90s?
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Which period did imprisonment rates not align with the trend of crime rates?
Which period did imprisonment rates not align with the trend of crime rates?
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Which statement accurately reflects the relationship between crime rates and imprisonment rates?
Which statement accurately reflects the relationship between crime rates and imprisonment rates?
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What is indicated as a major contributor to the rise of American imprisonment rates?
What is indicated as a major contributor to the rise of American imprisonment rates?
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Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a factor leading to the adoption of punitive policies?
Which of the following was NOT mentioned as a factor leading to the adoption of punitive policies?
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What evidence suggests that crime alone does not explain mass incarceration in the U.S.?
What evidence suggests that crime alone does not explain mass incarceration in the U.S.?
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During which period did crime and imprisonment rates rise together?
During which period did crime and imprisonment rates rise together?
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Which statement about the U.S. penal system is correct according to the provided information?
Which statement about the U.S. penal system is correct according to the provided information?
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What does the information suggest about the role of crime in shaping public policy?
What does the information suggest about the role of crime in shaping public policy?
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Which issue is NOT connected to the rise of punitive policies in American society?
Which issue is NOT connected to the rise of punitive policies in American society?
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Study Notes
Mass Incarceration and Crime
- Mass incarceration is a significant issue, characterized by unusually high rates of imprisonment.
- The number of prisoners under state and federal jurisdiction significantly increased between 1980 and 2016.
- Key defining characteristics include sheer abnormal size (significantly higher rates than historical averages) and social concentration of effects (targeting specific groups, notably young Black men in urban areas).
- The contemporary American penal system encompasses local jails (for misdemeanors and those awaiting court action), prisons (for felonies), probation (an alternative to incarceration), and parole (conditional release).
- In 2020 (using 2019 data) a total of 6,536,500 people were under correctional supervision (incarceration + community supervision).
- Imprisonment rates often climb a decade after crime rates increase.
- However, crime and imprisonment rates have become largely disconnected since the 1990s.
- During this period, punitive policies replaced rising crime rates as an important factor.
Defining characteristics of mass imprisonment
- Imprisonment affects a larger portion of the population than typical.
- This disproportionately affects specific demographic groups such as young adults, Black individuals, and those without a college degree, who are usually located in urban areas — based on age, race, class, and gender (among other factors).
- These effects are amplified at particular geographic locations or geographical regions, often urban centers.
Historical trends in US incarceration
- Incarceration rates, measured per 100,000 U.S. residents, rose significantly from the 1980s through the mid-2010s.
- State-level incarceration rates differ substantially.
- Some states have much higher incarceration rates than average
- The high rates of incarceration can disproportionately affect certain demographics.
- For example, one in three Black men aged 20 to 29 were under correctional supervision, at peak rates of imprisonment.
International comparative perspective
- The United States has a significantly higher incarceration rate compared to other founding members of NATO.
- The data in 2018 shows that the rate per 100,000 population is 693 for the U.S. while other members had much lower incarceration rates.
State Variation
- There is significant variation in incarceration rates across U.S. states.
- Top 5 states in 2016: Louisiana, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Arizona
- Bottom 5 states in 2016: Vermont, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Maine
Numbers in Context
- The scale of the U.S. correctional system is substantial. If the population under correctional supervision were a U.S. state, it would be exceptionally large, similar to major urban centers.
- This visualizes the sheer size of the correctional footprint of the U.S. and its overall impact.
Social concentration of effects
- This focuses on how mass incarceration disproportionately impacts specific groups within a population.
- Risk of imprisonment varies significantly depending on age, race, and education level. For instance, Black men in specific age groups have vastly higher rates of imprisonment.
- Specific demographics are disproportionately affected by high incarceration rates compared to other demographic groups.
Did crime cause mass incarceration?
- Crime rates and imprisonment rates are not always closely aligned.
- Imprisonment rates rose after crime rates, but they diverged in the 1990s.
- Punitive policies played a significant role in the rise of incarceration rates, not just crime rates alone.
Examples of policies
- Sentencing guidelines, abolishment of parole, three-strikes laws, and truth-in-sentencing laws implemented over specific periods had a profound impact on imprisonment.
- These policies were adopted at different rates depending on the state.
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Description
Explore the critical issue of mass incarceration in the United States and its profound effects on society. This quiz delves into the statistics, characteristics, and evolution of imprisonment rates from 1980 to 2016. Understand the interplay between crime rates and imprisonment trends, with a focus on specific demographic impacts.
