The United States has the world’s largest overall prison population as well as the highest incarceration rate. The 2.3 million Americans in prisons and jails account for a full 20 percent of those locked up around the world. This mass incarceration does not affect only those living behind bars; the ripple effects impact children, families, and entire communities. Studies have shown that over 10 million American children have experienced parental incarceration in their lifetime. As a consequence, these children are less prepared to begin schooling, score lower on cognitive assessments, and are more likely to have behavioral problems. These effects put young people on trajectories that have implications for their later-life successes and social mobility prospects.
One cannot discuss mass incarceration in the U.S. without also addressing the racial inequalities in our criminal justice system. Despite accounting for just 13 percent of the U.S. population, Black Americans make up 40 percent of the incarcerated population. We’ve also seen time and time again how so-called justice is meted unequally upon people of color, from violent treatment at the hands of police to vast disparities in sentencing.
In this session, experts will discuss racial inequities in law enforcement, arrests, and the growing crisis of incarceration, as well as the intergenerational, familial, and societal costs of having so many of our fellow citizens behind bars.
