Nicholas OConnor

Carlos Chism

Pre-English

July 29, 2017

The pearls or triumphs of Mass Incarceration

Throughout my first few weeks in my criminal justice class, I have learned several

distinct features of our justice system. Often times while having debates, our class would reach

crossroads on the pros and cons of our justice system. Quickly, I began to realize that with every

beneficial amendment or policy in our constitution, there is also a potential negative that

counteracts the good accomplished. In discussing this idea, I zoned my focus to Americas

incarceration system. America has over two million people in jail which led me to wonder about

the various consequences (good or bad) to this large number. Upon pondering this predicament, I

began to think, does mass incarceration have more positives or negatives attached to it?

Despite the terror of jail and the negative sigma associated with prisons, I never stopped

to ponder this question. Particularly, as an African American in America, this is not normally a

question asked because the answer is a definite no. In our criminal justice system many racial

problems arise, because minorities often feel the system is out to get them. In contrast, many

wealthy people have a clear understanding that our justice system is perfectly fine and this

creates a clear disparity.

In order to fully understand this question, research has been done to highlight the

beginning of mass incarceration in America. According to the documentary 13th mass

incarcerations roots stem distinctly back to slavery. Based on this film, slavery along with

incarceration was not only justice but also a business. Following the 13th amendment, which
made slavery unconstitutional, four million people were set free. This caused the souths

economy to crumble because the slaves provided free labor for major corporations. Hence based

on the film, mass incarceration was used to rebuild the souths depressing economy. This

presents a very conflicting viewpoint in regard to mass incarceration. Despite the positive of

rebuilding the souths economy due to free labor. Mass incarceration was also used to further

segregate the country seeing as though African Americans make up 1 million of the 2.2 million

people incarcerated (NAACP).

Research has proven that minorities make up a high percentage of inmates in jail.

Regardless of the crime, according to the NAACP mass incarceration does little to rehabilitate

those in jail. The NAACP argues that not only does mass incarceration generate a bad stigma

towards law enforcement. It also strengthens segregation, and it gives dominate racists the right

to wrongfully take advantage of minorities. The NAACP presents a compelling argument in

which they say Together, African American and Hispanics comprised 58% of all prisoners in

2008, even though African Americans and Hispanics make up approximately one quarter of the

US population. Evidence clearly indicates the racial attitude our justice system has. Despite

doing justice one in six African Americans have been incarcerated since 2001 (NAACP).

Based on their research, the organization concluded that mass incarceration is not positive

because it does not fix the prominent issues that prompt minorities to crime. Instead of quickly

incarcerating masses of minorities and deeming it justice, the NAACP believes that most crime

is Inner city crime prompted by social and economic isolation. This would mean that the

circumstances and situations people are born in heavily influences their outlook on life. If one is

raised around drugs, violence, gangs, and poverty, hypothetically one might be more inclined to

steal and commit crime in order to provide for ones family or because that is all you are
accustomed to. As a result of this lifestyle one might commit a crime and go to jail. In this the

NAACP argues that mass incarceration is not a good system, but instead it reaps the benefits of

those underprivileged and desperate for a better life.

Further research shows that the intensity of mass incarceration is negative because of its

intended targets. For example, according to Rosario-Moore (From The Ground Up: Criminal

Law education For Communities Most Affected By Mass Incarceration) In the last 25 years, the

American criminal justice system has increasingly marginalized and criminalized low-income

communities of color. In this sense mass incarceration is not positive but very negative. By

criminalizing low income families and minorities Moore argues that the justice system has an

easier way to incarcerate individuals and thus establish mass incarceration. She then continues

her argument by saying mass incarceration is a result of a national decline in civics education

and a deep skepticism of criminal defense lawyers. This completes her argument because in her

defense mass incarceration is a negative because it is a result of negative beginnings. If civic

education was taught and minorities fully believed and supported their defense lawyers, then the

negatives of mass incarceration would not exist.

In contrast to the negative viewpoints research has been done to show the positives of

mass incarceration. According to James Wootton, people have developed the idea that putting

and keeping a massive amount of people in jail will keep them safe. He explicitly says that

Keeping violent criminals incarcerated for at least 85 percent of their sentences would be the

quickest, surest route to safer streets, schools and homes. Often times people come under the

assumption that by imprisoning convicts their communities will be safer. Wootton further

conveys his message by saying Experience shows clearly that the first step in fighting crime is

to keep violent criminals off the street. He reveals that mass incarceration has a significant of
positives, because it keeps criminals off of the street which gives communities a sense of

protection and safety.

Mass incarceration has many different aspects. According to Melanie Reid mass

incarceration disconnects Americans from inmates and those convicted of crimes. Instead

focusing on rehabilitation, Americans view inmates as dangerous criminals who should be

incarcerated, and isolated from society. Instead of viewing criminals as people with issues and

problems, Reid argues that mass incarceration creates an atmosphere in which people focus on

the crime more than the person. Reid highlights the negative aspects of mass incarceration and

the pessimistic viewpoints it creates.

Mass incarceration has various positives and negatives. Several researchers have

developed different ideas and theories that support or go against mass incarceration. Research

has shown the various downfalls and upbringings that our criminal justice system causes. Yet,

whether one believes mass incarceration has more positives or negatives to is up for the reader to

defend and decide.

 References:

1. Clark, Charles S. "Prison Overcrowding." CQ Researcher by CQ Press. N.p., n.d. Web. 30

July 2017.

2. "Criminal Justice Fact Sheet." NAACP. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 July 2017.

3. DuVernay, Ava. "13TH." Netflix Official Site. N.p., 07 Oct. 2016. Web. 30 July 2017.

4. Reid, Melanie. "The Culture of Mass Incarceration: Why "Locking Them up and Throwing
Away the Key" Isn't a Humane or Workable Solution for Society, and How Prison
Conditions and Diet Can Be Improved." University of Maryland Law Journal of Race,
Religion, Gender & Class, vol. 15, no. 2, Fall2015, pp. 251-292. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=115790489&site=ehost-
live.

5. ROSARIO-MOORE, EDITHA and ALEXIOS ROSARIO-MOORE. "From the Ground Up:

Criminal Law Education for Communities Most Affected by Mass Incarceration." Clinical
Law Review, vol. 23, no. 2, Spring2017, pp. 753-774. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=122299752&site=ehost-
live.