sept20

“How to really end mass incarceration” by Vanita Gupta:
What does this essay say (if anything) about:
• The kinds of prisons in America- “the vast majority of whom are minorities
— in federal prison for low-level drug crimes” (pg.2, paragraph 2); this brings up one
of the two types of prisons which is federal , “For lasting national impact we need to
look at the states, where most criminal defendants are sentenced” (pg.2, paragraph
4); not exactly titling the state prisons but within this sentence we can put into
picture that they could be insinuating state prisons as they have a majority of mass
incarceration population.
• The causes of mass incarceration- “Both political parties embraced
draconian policies like mandatory minimum sentences, three-strikes laws and wide
disparities in sentences for possession of crack versus powder cocaine” (pg.2,
paragraph 1) bring up the three strike laws and mandatory minimum sentences
which were apart of the cause of mass incarceration.
• What to do about mass incarceration- “crime prevention, restitution for
victims and the social and economic reintegration of released prisoners into our
communities so that they do not turn to crime again.” (pg.3, paragraph 2) and also
the entirety of paragraph one on page 3.
• The "prison boom"- “Both political parties embraced draconian policies like
mandatory minimum sentences, three-strikes laws and wide disparities in
sentences for possession of crack versus powder cocaine. The result: by 2003, the
United States had 4.6 percent of the world’s population but 22.4 percent of its
prison population — even though violent crime started dropping in the 1990s.”
(pg.2, paragraph 1)
"What Can the US Do About Mass Incarceration" by Clare Foran
• The kinds of prisons in America- “University of London’s Institute for

Criminal Policy Research reports. An estimated 1.6 million individuals were held in
state and federal prisons at the end of 2014.”(pg.2, para 1)
• The causes of mass incarceration- “America’s War on Drugs is to blame for
mass incarceration. Needlessly harsh laws have put large numbers of nonviolent
drug offenders behind bars.” (pg.2, para 3)
• What to do about mass incarceration: “The federal government
can also allocate funding that could influence criminal-justice
policy based on carrots and sticks. “State laws could be pushed along by
federal incentives that encourage changes,” Chettiar says. “Achieving legal change
is never about just one tactic. Ending mass incarceration requires action across the
board.” (pg.7, para 4)
• The "prison boom"- n/a
“Unlock ‘Em Up?” by Mona Charen
• The kinds of prisons in America- “about half of federal inmates are

incarcerated for drug related crimes- nearly all violent crimes are
state matters”
• The causes of mass incarceration-n/a
• What to do about mass incarceration- n/a
• The "prison boom"-n/a
"Why Are So Many Americans in Prison: A Provocative New Theory" by
Leon Neyfakh and John Pfaff, who is giving the answers.
• The kinds of prisons in America- “America’s prison population is

way too high. It’s possible that a decline has already begun, with
the number of state and federal inmates dropping for three years
straight starting in 2010”
• The causes of mass incarceration- “Many reformers, operating under the
assumption that mass incarceration is first and foremost the result of the war on
drugs”
• What to do about mass incarceration- “So you have to figure out how to
go county by county and either elect DAs who have less punitive attitudes, or you
can try to sort of change the incentives DAs face at the state level.”
• The "prison boom"- “suggests that about half of prison growth during that
period was due to rising crime. Clearly other stuff mattered, but rising crime played
a very big role during the first phase.”
"A National Cry for Criminal Justice Reform" by Katrina vanden Huevel
• The kinds of prisons in America- “Although we hear plenty about increasing

rates of mass incarceration within state and federal prisons, we hear much less
about the role played by local jails.”
• The causes of mass incarceration- “Many, in fact, are simply too poor to
post even a small bail to get out while their cases are being processed”
• What to do about mass incarceration- “So far, it has kept 800 people out
of jail and collects more than $250,000 in restitution for victims of crimes. We need
more programs like these, championed not just by advocates and researchers, but
also by law enforcement officials, prosecutors and judges who see these problems
firsthand (and who must deal with the results of inadequate “solutions”).”
• The "prison boom"-n/a
I feel like in all of these articles I find it interesting that they talk about
how these prisons need reforming yet it’s not even just the prisons that
are truly the problem as they are simply just building. It is the DA’s that
are the issue, they drive off of sending people to jail just for the quick
cash grab even if they are aware of the struggles that POC go through
as they are usually underrepresented because they are not able to
afford correct legal defense representation.

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“How to really end mass incarceration” by Vanita Gupta:

What does this essay say (if anything) about:

What does this essay say (if anything) about:

• The kinds of prisons in America- “University of London’s Institute for

What does this essay say (if anything) about:

• The kinds of prisons in America- “about half of federal inmates are

What does this essay say (if anything) about:

• The kinds of prisons in America- “America’s prison population is

What does this essay say (if anything) about:

• The kinds of prisons in America- “Although we hear plenty about increasing

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