Explain the consequences of America's high rates of incarceration.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers will vary. Proponents of decarceration point out that mass incarceration can have severe social repercussions for communities and the families that make up those communities. About 2.7 million minors in the United States-one in twenty-eight-have a parent in prison. These children are at an increased risk of suffering from poverty, depression, and academic problems, as well as higher levels of juvenile delinquency and eventual incarceration themselves. Studies also link high imprisonment rates to increased incidence of sexually transmitted diseases and teenage pregnancy, as the separation caused by incarceration wreaks havoc on interpersonal relationships. In addition, of course, incarceration has a harmful impact on offenders themselves. After being released from prison or jail, these men and women suffer from higher rates of physical and mental health problems than the rest of the population, and are more likely to struggle with addiction, unemployment, and homelessness.Because of the demographics of the U.S. prison population, these problems have a disproportionate impact on members of minority groups. African American males are incarcerated at a rate more than six times that of white males and about two and a half times that of Latino males. This disparity appears to contribute to racial wealth inequality in the United States. A recent study determined that the incarceration of a family member leads to a 64 percent decline in household income, leaving African Americans relatively more susceptible to this form of economic hardship.