What ostensibly “color-blind” social, political, economic and legal factors contribute to the likelihood of recidivism among racialized individuals in the U.S.?

Assignment Question

Drawing on the readings and resources in this module and/or other modules in the course, cite an historical factor (different from one given by another student) that has led to the disproportionate representation of individuals from racial or ethnic minority groups in U.S. prisons.

Consider the following questions: What ostensibly “color-blind” social, political, economic and legal factors contribute to the likelihood of recidivism among racialized individuals in the U.S.? What are some possible measures that could be taken to eliminate the “color-blind” factors you present? Do you think such measures will be successful? Why or why not? What is meant by the “normalization” of mass incarceration? Do you think that the “nomalization” of mass incarceration will be difficult to change? Explain your answer.

Recommended Reading Gabbidon and Greene: Chapter 8 Alexander: pp. 175-207 of Chapter 4; Chapters 5 and 6 Sawyer, W. and Wagner, P. (March 24, 2020). Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2020. Prison Policy Initiative. Assessing the impact of post-release community supervision on post-release recidivism and employment – Report by Florida Department of Corrections and Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice (April, 2016). Craft, T.; Gonzalez, N.; Kelleher, K.; Rose, M.; Takor, O. (June 4, 2019). A Second Chance: College-in-Prison Programs in New York State. Rockefeller Institute of Government. “[W]hen rural northern New York lost its dairy and mining industries, civic leaders turned to prisons as an economic cure.

For a report of the American Bar Association on sentencing and prison policies growing out of Justice Kennedy’s address, review Reports with Recommendations to the ABA House of Delegates (PDF format, August, 2004) . M5 Videos What is the Drug War? With Jay-Z & Molly Crabapple – YouTube Mass Incarceration: Why Should Americans Care? | Monalisa Johnson | TEDxBeaconStreet – YouTube Shaka Senghor on Writing a Bestseller and Prison Reform (Full Interview) – YouTube A Second Chance: College-in-Prison Programs in New York State – YouTube