The United States currently imprisons 2.19 million people—seven times as many people as in 1970. What is responsible for this unprecedented growth in incarceration, and what are the consequences for our society? Is it responsible for dropping crime rates, or is it promoting a criminal class of society? Devah Pager explores trends in crime, and its effects on everything from neighborhood stability to political participation, and its impacts on the labor market. After years of increased prison construction, Pager examines the growing political support for prisoner reentry into society. This course looks at the relationship between crime and punishment in modern-day America, bringing historical and international perspectives to bear in analyzing our criminal justice system.
