The Global Context of U.S. Incarceration: A Call for Reform

The United States has long been regarded as the land of the free, yet it has the highest incarceration rate of any independent democracy on earth. Each U.S. state incarcerates more people per capita than most nations, placing the country in a unique and troubling global position. In this blog post, we will explore the extent of U.S. incarceration, its historical and policy-driven roots, and the urgent need for reform.

The Extent of Incarceration: 

Incarceration rates in the U.S. are staggering. Even so-called progressive states like New York and Massachusetts have higher incarceration rates than most countries. When we imagine each state as an independent nation, the U.S. stands out for its extreme use of prisons and jails. For example, nine U.S. states have higher incarceration rates than El Salvador, a country with the highest incarceration rate in the world, excluding the U.S. as a whole. Massachusetts, the state with the lowest incarceration rate in the nation, would still rank 30th in the world, higher than Iran, Colombia, and all the founding NATO nations.

Historical and Policy-Driven Roots: 

The high incarceration rates in the U.S. are not merely a response to crime rates. Instead, they are the result of decades of expanding the criminal legal system, driven by policies like the "war on drugs" and politically expedient responses to public fears and perceptions about crime and violence. These policies have disproportionately affected marginalized communities and have led to a system where incarceration is the default response to crime.

The Impact of Mass Incarceration: 

High incarceration rates come with significant societal costs. They have little impact on reducing violence and crime but have devastating effects on individuals, families, and communities. The aftermath of racist policies and the over-reliance on incarceration have created a system that is more punitive than just.

A Glimmer of Hope: 

In 2020, following the protests of the murder of George Floyd, there was a sense of hope that the country was ready to end the failed experiment of mass incarceration. However, recent calls from public officials for a return to harmful policies threaten this progress. The choices made in the coming years will be crucial in determining whether the U.S. can bring its incarceration rates in line with other developed nations.