A recent analysis examines the current challenges faced by the American criminal justice system, including the issues of mass incarceration and systemic racism. It delves into the social and economic factors that contribute to the distinctive and problematic nature of the US system, such as high rates of homicide and social disorder. The analysis explores the potential for significant changes within the framework of America’s racially influenced political economy, which is characterized by social structures and institutional legacies. Drawing on research in the field of social science, it argues that this unique political economy leads to social disorganization and criminal violence, resulting in a preference for penal control by state authorities.

Image courtesy of interviewee. December 8, 2023