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Jasmine Milliman
11, March, 2016
ENG123 LE Professor Jessica
Week 2 assignment
(New research question: What are the social effects of Mass incarceration?)
Coates, Ta-nehisi. "The BLACK FAMILY In The AGE OF MASS INCARCERATION.
(Cover Story)." Atlantic 316.3 (2015): 60. MAS Ultra - School Edition. Web.
11

Mar. 2016.

This article gives great numerical evidence of how many people are incarcerated. These numbers
help us to see that Americas incarceration rate is greater than others, and this is not a good thing.
For my research it is helpful because we see that incarceration has a social impact on families,
specifically in the areas where a family has to live without the father, who is in jail. It points out
the fact that, More than half of fathers in state prison report being the primary breadwinner in
their family, the National Research Council report noted. Should the family attempt to stay
together through incarceration, the loss of income only increases, as the mother must pay for
phone time, travel costs for visits, and legal fees. The burden continues after the father returns
home, because a criminal record tends to injure employment prospects. Through it all, the
children suffer. So, from this article, we see that incarceration not only effects the father in
prison, but the mother who becomes the breadwinner, and the child who feels the need to step up
and earn money. When the father comes back, it is difficult for him to take on the role as
breadwinner that he once held, because of his new criminal record. So, mass incarceration
severely effects the families, through emotional and economical avenues, and these same
families are a part of the communities of the world just as much as any other family that may not
have a member incarcerated. The numbers shown in this text prove the points I will be making in

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my research project, also supporting my thesis question.
Kensicki, Linda Jean. "No Cure For What Ails Us: The Media-Constructed Disconnect
Between Societal Problems And Possible Solutions." Journalism & Mass
Communication Quarterly 81.1 (2004): 53-73. Communication & Mass Media
Complete. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
The author shows that there is other evidence shown throughout varied areas for social effects
from mass incarceration. This evidence is shown through media in forms of news, and
interestingly enough, this media coverage of social problems has typically focused on false
assumptions and stereotypical portrayals of those affected. The news, and civic journalism also
provides an outlet to talk about and discuss mass incarceration. This is needed in order to make
the public aware of what is going on. People will not know that there is indeed a problem until
they are told, and so that is why it is necessary to get the word out. Once this vital information
reaches the people, this article notes that people express apathy, and are inspired to bring about
change. The article represented, shows that there are also things being done to help the social
problems brought about by mass incarceration. Through this texts journalism and interview
feedback, we see that programs, organizations, and non-profits all play a role in helping restabilize and improve social lives of people who were once incarcerated. This is important
because it helps point out the seriousness of the effects brought about by mass incarceration, that
something needs to be done about it, and that ultimately this source gives strength to my research
question.
Tonry, Todd R. Clear Edited by Michael. "The Effects Of High Imprisonment Rates On
Communities." Crime And Justice 37.(2008): 97. LexisNexis Academic: Law
Reviews.

Web. 11 Mar. 2016.

This article studies the effects of mass incarceration. It focuses on the types of people it effects,

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first on children and how it causes problems for them while growing up. Secondly, it focuses on

mothers and their relationship with the father when he is incarcerated, stating, the rate at which
mothers dissolve their relationships with their children's father during the latter's imprisonment is
very high, even for fathers who were active in their children's lives prior to being arrested--only
20-25 percent of prisoners are visited in prison by their children. (Western, Pattillo, and Weiman
2004, pp. 10-11). Outside of family life, mass incarceration disturbs the social aspect of the
communities around them. The articles author said, When Dina Rose and I interviewed about
125 people in two very poor neighborhoods in Tallahassee, we learned that every family in our
sample was touched by prison--all reported a family member in prison within the past 5 years,
and whatever the effects of incarceration are on those imprisoned, effects were felt by everyone
in our sample. Gathering from this, we see that the effects of mass incarceration spread to
everyone else around in a community. All of this is crucial to my initial research question of what
are the social effects of mass incarceration. These interviews of families hits my research dead
on by giving tangible evidence and real life examples that strengthen my thesis and research
altogether.
Clear, Todd, Kevin Drakulich, and Grant Duwe. "Incarceration Matters. Issues In
Science & Technology 32.2 (2016): 5-9. Academic Search Premier. Web. 11
Mar.

2016.

The author states that this affect re-cycles itself to the outer community. Also, it was found by
research that racial discrimination is evident in the judicial system. There have been other studies
that show the cases in which a verdict was found based on color. The author says, White
Americans use drugs as much or more than black Americans, but go to prison at a fraction of the
rate. This is a great angle for me to look at in my research because this is a huge topic in the
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problem of mass incarceration and it cannot be looked over when discussing mass incarceration
as a whole. Besides that topic, this article states that, a large number of people go to prison and
then come back, persistently over decades, would be places devoid of economic capacity,
dominated by broken family relationships, where many people grow up with deep resentment for
the state. By looking through the judicial system lens through this text, I can develop a new
perspective on my topic, and this helps my thesis in the way that I can make sure that I cover all
bases.
"Imprisoning America: The Social Effects of Mass Incarceration." The Journal of Politics
2005: 943. JSTOR Journals. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
This article states that over the last 30 years, incarceration rates have exploded in the U.S.,
pointing out that mass incarceration is a serious problem. It says that incarceration is a social
institution that has an impact on stratification, family relations, the labor market and even
electoral processes. This book is organized into two sections, families and communities, which
are vital areas to look into. The focus also lies on the impact of felony convictions on
employment chances and voting rights. This is a huge point in my research and through the
interviews I am also given great evidence of the social effects from incarceration.
Wakefield, Sara1. "Accentuating The Positive Or Eliminating The Negative? Paternal
Incarceration And Caregiver-Child Relationship Quality." Journal Of Criminal Law
& Criminology 104.4 (2015): 905-927. Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson).
Web. 11 Mar. 2016.

These findings show important behavioral, developmental, and attainment outcomes, including
mental health and behavioral problems, substance use, educational attainment, and social
inequality. The implications of the results for childhood well-being and development are also
discussed. These are all important findings for my research because we need to look at this side.
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In researching the effects we must look at the effects of the children, which plays an important
part in effecting the society. Interestingly enough, from these stories we see how incarceration
not only damages a relationship between fathers and their children, but also somehow
strengthens it. This book, Imprisoning America then turns to how mass incarceration affects local
communities and the society at large. Overall, this kind of evidence will point directly back to
my research question and these stories will help us to look deeper into examples that prove that
mass incarceration has severe social effects.
Negrete Alfaro, Mabel Alejandra. "When The Invisible Punishing Machine Is Everywhere
... : The Mechanism Of Social Control (Mass Incarceration, Institutionalized
Racism, Slavery And Repression) In The USA Shapes The Individual As Well As
The Social Space." (2011): Networked Digital Library of Theses &
Dissertations. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.

The author quotes, "When the Invisible Punishing Machine is everywhere, creeping into my
body, life and spaces, it is like living in a colossal architectural nightmare", this thesis serves first
as a testimony of the author's personal stories. Through the personal stories, we see hands-on
evidence of these effects brought about by incarceration. The dissertation interrogates and
reveals the work needed to transform radically the intangible effects of the invisible punishing
machine on our bodies, minds and souls. Here, we are given a unique description and a new
perspective in depth of the reasons for incarceration, seeing it as a Social Control. In return, it
shows the results of this social control, and what it does on our society around us, which includes
a larger number of people and categories of people. Because of this, my research will reflect the
impacts of mass incarceration and the domino effect of the impact that happens.
Walker, Hannah L.1. "Extending The Effects Of The Carceral State: Proximal Contact,
Political Participation, And Race." Political Research Quarterly 67.4 (2014):
809-822.
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Social Sciences Full Text (H.W. Wilson). Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
This article found that over 25 percent of the adult population has a criminal background
(Rodriguez and Emsellem 2011). Going to show, that the problem is growing and the rate is
increasing even now. The author explores, first, the effects on the individual who has had

personal contact, and second, it requires exploring the effects on individuals who have not had
personal contact but who experience the institution via their relationship to someone with
personal contact. The article asks the important question: How does the criminal justice system
affect individuals embedded in groups where members have directly experienced contact with the
institution, even when they themselves have not personally had direct contact? This article shows
it is important to understand the system before the problem. This is a necessity for my research
because it not only gives a better understanding of the problem, but the root cause of the problem
and a better understanding of incarceration itself.
Lynch, James P. "Assessing The Effects Of Mass Incarceration On Informal Social Control
In Communities [Comments]." Criminology & Public Policy 2 (2003): 267.
HeinOnline. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.
This article explains what may happen after someone gets out of jail. The effects it has on the
individual are great. It also affects the family, and the families around them, eventually reaching
to the bigger community. Homelessness and re incarcerations are usually the case after coming
out of incarceration, and this is shown throughout the journal! This thought scares most people
and also is a reason why the society reacts the way they do to previous criminals or inmates. This
journal helps my research because it goes into depth of the specific effects. Focusing on these
gives much insight for individuals to understand how personal the effects can be and what kind
of influence incarceration has on a community's lives, which enhances my research.
Pattillo, Mary E., David F. Weiman, and Bruce Western. Imprisoning America : The Social
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Effects Of Mass Incarceration. n.p.: New York : Russell Sage Foundation, c2004.,
2004. Webcat Library Catalog. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.

This book discusses what the social costs to the communities from which the large amount of
incarcerated population comes to. The authors, who are mostly professors at higher-up
universities, or doctoral candidates in social work at universities, or even chair of the Department
of Justice, Law and Society at universities, makes them credible when explaining these themes
and discussing the topics. Even more important, the book addresses what happened to the
communities when former prisoners return as free men and women. When they come back, they
are in need of social and economic support. However, where does this support come from? In
this book, it says that, an interdisciplinary group of leading researchers in economics, criminal
justice, psychology, sociology, and social work goes beyond a narrow focus on crime to examine
the connections between incarceration and family formation, labor markets, political
participation, and community well-being. Through surveys, they consider the impact of
incarceration on families. These impacts are corrosive on marriage and cohabitation, even after
the prison time was served. The in-depth life stories that are shared shine light on real examples
and gives a sort of tangible evidence we can easily understand as readers, which is necessary to
back up my research question.