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Political Consequences of the Carceral State

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  • WEAVER, VESLA M.
  • LERMAN, AMY E.

Abstract

Contact with the criminal justice system is greater today than at any time in our history. In this article, we argue that interactions with criminal justice are an important source of political socialization, in which the lessons that are imprinted are antagonistic to democratic participation and inspire negative orientations toward government. To test this argument, we conduct the first systematic empirical exploration of how criminal justice involvement shapes the citizenship and political voice of a growing swath of Americans. We find that custodial involvement carries with it a substantial civic penalty that is not explained by criminal propensity or socioeconomic differences alone. Given that the carceral state has become a routine site of interaction between government and citizens, institutions of criminal justice have emerged as an important force in defining citizen participation and understandings, with potentially dire consequences for democratic ideals.

Suggested Citation

  • Weaver, Vesla M. & Lerman, Amy E., 2010. "Political Consequences of the Carceral State," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 104(4), pages 817-833, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:104:y:2010:i:04:p:817-833_00
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    Cited by:

    1. Gayitri Kavita Indar & Christine Sharon Barrow & Warren E. Whitaker, 2023. "A Convergence of Violence: Structural Violence Experiences of K–12, Black, Disabled Males across Multiple Systems," Laws, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-21, September.
    2. Christopher Muller & Daniel Schrage, 2014. "Mass Imprisonment and Trust in the Law," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 651(1), pages 139-158, January.
    3. Christopher Maggio, 2021. "State‐level immigration legislation and social life: The impact of the “show me your papers” laws," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 102(4), pages 1654-1685, July.
    4. Skarbek, David, 2012. "Prison gangs, norms, and organizations," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 82(1), pages 96-109.
    5. Hunnicutt, Patrick & Henderson, Geoffrey, 2023. "Particulates Matter: Policy Failures, Air Pollution, and Collective Political Participation in the United States," Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, Working Paper Series qt51h8846s, Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation, University of California.
    6. Mooney, Alyssa C. & Neilands, Torsten B. & Giannella, Eric & Morris, Meghan D. & Tulsky, Jacqueline & Glymour, M. Maria, 2019. "Effects of a voter initiative on disparities in punishment severity for drug offenses across California counties," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 9-19.
    7. Benjamin Lessing, 2017. "Counterproductive punishment: How prison gangs undermine state authority," Rationality and Society, , vol. 29(3), pages 257-297, August.
    8. Skarbek, David, 2016. "Covenants without the Sword? Comparing Prison Self-Governance Globally," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 110(4), pages 845-862, November.
    9. Becky Pettit & Carmen Gutierrez, 2018. "Mass Incarceration and Racial Inequality," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 77(3-4), pages 1153-1182, May.
    10. repec:pri:crcwel:wp11-19-ff is not listed on IDEAS
    11. Heather Millar & Matthew Lesch & Linda A. White, 2019. "Connecting models of the individual and policy change processes: a research agenda," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 52(1), pages 97-118, March.
    12. Michael Leo Owens, 2014. "Ex-Felons’ Organization-Based Political Work for Carceral Reforms," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 651(1), pages 256-265, January.
    13. David Skarbek, 2014. "Prisonomics: Lessons from America's Mass Incarceration," Economic Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 34(3), pages 411-421, October.
    14. Kaitlyn Woltz, 2022. "David Skarbek, The Puzzle of Prison Order: Why Life Behind Bars Varies Around the World," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 35(1), pages 135-141, March.
    15. Anna Harvey, 2020. "Applying regression discontinuity designs to American political development," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 185(3), pages 377-399, December.
    16. Jingjing Zeng & Meng Yuan & Richard Feiock, 2019. "What Drives People to Complain about Environmental Issues? An Analysis Based on Panel Data Crossing Provinces of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, February.
    17. Hedwig Lee & Lauren C. Porter & Megan Comfort, 2014. "Consequences of Family Member Incarceration," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 651(1), pages 44-73, January.
    18. Vesla M. Weaver & Jacob S. Hacker & Christopher Wildeman, 2014. "Detaining Democracy? Criminal Justice and American Civic Life," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 651(1), pages 6-21, January.
    19. Benjamin Justice & Tracey L. Meares, 2014. "How the Criminal Justice System Educates Citizens," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 651(1), pages 159-177, January.
    20. Amy E. Lerman & Vesla Weaver, 2014. "Staying out of Sight? Concentrated Policing and Local Political Action," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 651(1), pages 202-219, January.

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