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The Black Family and Mass Incarceration

Author

Listed:
  • Bruce Western

    (Multidisciplinary Program in Inequality and Social Policy, John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University)

  • Christopher Wildeman

    (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health & Society Scholar at the Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health at the University of Michigan, Population Studies Center at the University of Michigan)

Abstract

Released in 1965, the Moynihan Report traced the severe social and economic distress of poor urban African Americans to high rates of single-parenthood. Against Moynihan's calls for social investment in poor inner-city communities, politics moved in a punitive direction, driving massive growth in the prison population. The authors document the emergence of mass incarceration and describe its significance for African American family life. The era of mass incarceration can be understood as a new stage in the history of American racial inequality. Because of its recent arrival, the social impact of mass incarceration remains poorly understood. The authors conclude by posing several key research questions that can illuminate the effects of dramatic growth in the American penal system.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce Western & Christopher Wildeman, 2009. "The Black Family and Mass Incarceration," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 621(1), pages 221-242, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:621:y:2009:i:1:p:221-242
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716208324850
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bruce Western & Jeffrey R. Kling & David F. Weiman, 2001. "The Labor Market Consequences of Incarceration," Working Papers 829, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    2. Devah Pager, 2003. "The mark of a criminal record," Natural Field Experiments 00319, The Field Experiments Website.
    3. Francine D. Blau & Lawrence M. Kahn & Jane Waldfogel, 2000. "Understanding Young Women's Marriage Decisions: The Role of Labor and Marriage Market Conditions," ILR Review, Cornell University, ILR School, vol. 53(4), pages 624-647, July.
    4. Jeffrey R. Kling & David Weiman & Bruce Western, 2001. "The Labor Market Consequences of Incarceration," Working Papers 829, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section..
    5. Henry S. Farber & Bruce Western, 2001. "Accounting for the Decline of Unions in the Private Sector, 1973-1998 ," Journal of Labor Research, Transaction Publishers, vol. 22(3), pages 459-485, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bruce Western & Christopher Muller, 2013. "Mass Incarceration, Macrosociology, and the Poor," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 647(1), pages 166-189, May.
    2. Das, Aniruddha, 2022. "Childhood police encounters, social isolation and epigenetic age acceleration among older U.S. adults," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 301(C).
    3. Zhao, Qianwei & Parrish, Danielle & He, Ning, 2023. "Maternal incarceration and adolescent girls’ risk of substance-exposed pregnancy, STIs, and HIV," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    4. Regina Branton & Kimi King & Justin Walsh, 2022. "Criminal justice in Indian country: Examining declination rates of tribal cases," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 103(1), pages 69-81, January.
    5. Dylan J.F. Bellisle, 2024. "Neoliberalism and Anti-poverty Tax Policy: How Single Mothers Negotiate Tax Filing and the Use of the Earned Income Tax Credit with Their Young Adult Children," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 369-380, June.
    6. Sara Wakefield & Hedwig Lee & Christopher Wildeman, 2016. "Tough on Crime, Tough on Families? Criminal Justice and Family Life in America," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 665(1), pages 8-21, May.
    7. Simons, Ronald L. & Ong, Mei Ling & Lei, Man-Kit & Klopach, Eric & Berg, Mark & Zhang, Yue & Philibert, Robert & Gibbons, Frederick X. & Beach, Steven R.H., 2022. "Shifts in lifestyle and socioeconomic circumstances predict change—for better or worse—in speed of epigenetic aging: A study of middle-aged black women," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    8. Aliya Saperstein & Andrew M. Penner & Jessica M. Kizer, 2014. "The Criminal Justice System and the Racialization of Perceptions," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 651(1), pages 104-121, January.
    9. Andrea N. Montes & Danielle Wallace & Chantal Fahmy & Abigail Henson & Alyssa W. Chamberlain & Leah A. Jacobs, 2021. "An Assessment of Prisoner Reentry, Legal Financial Obligations and Family Financial Support: A Focus on Fathers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-17, September.
    10. Luck, Anneliese N., 2023. "Variation in cumulative childhood risks of parental imprisonment and foster care removal by state and race/ethnicity," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).

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