It’s an interesting time for justice in the United States. We’ve had a surge in high-profile violent police incidents. Certain segments of the population feel disproportionately targeted. Many feel police, and those in power, are not being held accountable for their actions. Protesters around the country have flooded the streets — in Baltimore, Cleveland, Ferguson — challenging such injustices in our system.
The U.S. has more people incarcerated than any other country in the world. Prisons are overcrowded. And people are noticing. Even the Justice Department is calling for smarter sentencing and incarceration alternatives.
How did we get here? What are some paths forward? AJ+ teamed up with the Marshall Project, a news organization covering the criminal justice system, to tackle these issues.
Lock ‘em up
Why do 1 in 35 American adults get caught up in the prison system? We don’t have higher crime rates than the rest of the world…what are we doing wrong? Producer Dena Takruri helps break down the problem:
The residual impact of the so-called “war on drugs” and “tough on crime” policies that began in the 1980s has caused for some disturbing racial trends in our prisons:
Life inside prison can be tough. Federal prisons publish guidelines and train incoming inmates on how to avoid rape or sexual assault while behind bars.
And bad behavior in prison can lead to draconian consequences; most U.S. states still allow solitary confinement. Here’s what that looks like:
In case you’re wondering about the difference between jail and prison, we’ve got a good explainer on that too.
Starting young
Unfortunately, there’s a strong correlation between tough punishments in school and getting in trouble with the law.
Young people stuck in the “school-to-prison pipeline” have a tough time escaping the vicious cycle of going from juvenile hall to probation and back again:
Trouble continues on the outside
Once prisoners are released on parole, it’s hard to adapt back into society. What’s the difference between parole and probation? The Marshall Project helped us explain that one:
Many struggle to find employment, secure housing or escape addictions after prison.
The result?
There’s a movement to “ban the box” — or to stop requiring former felons to check a box on employment applications if they have an arrest or a conviction. We spoke to Manuel La Fontaine, a leader of this movement, about why former criminals deserve another chance.
Reforms
The U.S. criminal justice system is under heavy scrutiny at the moment. Citizens are taking a critical look at all aspects of it — from cops, to grand juries, to federal sentencing guidelines. So we’re asking you, how can we make our system more just?
