Ending Mass Incarceration

Catalog description

Mass incarceration is a complex system of racialized, gendered social management deployed against disempowered and marginalized peoples, communities, and organizations/social movements, unique to the US capitalistic society. It’s reach (who it impacts), geographical spread, institutional scope, and ideological power is vast: every corner of the US, both major political parties, and most governmental and agency non-profit organization are complicit in its rise and maintenance . Today, opponents of “mass incarceration,” after decades of advocacy and resistance, appear to be succeeding: reducing the number of those incarcerated in US prisons and jails is now a mainstream political goal, as is reducing racial disparities and curtailing police brutality. While anti-mass incarceration activists have achieved tangible successes, notably changes to the criminal codes and reductions in jail and prison numbers, the future is uncertain and hazy. What should be done with people “decarcerated”? What does success for anti-mass incarceration proponents look like? Is police reform, bail law change, and the substitution of probation enough? As such it is critical to reflect on the histories and practices of incarceration/institutionalization and decarceration/deinstitutionalization. How have movements, organizations, and individuals succeeded, and failed, in their challenge(s) to incarceration? If a society without prisons is possible, how does it come about and what does it look like? This course examines the history behind, and the complexity of, contemporary mass incarceration and anti-mass incarceration, the present state of the diverse anti-mass incarceration movement, and the carceral state’s future by utilizing academic literature, film, audio material, primary documents, and activists/organizations (through guest lectures, etc). This course is focused on practical knowledge development. As such, students will engage in a semester long project examining a relevant organization or individual of their choice, and will be expected to lead one class discussion. Offered: fall or spring.