POL 355 Policies of Mass Incarceration
Students will explore the history of mass incarceration, what policies and other factors created it, and different strategies for how to reduce it. We will study the War on Drugs, the growth of the prison-industrial complex, how immigrants are affected, and the role of identities (such as race, gender, and sexuality) in creating and sustaining large prison populations. Additionally, we will investigate various solutions for addressing mass incarceration, including new legislation, de-carceration, and prison abolition. As part of this, students will visit several prisons and jails in the region.