Incarceration Nation : How the United States Became the Most Punitive Democracy in the World

The rise of mass incarceration in the United States is one of the most critical outcomes of the last half-century. Incarceration Nation offers the most compelling explanation of this outcome to date. This book combines in-depth analysis of Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon's presidential campaigns with sixty years of data analysis. The result is a sophisticated and highly accessible picture of the rise of mass incarceration. In contrast to conventional wisdom, Peter K. Enns shows that during the 1960s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, politicians responded to an increasingly punitive public by pushing policy in a more punitive direction. The book also argues that media coverage of rising crime rates helped fuel the public's punitiveness. Equally as important, a decline in public punitiveness in recent years offers a critical window into understanding current bipartisan calls for criminal justice reform. The Rise Of Mass Incarceration In The United States Is One Of The Most Critical Outcomes Of The Last Half-century. Incarceration Nation Offers The Most Compelling Explanation Of This Outcome To Date. This Book Combines In-depth Analysis Of Barry Goldwater And Richard Nixon's Presidential Campaigns With Sixty Years Of Data Analysis. Peter K. Enns Shows That During The 1960s, 70s, 80s, And 90s, Politicians Responded To An Increasingly Punitive Public By Pushing Policy In A More Punitive Direction. The Book Also Argues That Media Coverage Of Rising Crime Rates Helped Fuel The Public's Punitiveness. Equally As Important, A Decline In Public Punitiveness In Recent Years Offers A Critical Window Into Understanding Current Bipartisan Calls For Criminal Justice Reform.--from Publisher Description. Introduction -- A Forgiving Or Punitive Public? -- Who Led Whom? -- Explaining The Public's Punitiveness -- Democracy At Work? : Public Opinion And Mass Incarceration -- Punitive Polices In The States -- Conclusion. Peter K. Enns, Cornell University. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 165-183) And Index. 01.0_pp_i_iv_Frontmatter 02.0_pp_v_vi_Dedication 03.0_pp_vii_x_Contents 04.0_pp_xi_xiv_Acknowledgments 05.0_pp_1_18_Introduction 06.0_pp_19_48_A_forgiving_or_a_punitive_public 07.0_pp_49_73_Who_led_whom 08.0_pp_74_99_Explaining_the_publics_punitiveness 09.0_pp_100_126_Democracy_at_work_Public_opinion_and_mass_incarceration 10.0_pp_127_155_Punitive_politics_in_the_states 11.0_pp_156_164_Conclusion 12.0_pp_165_184_References The rise of mass incarceration in the United States is one of the most critical outcomes of the last half-century. This book offers the most compelling explanation of this outcome to date. This study is aimed at undergraduates, graduate students, and researchers interested in mass incarceration. Incarceration Nation demonstrates that the US public played a critical role in the rise of mass incarceration in this country.