Rise of Mass Incarceration

The United States incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. Every day more than 2 million people are locked in prisons, jails, and immigrant detention centers. Another 7.2 million are on probation, parole, or under a deportation order. An estimated 65 million people have criminal records. While mass policing and incarceration booms began in the 1970s, the origins of the modern carceral state are deeply rooted in American history. This HST 306: Rise of Mass Incarceration course explored that history.

For the final project, students were tasked with creating a website that envisioned a post-carceral world. In groups of 3-4, students evaluated the history of prisons and the mass incarceration crisis in the United States, analyzed why a post-carceral world is needed, and ultimately explored what a post-carceral world would look like and how it might work. Click on the links below to learn more about their visions!