Mass Incarceration Timeline

At the end of the Civil War slavery was abolished. Although under law it was illegal to have slaves, it didn't stop America from finding new ways to oppress black Americans

Here we see very shortly after slavery is abolished that a new law allows incarcerated people, in particular black men, to be leased as workers to private individuals.

In 1877, the introduction of Jim Crow laws were established. They were a set of anti-black laws the overtook the US. Thus began segregation of race.

Although the specific law, Harrison Narcotic Tax Act, isn't crucial to understanding mass incarceration, it is important to note that this is the first but most certainly not the last time a War on Drugs will be declared in the US.

This called national attention to the racially violent acts of law enforcement. Before these riots, criminal justice matters were handled by local or state law enforcement. After it the misconduct and police brutality shown during these riots change needed to happen

In 1955, the deinstitutionalization of mental health hospitals began. There was less and less attention and care for the mentally ill so it became the courts problem. Pretty soon the numbers started racking up as the mentally ill became a trend in jails and prisons country-wide.

President Nixon declaring a war on drugs set a new precedent for all of America. At this time we see more than ever non-violent criminals, drug users and dealers, being sent to prison hence the spike in incarceration rates.

An important thing to note is that the number of incarcerated prisoners rose from 40,900 people to over 450,000 people by 2015.

In a video we were assigned for class to watch, Christian Parenti talked about Reagan needing a greater excuse to rid of black freedom in America, hence the declaration of the new war on drugs. The main outbreak cause were drugs in relation to (black) ghettos.

This imposed mandatory minimum sentencing for convicted criminals, eliminating judicial discretion. At this time 34,00 incarcerated 'criminals' were serving life sentences and in regards to the Sentencing Reform Act, that number more than doubled by the early 1900's.