Root causes of mass incarceration in US may surprise you

+ has government gone overboard with classified information? US Edition - Today's top story: Understanding mass incarceration in the US is the first step to reducing a swollen prison population [View in browser]( US Edition | 2 March 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( The prison system in the United States is immense, complex and often secretive – with a rising number of private companies overseeing prisons and other facilities. Getting information on what, exactly, happens in prisons, jails and immigration detention centers is challenging and sometimes impossible, as I found years ago through my reporting. While editing a story this week, I also learned that it’s difficult to answer even the most basic question about mass incarceration: Why have so many people in the U.S. – approximately 2 million today – [wound up in prison or jail](? Former prosecutor and criminal justice scholar Jeffrey Bellin explains some of the main reasons the U.S. prison and jail population has grown dramatically over the past few decades – and why it is not just about rising crime. “It is not simply the case that incarceration goes up because people commit crime; instead, the story is much more complicated. That is because we use incarceration for two purposes: to obtain justice on behalf of victims and to try to change people’s behavior,” Bellin writes. Amy Lieberman Politics + Society Editor People incarcerated at a county jail in North Dakota gather together. Andrew Burton/Getty Images [Understanding mass incarceration in the US is the first step to reducing a swollen prison population]( Jeffrey Bellin, William & Mary Law School Experts still disagree about why the US prison population has grown so much over the last few decades. But crime is only one part of the problem. Chief Petty Officer Graham Jackson mourns the death of Franklin Delano Roosevelt on April 13, 1945. Edward Clark/Life Magazine [I’ve spent 5 years researching the heroic life of Black musician Graham Jackson, but teaching his story could be illegal under laws in Florida and North Dakota]( David Cason, University of North Dakota Jackson used his musical talents to overcome racial barriers in the United States. But telling Jackson’s story may not be legal under proposed laws restricting how race is taught. Satire can be dangerous. DigitalVision Vectors/Getty Images [Mocking the police got an Ohio man arrested – and the Supreme Court ignored The Onion’s plea to define the limits of parody]( Jane E. Kirtley, University of Minnesota A satirist posted a parody of a police Facebook page. He was arrested and jailed for four days. How far do free speech protections extend when it comes to satire about government? [Overclassification overkill: The US government is drowning in a sea of secrets]( David Cuillier, University of Arizona The US has an overclassification problem, which includes classifying documents about Santa Claus. [All presidents avoid reporters, but Biden may achieve a record in his press avoidance]( David E. Clementson, University of Georgia President Joe Biden may be nicer to reporters than his predecessor, but he’s not actually responsive to the press. He has held fewer press conferences than any president in recent memory. [The looming stalemate in Ukraine one year after the Russian invasion]( Liam Collins, United States Military Academy West Point Considered to have one of the most powerful militaries in the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin has little to show for his invasion of Ukraine. [Poland’s hospitality is helping many Ukrainian refugees thrive – 5 takeaways]( Patrice McMahon, University of Nebraska-Lincoln About 1.5 million refugees are still there, with some putting down roots. - [30 years later, Waco siege still resonates – especially among anti-government extremists]( Art Jipson, University of Dayton; Paul J. Becker, University of Dayton Waco has been used as a rallying cry for decades, two scholars of domestic extremism explain. - [The brief but shining life of Paul Laurence Dunbar, a poet who gave dignity to the Black experience]( Minnita Daniel-Cox, University of Dayton Paul Laurence Dunbar became the first Black writer to earn international acclaim through his poetry, essays and musical lyrics. - [A more hawkish China policy? 5 takeaways from House committee’s inaugural hearing on confronting Beijing]( Michael Beckley, Tufts University US lawmakers heard testimony that suggests the era of engagement with China is over. Rather, policy may be hardening. Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our other weekly emails: [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Weekly Highlights]( [The Conversation]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation]( 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451 [Forward to a friend]( • [Unsubscribe](