SOC 359—Incarceration and Family Life

Incarceration in the U.S. rose dramatically over the last 40 years, sweeping an unprecedented number of people into the criminal justice system. The implications of incarceration reach beyond the individual offender, however, and impact their children, families, and communities. Nearly 1 in 3 Americans has experienced the incarceration of a family member, and nearly 80% of Black Americans report having a family member who spent time in jail or prison. Understanding the spillover consequences of this uniquely American phenomenon is increasingly important given how common this experience has become. The goal of this course is to provide a broad overview of how criminal justice involvement shapes American families and communities. The course will begin with the roots of mass incarceration in the United States and progress in turn to understanding the implications for the families and neighborhoods most affected.