Ward, Madysen

Freshman, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

Major: Political Science

Minor: French

Honors Course: HON 100: Rhetoric and Critical Inquiry

Faculty: Michael Raleigh, Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Inquiry

Abstract: This paper analyzes various academic studies and articles to see how effective the United States’ system of mass incarceration is at actually reducing crime rate. The studies included breakdowns of crime rate data in the United States, comparisons between the US and other nations, and the data figures that make up a measurable crime rate. Overall, the United States’ prison is incredibly ineffective due to a lack of focus on rehabilitation. The enforcement of mass incarceration creates a cycle of inequity that researchers across the country cannot fully analyze or understand.