Why Have Americans Wanted Increasing Numbers of People in Prison

question 66

Essay

Why have Americans wanted increasing numbers of people in prison since the late 1960s? List and briefly describe three reasons that fundamentally transformed the criminal justice policy environment to this day.What does research say about which American political party took advantage of these trends first?

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Definitions:

Physical Punishment

A form of discipline that involves causing physical pain to a person, often used as a method to correct misbehavior.

Economic Independence

The condition of having sufficient personal wealth to live, without having to work actively for basic necessities, or a nation's capacity to create a sustainable and self-sufficient economy without external aid.

Native American Society

The complex and diverse social structures, cultures, and traditions of the indigenous peoples of the Americas before and after European colonization.

Seventeenth Century

The period from January 1, 1601, to December 31, 1700, marking the 17th century in the Gregorian calendar, notable for significant cultural, political, and scientific developments.