Carceral Justice Pillar

Defining the Challenge

Mass incarceration has reshaped the social, economic and political fabric of the United States, with consequences extending far beyond those who experience incarceration directly. Criminal legal policies and practices can shape the wellbeing and opportunities of individuals, families and communities, reinforcing inequalities that persist within and across generations.

Understanding the Systems

Research in this pillar examines how the criminal legal system produces and deepens social inequalities and structures life chances. The team examines the far-reaching effects of incarceration on individuals, families and entire communities, illuminating how carceral policies and practices reverberate across generations and institutions, including the cumulative and often less visible ways these effects unfold over time.

Advancing Change

By examining the criminal legal system within its broader social, economic and political contexts, researchers reveal how carceral systems interact with other forces that shape people’s lives. Through rigorous, interdisciplinary research and innovative methods, the team builds evidence to better understand these interconnected systems and to understand and address the inequities arising from criminal legal involvement.