Mass incarceration has reshaped the social, economic, and political fabric of the United States. Led by Professor Christopher Wildeman, the Carceral Justice pillar advances rigorous, evidence-based research on how the criminal legal system produces and deepens social inequalities. Its work examines the far-reaching effects of incarceration on individuals, families, and entire communities, illuminating how carceral policies and practices reverberate across generations.
This pillar investigates the mechanisms through which the carceral state structures life chances and social institutions, highlighting the cumulative and often hidden ways these systems shape opportunity and wellbeing. Through this research and related educational efforts, the pillar strengthens the scholarly foundation needed to understand and address the inequities arising from criminal legal involvement.