Chapters three through six of The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander, discusses the role of race in the criminal justice system, the effects of the caste system after someone has served time in prison, systems of mass incarceration, and approaching the issue of mass incarceration.
In Chapter three, the author discusses the war on drugs and how it specifically targets people of color. The author discusses how people of every race and in every community use and sell drugs, however, only certain areas are targeted because of the color of the people associated within that community. The author argues on page 101 that “the uncomfortable reality is that arrests and convictions for drug offenses-not violent-crime- have propelled mass incarceration.”
Chapter four then talks about the caste system and how it effects individuals when they are out of prison. Many prisoners have nowhere to stay, and nowhere to make money. Many jobs, and housing applications ask about charges, which will often prevent them from helping or hiring you. The chapter also discusses how once a person is labeled a felon, you will always be viewed as an inferior second class citizen.
Chapter five specifically compares the system of mass incarceration to a birdcage with a locked door. The author uses the roundup, conviction, and invisible punishment to describe the three phases of the entrapment. In the first stage (the roundup), huge numbers of people from poor communities are put into the criminal justice system by police. The next stage (conviction), once they are arrested, the defendants are pressured to plead guilty and are loaded with extra charges resulting in receiving prison time. The final stage (invisible punishment), occurs when an individual is out of prison and is denied things such as housing, jobs, education, and public benefits.
Chapter six mentions how not many people see mass incarceration as the new caste system that it is. Many people view it as an equal way of solving crime. It also questions whether or not people are in denial of the effects of mass incarceration. The author discusses the pros and cons of ways to approach the issue. The chapter also mentions that people should be aware of the issue, and be against it.
I agree with the majority of the author’s argument throughout these chapters. I agree that mass incarceration is a major issue that needs to be addressed. I also agree with the authors ideas of how the systems work in certain areas to specifically target people of color. While the author had a good argument that I agreed with overall, there were some things that I particularly viewed differently. For example, the author compares the Prison system to the Jim Crow Era; however, I believe that the prison system was built off institutions of slavery. For example, the thirteenth Amendment states that slavery and indentured servitude is not allowed, except by crime. Today, the prison system is filled with people of color. As the author mentioned, everyone commits crime, however, the targeted places happen to be in poor, black communities.
