Race, Ethnicity, Incarceration, and the Family in the United States

The United States has been in an unprecedented era of mass incarceration over the past half-century. In this chapter, we discuss incarceration trends in the United States, including the creation and maintenance of mass incarceration, racial and ethnic disparities in imprisonment, and the key drivers of these disparities. Next, we discuss the consequences of incarceration on the individual, families, and communities. Accordingly, we bridge these topics together to demonstrate how mass incarceration has been particularly detrimental to Black families and communities, showing that it is both a result of and a key driver of inequality in U.S. society. Finally, we discuss future directions, including opportunities for positive intervention and change. This chapter provides an essential primer for students and practitioners seeking to familiarize themselves with the causes and consequences of mass incarceration, particularly regarding race, ethnicity, and the family unit.