Question

In the introduction, the author Alice Goffman argues that "So many Black men have been imprisoned and returned home with felony convictions" that the prison now plays a central role in the production of what in US society?

Answer 1

Alice Goffman contends that the high number of Black men with felony convictions from imprisonment in the US has caused the prison system to play a significant role in the production of racial inequities and cycles of poverty in American society.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the introduction, author Alice Goffman argues that due to the large numbers of Black men who have been imprisoned and returned home with felony convictions, the prison has now become centrally involved in shaping key aspects of US society. The mass incarceration phenomenon, particularly after a four-fold increase in the number of prisoners over the last quarter of the 20th century, has had a systemic impact. Racial disparities are stark, with African Americans being seven times more likely to be imprisoned. As a result, the incarceration system contributes to ongoing cycles of poverty, reduced minority legislative impact due to voting restrictions on felons, and limited employment opportunities post-release for those with convictions. The racial inequities are further compounded by economic incentives for private prisons to maintain high incarceration rates and by criminal justice policies that fail to address underlying social issues effectively.