Final answer:
It is true that the 1950s saw the development of alternative sanctions to incarceration with the introduction of community corrections, aimed at rehabilitating offenders within society. The United States' prison system expansion in the 70s and onwards has been marked by tough-on-crime policies and increased racial disparities in incarceration rates.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that in the 1950s many alternative sanctions to incarceration were developed, and the term community corrections was initiated is true. The history of jails and prisons in America reflects various approaches to punishment and rehabilitation. Alternative sanctions like probation, parole, and community service were seen as ways to integrate offenders back into society without the harsh punitive nature of traditional incarceration.
Since the 1970s, the United States has seen a significant rise in prison populations due largely to the "war on drugs" and policies that favored incarceration over other forms of punishment. This era reflected a cultural and political shift towards a "law and order" mentality, leading to overcrowded prisons and the emergence of privatized correctional facilities, as well as significant racial disparities in incarceration rates.
Despite the punitive trend, the need for more effective and rehabilitative methods was recognized by the end of the 20th century. With the understanding that incarceration is not universally optimal and that each type of offender requires a different approach, alternative sanctions to incarceration, such as community corrections, have been advocated by scholars and policymakers.