Six million people are under correctional supervision in the U.S.—more than were in Stalin’s gulags. Photograph by Steve Liss Mass Incarceration in the United States For most privileged, professional people, the experience of confinement is a mere brush, encountered after a kid’s arrest, say. For a great many poor people in America, particularly poor black men, prison is a destination that braids through an ordinary life, much as high school and college do for rich white ones. More than half of all black men without a high-school diploma go to prison at some time in their lives. Mass incarceration on a scale almost unexampled in human history is a fundamental fact of our country today—perhaps the fundamental fact, as slavery was the fundamental fact of 1850. In truth, there are more black men in the grip of the criminal-justice system—in prison, on probation, or on parole—than were in slavery then. Over all, there are now more people under “correctional supervision” in America—more than six million—than were in the Gulag Archipelago under Stalin at its height. That city of the confined and the controlled, Lockuptown, is now the second largest in the United States. “Over all, there are now more people under “correctional supervision” in America—more than six million—than were in the Gulag Archipelago under Stalin at its height.”
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Six million people are under correctional supervision in the U.S.—more than were in Stalin’s gulags. Photograph by Steve Liss

Mass Incarceration in the United States

For most privileged, professional people, the experience of confinement is a mere brush, encountered after a kid’s arrest, say. For a great many poor people in America, particularly poor black men, prison is a destination that braids through an ordinary life, much as high school and college do for rich white ones. More than half of all black men without a high-school diploma go to prison at some time in their lives. Mass incarceration on a scale almost unexampled in human history is a fundamental fact of our country today—perhaps the fundamental fact, as slavery was the fundamental fact of 1850. In truth, there are more black men in the grip of the criminal-justice system—in prison, on probation, or on parole—than were in slavery then. Over all, there are now more people under “correctional supervision” in America—more than six million—than were in the Gulag Archipelago under Stalin at its height. That city of the confined and the controlled, Lockuptown, is now the second largest in the United States.

“Over all, there are now more people under “correctional supervision” in America—more than six million—than were in the Gulag Archipelago under Stalin at its height.”

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    ok this is what I was looking for. THIS MAKES ME SO SAD.
  6. melissa-peterson reblogged this from kalemason and added:
    way to go, US. Your methods are clearly working.
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  8. purringepigram reblogged this from elitc and added:
    Six million people are under correctional supervision in the U.S.—more than were in Stalin’s gulags. Photograph by Steve...
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    The U.S. prison is among the most physical and violent manifestations of the state, capitalism, white supremacy,...
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  21. perigee-syzygy reblogged this from ahnika-te and added:
    MORE THAN SIX MILLION… something is seriously wrong with our society.
  22. tonybaldwin reblogged this from sinidentidades and added:
    Here’s your proof that racism is alive and well. While black men are something like 10% of our population, they are...
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    End criminalization...Drugs. Elect Ron Paul President...he...
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    I studied under Steve when I was at Columbia. He is a great photographer and teacher. On the wall of his office, he has...
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