| ID | 105202 |
| Title Proper | Political consequences of the carceral state |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Weaver, Vesla M ; Lerman, Amy E |
| Publication | 2010. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Contact with the criminal justice system is greater today than at any time in our history. In this article, we argue that interactions with criminal justice are an important source of political socialization, in which the lessons that are imprinted are antagonistic to democratic participation and inspire negative orientations toward government. To test this argument, we conduct the first systematic empirical exploration of how criminal justice involvement shapes the citizenship and political voice of a growing swath of Americans. We find that custodial involvement carries with it a substantial civic penalty that is not explained by criminal propensity or socioeconomic differences alone. Given that the carceral state has become a routine site of interaction between government and citizens, institutions of criminal justice have emerged as an important force in defining citizen participation and understandings, with potentially dire consequences for democratic ideals. |
| `In' analytical Note | American Political Science Review Vol. 104, No. 4; Nov 2010: p.817-833 |
| Journal Source | American Political Science Review Vol. 104, No. 4; Nov 2010: p.817-833 |
| Key Words | Criminal Justice System ; Political Socialization ; Citizenship ; Custodial Involvement |