12 U.S. Incarceration Overview

Apuntes

📚 U.S. Incarceration Overview Brief Overview This note covering U.S. incarceration system was created from a 64‑minute audio recording. The content examines sentencing psychology, prison reform, prison types, sentencing disparities, and cost analysis. Key Points Overview of the U.S. expansion of the prison system and its highest incarceration rate. How sentencing psychology shapes judge discretion, highlighting internal vs. external attributions. Racial, gender, and age disparities in sentencing and guidelines. The high cost and recidivism rates, plus alternatives like probation. 📈 Expansion of U.S. Incarceration System The U.S. builds more prisons regardless of crime trends. Result: Highest incarceration rate of any country; a larger percentage of the population is imprisoned than elsewhere. Incarceration rate: the proportion of a country's population that is held in prison. ⚖ Sentencing Process & Decision Factors 1. Conviction → Sentencing: After a defendant is found guilty, the court must determine the appropriate punishment. 2. Factors influencing sentencing: Seriousness of the crime Attributes of the crime (e.g., presence of a weapon, intent) Psychological attributions (inte...