Coming into this class for the second time, I already had a decent amount prior knowledge about many of the issues surrounding incarceration. I had learned much of this last year, and I was very much aware that I had a keen interest in the subject. However, I was (and am) still extremely eager to learn as much about this subject as I possibly could, and refresh and expand my knowledge. So while I did not come into this class with any particularly strong and negative preconceived perceptions or stereotypes about "criminals" and the US prison system that were later changed as I learned more, I was still determined to approach everything with an open mind and expand my knowledge and consciousness. When I took this class last year, I was …show more content…
What are the racial distributions of incarcerated women in each state? What are the rates according to gender, race, and ethnicity and how have they changed in the past 15 years? Do they mirror the national levels and rates? Why are the rates of incarceration in some states so high? Are these states possibly big drug states? Or are they maybe more politically leaning towards conservative or liberal? Are the state-to-state rates for incarcerated men as high as the rates for women? Are the sentences harsher in states with higher incarceration rates? Would a person convicted of a certain crime be sentenced differently according to state, and if so, how much of this would vary according to their race, gender, ethnicity, age, etc.? What are the demographics of the women incarcerated in each state? Are the state-to-state crime distributions reflective of the national distribution? Do the average ages of women sentenced vary from state to state? Are there any noticeable correlations or patterns between any of these …show more content…
Why do the youth rates not mirror or reflect this overall trend? What are the socioeconomic and demographic statistics of confined girls? Are there evident racial differences? What alternatives are available for at-risk girls instead of incarceration? Are there other viable options? What is the cost difference of these alternatives? Do race and socioeconomic status play significant roles in the affectivity and likelihood of placing girls in such alternative options? Are the girls who are confined mostly repeat offenders, or are there also first time offenders? Does this breakdown differ according to race and other demographics? What are the age demographics of incarcerated girls? Are there any trends or patterns in the family dynamics and histories of incarcerated girls (i.e. parental history of incarceration, substance abuse, poverty, gang activity, etc)? Do factors such as the number of siblings, age of parents, household structures, etc. significantly impact the rate of confinement