Introduction

This chapter is an introduction to the book The Narrative of the Black Incarcerated Man: Mass Incarceration, Prison Reform, and Rehabilitation. Told through the lens of JT, an armed force veteran facing a history of trauma throughout childhood and into adulthood, it portrays widespread experiences Black males face as early as preschool, including unwarranted criminalization, psychiatric hospitalizations, and eventual incarceration. This chapter will provide a foundation for the examination of the criminalization of Black men and the need for penal system reform that allows for their mental, physical, financial, and emotional rehabilitation. In conclusion, this chapter sets the tone for the subsequent chapters in this book, providing an overview of the themes and concepts discussed. It underscores the importance of understanding offending populations through their lived experience(s) and offering more proactive rehabilitation support and services to remediate their needs post-conviction.