Whiteness in Corrections: Examining the Disproportionate System of Contact of Black Individuals Across the Lifespan

Whiteness is incredibly pervasive in the field of criminal justice. Every component of the legal system is impacted by racial disparities and inequities, specifically in the United States correctional system. The USA has the highest rate of incarceration in the world with over two million individuals behind bars equating to roughly 639 per 100,000 adults. Starting in youth, children of color (predominantly Black children) are funneled into the youth legal system through unjust policies and practices such as zero-tolerance policies and the presence of school resource officers in schools. This phenomenon, disproportionate minority contact (DMC), lays the groundwork for racial disparities throughout the youth and adult criminal legal systems. Within the adult criminal legal system, Black individuals are incarcerated at much higher rates than whites. They are disproportionately represented, comprising 40% of the incarcerated population, but only 13% of the general U.S. population. There is an evident cyclical pattern of incarceration among Black families as Black children are more likely to have an incarcerated parent, which contributes to DMC and recidivism rates. This chapter will discuss this process and how judicial decision-making, sentencing, punishment, and policies are impacted by racial dynamics in the U.S. correctional system in more depth.