University of Kentucky
Grade Level at Time of Presentation
Junior
Major
Psychology, Sociology, Philosophy
Minor
Criminology
Institution 23-24
University of Kentucky
KY House District #
1
KY Senate District #
2
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
Emily Hencken Ritter, PhD
Department
Dept. of Political Science
Abstract
Popular political discourse in the U.S. assumes that more funding for law enforcement and prison facilities will make civilians safer, presumably by reducing crime and sense of disorder. However, studies have shown that the relationship between these factors may not be as straightforward. With the killing of George Floyd and increased media coverage of police brutality, existing literature focuses mainly on the relationship between police and crime in the U.S. The impact of incarceration (the result of procedural justice) on the community (for whom procedural justice exists) is less known, especially on a global scale. We argue that cycling people in and out of the community via incarceration may undermine various informal control mechanisms in place to create a sense of order and safety in the community. Comparing the U.S. to other developed countries (including all OECD and E.U. countries) with data from the Quality of Governance dataset and World Prison Brief reports, we found a significant negative association between incarceration and public safety. By understanding how other countries have effectively responded to public safety needs, the U.S. can better determine its next steps.
Included in
Civic and Community Engagement Commons, Civil Rights and Discrimination Commons, Comparative Politics Commons, Criminal Law Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, Criminology Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, Social Control, Law, Crime, and Deviance Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Statistics Commons
Global Criminal Justice Practices and Public Safety
Popular political discourse in the U.S. assumes that more funding for law enforcement and prison facilities will make civilians safer, presumably by reducing crime and sense of disorder. However, studies have shown that the relationship between these factors may not be as straightforward. With the killing of George Floyd and increased media coverage of police brutality, existing literature focuses mainly on the relationship between police and crime in the U.S. The impact of incarceration (the result of procedural justice) on the community (for whom procedural justice exists) is less known, especially on a global scale. We argue that cycling people in and out of the community via incarceration may undermine various informal control mechanisms in place to create a sense of order and safety in the community. Comparing the U.S. to other developed countries (including all OECD and E.U. countries) with data from the Quality of Governance dataset and World Prison Brief reports, we found a significant negative association between incarceration and public safety. By understanding how other countries have effectively responded to public safety needs, the U.S. can better determine its next steps.