By the end of June 2005, there were over 2.1 million people incarcerated in jails and prisons in the United States – equivalent to one in every 136 U.S. residents (Beck & Harrison, 2006). The mass incarceration of individuals in the U.S. has had a detrimental impact on people of color, particularly African American men. Due to the vast numbers of African men who are incarcerated, they bear a substantial burden in this mass imprisonment movement. African American men who are incarcerated and then reenter their communities upon release confront numerous obstacles including unemployment, disenfranchisement, limited housing, poor health, and lack access to health services. These obstacles have health and socioeconomic impact on their children, families and communities.

 

As we move forward, we must acknowledge that African American men did not arrive at this junction on their own accord. In order to comprehend the dimensions of the problems that African American men face today, it is necessary to understand the history of these policies that form the social welfare foundation in our society.

 

To learn more, download the comprehensive policy brief

Where are the Men?:

The Impact of Incarceration and Reentry on African American Men and Their Children and Families