Racial and Ethnic Divides in Privatized Punishment: Examining Disparities in Private Prison Placements

Andrea N. Montes, Daniel P. Mears, Eric A. Stewart

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Scholars have identified diverse ways in which get-tough policies adversely affect minorities. An interest has also emerged in privatized corrections and the potential for exploitation of those who experience it. Drawing on these literatures and on focal concerns theory, we hypothesize that some groups of individuals may be more likely to receive private prison placements. We employ regression analyses of official data to examine whether racial or ethnic minorities are more likely to receive private placements and whether such effects are moderated by age and violent history. We find that some Blacks are more likely to receive private placements, while, in some instances, Hispanics are less likely to receive such placements. There was no evidence that younger and violent minorities are more likely to be assigned to private prisons. This study advances scholarship on privatization, punishment, and the potential racial and ethnic divides in the consequences of the punitive era.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)930-954
    Number of pages25
    JournalJustice Quarterly
    Volume37
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jul 28 2020

    Keywords

    • Private prison
    • corrections
    • focal concerns
    • racial disparity

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pathology and Forensic Medicine
    • Law

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