Abstract

There are currently over 2.4 million people sitting in jails and prisons within the American criminal justice system making the United States one of the top contenders for having the most incarcerated individuals in the world. States like California, New York and Texas are expected to have high incarceration rates given their massive population; however, Kentucky is also one of the top contenders for the highest incarceration rates in the United States. Kentucky has a considerably smaller population and yet, on a scale, Kentucky was rated to have the 2nd highest incarceration rate in 2021 and the 10th highest prison incarceration rate in the entire country (Singh et al., 2023). There are several reasons and causes at every level of the criminal justice system. Beginning with the police that arrest minorities at disproportionate rates, bail hearings that prey on indigent citizens and finally with the prisons that make no efforts to ensure their prisoners do not recidivate. Kentucky is one of the states that arrests multiple populations at accelerated rates and offers little to keep them out of prison, encourages their arrest, or offers no support or rehabilitation after release. There may even be financial incentive in Kentucky legislature to keep populations incarcerated whether it be to keep them off the street or receive financial compensation for housing more and more inmates.

Semester/Year of Award

Fall 12-2-2024

Mentor

Dr. Judah Schept

Mentor Department Affiliation

Justice Studies

Access Options

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Scholars

Degree Level

Bachelors

Department

Justice Studies

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