From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America by Elizabeth Hinton

The book "From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America" by Elizabeth Hinton offers readers an in-depth exploration of the factors that have led to the exponential rise in mass incarceration in America over the past 50 years. Hinton argues that the War on Poverty has had a distinctly negative impact on the criminal justice system in America and has been the primary driver behind the creation of the current system of mass incarceration in our country. She outlines the various government policies, programs, and funding initiatives that have arisen in the wake of the War on Poverty and have led to an unprecedented level of incarceration in the American criminal justice system.

The book begins with an exploration of the roots of the War on Poverty, which was launched by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. This effort was to reduce poverty and provide a more equitable economic opportunity for all Americans. Though some of the initiatives created under the War on Poverty had positive outcomes, there were some unintended consequences, including the criminalization of poverty, the increase in police presence in underserved communities, the militarization of the police force, and the increase in incarceration based on nonviolent and low-level crimes. Hinton provides a detailed look at the role of the federal government in implementing the War on Poverty initiatives, as well as the local and state governments that implemented these policies on the ground.

The book moves on to detail the War on Crime, which was declared by President Johnson in 1965 and launched a series of new policies that led to an unprecedented level of incarceration in the U.S. criminal justice system. The War on Crime was based on the idea that crime had risen to an all-time high, and needed to be addressed with tougher laws and penalties, as well as increased federal funding. This was in stark contrast to the War on Poverty, which sought to provide increased economic opportunities and improved living conditions for disadvantaged populations. In the wake of the War on Crime, the federal government implemented new law enforcement initiatives such as the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, and the Gun Control Act.

Hinton then moves on to look at how the War on Crime has disproportionately impacted communities of color. She outlines how race played an important role in the formulation of the War on Crime initiatives as well as their implementation in America’s urban centers. She looks at how the combination of federal, state and local policies have resulted in a vastly unequal criminal justice system, with a disproportionate number of black and brown people caught in the clutches of the criminal justice system.

The book then looks at the impact that the War on Poverty and the War on Crime have had on the development of mass incarceration in America. Hinton examines the various legal, social and political factors that have led to the over-incarceration of certain populations, including racial disparities, stricter sentencing guidelines, and overly punitive punishments for minor offenses. She also notes how the high costs of incarceration as well as high recidivism rates further contribute to an ever-growing prison population.

Finally, Hinton looks at potential solutions for reducing the number of incarcerated people in the U.S., such as increased funding for rehabilitation and treatment programs, policy reforms that focus on alternatives to incarceration, reentry and job training programs, and the importance of education access for all citizens. She argues that by fighting the root causes of crime and investing in communities, the U.S. can reduce its prison population and create a criminal justice system that is both equitable and effective.

In "From the War on Poverty to the War on Crime: The Making of Mass Incarceration in America" Elizabeth Hinton dives deep into the myriad of factors that have led to the current system of mass incarceration in the U.S. She offers an informative and comprehensive look at the policies and initiatives that have had a devastating effect on marginalized communities and argues that there is a need to invest in community-centric strategies, rather than simply relying on punitive punishments, in order to achieve true justice in our criminal justice system.