Jordan T. Camp’s Incarcerating the Crisis: Freedom Struggles and the Rise of the Neoliberal State highlights how the criminalization of “civil rights insurgency and mass protest” against racial injustice legitimized the formation of the neoliberal, carceral state (Camp 5). I would like to further explore how neoliberalism intersects with and permeates the United States criminal justice system. Our class discussion on February 11th revealed how neoliberalism economizes the law by equating the political speech from corporations to speech from individual citizens. My research will adopt a similar format, analyzing the ways in which neoliberalism economizes our court procedures and our system of mass incarceration. I would like to begin my research by highlighting the disparities that exist in counsel quality between wealthy and indigent defendants despite all American citizens’ sixth amendment right to counsel. My research will explore how our society is conditioned to place blame on incarcerated individuals for their social position relative to others, rather than to bring forth the systemic inequalities and inadequate counsel that increase particular individuals’ susceptibility to enter correctional facilities.
My research will then explore the relationship between neoliberalism and the rise of private prisons. I would like to learn not only about the parties involved in introducing the privatization of prisons, but also research how the maintenance of such privatization continues to play an important role in American political discourse. Furthermore, I hope to research the presence of neoliberal practices within jail complexes (for instance, how private systems minimize costs within jail complexes through the cheap labor of incarcerated individuals and reduced health services). As part of my research I would like to conduct at least one interview with a previously incarcerated individual to receive a first-hand account about the internal conditions of jails. I intend to detail my findings through a podcast.
Lopez’s Comments:
Anarelis, this sounds like an excellent project. To be honest with you, I had not realized that private prisons are a growing trend. After readings your summary, I did a quick search and was completely surprised by what I found out. This make be off track, but I noticed that a number of the states with a high rate prisoners held in private facilities tend to be mostly rural. In Vermont’s case, there are even plans to send inmates to Mississippi, where the cost of incarcerating people is substantially lower. See: https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2018/06/06/two-private-prison-companies-bidding-to-house-vermont-inmates
You might want to look at Ruth Wilson Gilmore’s book, The Golden Gulag, where she explains the neoliberal rationale for placing prisons in California’s interior, rural places where the cost of land and labor are cheap. Also, look into Camp’s bibliography. I’m sure that he cited a number of pieces that may be of use to you. I look forward to hearing your podcast!