The Role of Punishment in Maintaining Social Inequality—
Abolition, Reform, or Reconstruction?
The prison system has long been viewed as essential for maintaining social
order, yet scholars like Michelle Alexander and Angela Davis argue that it
perpetuates racial and economic inequality. Alexander describes mass
incarceration as a “new Jim Crow,” claiming it creates a racial caste system
by disproportionately affecting people of color. Davis extends this critique by
arguing that the prison system, driven by profit and punitive ideologies, is
inherently oppressive, calling it a “prison industrial complex.” Together,
these critiques highlight the prison system’s role in perpetuating structural
injustice and suggest that the problem may require abolition, rather than
mere reform.
In both the U.S. and Canada, marginalized communities—particularly Black
and Indigenous populations—are disproportionately represented in prison
populations, often for minor or non-violent offenses. Current discussions
around justice reform increasingly advocate for alternatives to incarceration,
such as restorative justice, which aims to rehabilitate offenders while
addressing systemic harm
The Role of Punishment in Maintaining Social Inequality— Abolition, Reform, or Reconstruction?
How our paper writing service works
It's very simple!
-
Fill out the order form
Complete the order form by providing as much information as possible, and then click the submit button.
-
Choose writer
Select your preferred writer for the project, or let us assign the best writer for you.
-
Add funds
Allocate funds to your wallet. You can release these funds to the writer incrementally, after each section is completed and meets your expected quality.
-
Ready
Download the finished work. Review the paper and request free edits if needed. Optionally, rate the writer and leave a review.