The Architecture of Punishment: Welfare, Capitalism, & Prison

A set of flashcards summarizing key concepts from the lecture on the interrelationship between welfare, capitalism, and the prison system.

What is the primary focus of the lecture titled 'The Architecture of Punishment'?

The relationship between welfare, capitalism, and the prison system.

What has been a significant trend in welfare since the 1970s?

Welfare retrenchment, which includes reducing funding.

How is poverty redefined in the context of this lecture?

Poverty is reframed as criminality.

What does the acronym AFAC stand for?

Aid to Family and Children.

What does SNAP provide assistance for?

Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program offers nutritional support.

What program assists women with health and pregnancy?

Planned Parenthood.

How do companies benefit from citizens going to prison?

The prison system monetizes the lives of individuals, particularly the poor.

What is a consequence of hyperincarceration?

Increased legal system contact as poverty rises.

What demographic is particularly affected by persistent racialized disparities in sentencing?

People of color face disproportionate charges and sentences.

How much more likely are Black people to be arrested compared to white people?

Black people are four times more likely to be arrested.

What happens to individuals who cannot pay bond?

They may remain in jail, affecting their life stability.

What is a significant impact of being held in jail?

Individuals may lose their jobs.

What is the 'Broken Window' theory?

A theory suggesting that visible signs of disorder and neglect cause further disorder.

How does the lecture describe prisons in relation to the mentally disabled and elderly?

Prisons act as default social institutions for these groups.

What are some barriers mentioned that prevent individuals from attending court?

Lack of childcare and transportation.

What is a key feature of the Penal State?

Government investment in policing and prisons.

What economic role do prisons serve in rural areas?

Prisons are used as tools for rural economic development.

What does 'capitalism' have to do with the prison economy?

Capitalism contributes to the monetization of prison systems.

What proposition is mentioned in relation to prisons in California?

Proposition 47 and Proposition 36.

What does the term 'Penal-Care Braid' refer to?

A concept where prisons manage poverty, illness, and age.

What is the relationship between punishment and welfare according to the lecture?

Punishment fills the gaps left by welfare.

What issues do lower-income neighborhoods face according to the lecture?

Higher police patrols and limited services like daycares and banks.

What is red-lining?

A discriminatory practice that restricts services to specific neighborhoods.

How does racism affect accountability in crime?

Rich white people are less likely to be held accountable for crimes.

What is the impact of class on pretrial poverty?

Poverty increases legal system contact and instability.

What can contribute to the criminalization of poverty?

Living in high surveillance neighborhoods can lead to increased arrests.

What is one of the root causes of hyperincarceration?

The conflation of poverty with criminality.

What is a notable demographic trend regarding drug charges?

Black men often serve longer sentences than white men for similar charges.

What does it mean to say that 'racism is embedded in policy'?

Systematic inequalities are built into legal and institutional frameworks.