From Mass Incarceration to Smart Decarceration

From Mass Incarceration to Smart DecarcerationA prolonged era of mass incarceration has led to staggering rates of imprisonment in the United States, particularly among some of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.Given the rising social and economic costs of imprisonment and tight public budgets, this trend is beginning to reverse (Petersilia & Cullen, 2014).At the beginning of the 21st century, the United States finds itself facing the enormous challenge of decarcerating America, which is at the same time an enormous opportunity.Through decarceration, the lives of millions of people can be vastly improved, and the nation as a whole can leave behind this short-sighted and shameful period of mass incarceration.But how will this be accomplished, and by whom?Seldom before in the nation's history has the need for applied social innovation been more urgent.More so than most, the profession of social work is positioned to lead in this far-reaching social justice challenge.Social work is uniquely qualified because of its history of reform efforts, an ethical commitment to social justice, and emerging leadership in structural and behavioral interventions addressing complex social problems (Abramovitz, 1998;Brekke, Ell, & Palinkas, 2007;Fraser, 2004).Social work can bring siloed social sectors and diverse academic disciplines together to create a rational and effective response as prisons and jails devolve.Smart Decarceration will be proactive, transdisciplinary, and empirically driven.Effective decarceration will be occurring when (1) the incarcerated population in U.S. jails and prisons is substantially decreased; (2) existing racial and economic disparities in the criminal justice system are redressed; and(3) public safety and public health are maximized.