The Mississippi model: Dangers of prison reform in the context of fiscal austerity

Abstract

Over the past decade, the political landscape in the realm of criminal justice policy has shifted towards broad support for prison reform. Recent calls for defunding as a solution to the problems of mass incarceration are gaining traction from a diverse group of political actors. The case of prison reform in Mississippi provides important insight on the effects of a reform model that prioritizes cutting costs. This article examines the consequences of pursuing penal reforms in the broader context of fiscal austerity. First, the case of Mississippi shows how local context shapes austerity driven reforms in ways that make them particularly unsuited to address mass incarceration. The development of the carceral state in Mississippi created labor and public-sector dependencies on the correctional system and overcoming these interests will require public investments. Second, the article shows how austerity driven reforms fail to adequately staff and support public sector correctional workers which has rendered prisons in Mississippi even more dangerous and deadly. The Mississippi case indicates that until there are more significant drops in incarceration rates and robust alternatives to the functions of the carceral state, reductions in correctional budgets do not signal downsizing, but rather mass incarceration on the cheap.