The politics of sentencing reform in the context of U.S. mass incarceration

Katherine Beckett

Chapter 13 in Research Handbook on Penal Policy, 2026, pp 256-272 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Chapter 13 examines the politics of sentencing reform in the context of persistent mass incarceration in the United States. I first show how changes to sentencing policy fueled long sentences and mass incarceration. I then argue that although bipartisan support for limited reforms has emerged, these reforms often reinforce the existing carceral structure by distinguishing between “deserving” and “undeserving” populations. I trace how cultural myths and institutional resistance shape the contours of current reform efforts and explain why comprehensive and retroactive reforms remain elusive. I also explore how widespread myths about violent crime, victims, and individual responsibility sustain punitive sentencing laws. The conclusion outlines various strategies for overcoming cultural and political barriers to reform.

Keywords: Mass incarceration; Punishment; Sentencing; Criminal justice reform; Politics; Culture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035308521
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