Overcriminalization significantly undermines human flourishing and social well-being by harming the family, social networks, and social citizenship. Additionally, it prevents capable men and women from utilizing their creative capacities in the marketplace. This creates vast issues involving relations with family while incarcerated and reintegration into society after release. On the economic side, draconian cash bail systems undermine justice through basing someone's ability to attain pre-trial release upon their wealth, not their actual threat to society.
"Compared with respondents whose parents were not incarcerated, those who had grown up with an incarcerated mother or father: were less likely to seek medical care when they needed it; were more likely to abuse prescription drugs, smoke cigarettes and have drinking problems; and were more likely to have 10 or more sexual partners."
Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Public Policy
July 25, 2018
Read More