The Problem of Mass Incarceration

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 19.02.02

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Rationale
  3. Content Objectives
  4. Content Background
  5. Teaching Strategies
  6. Classroom Activities
  7. Resources
  8. Appendix
  9. Notes

On Criminal Justice Reform: Studying Philadelphia’s New, Reform-Minded District Attorney through a Historical Context

Alexander de Arana

Published September 2019

Tools for this Unit:

Introduction

Robert Rihmeek Williams, better known by his stage name “Meek Mill,” was first arrested in 2007.  Already known as a local rapper, he was prosecuted for nineteen counts that included gun and drug charges.  Meek Mill waived his right to a jury trial due to financial costs and he struggled with reentering society after multiple stints in jail and prison.  This was one of several instances with the criminal justice system that Meek Mill faced.  Judge Genece Brinkley, the judge that presided over his cases, forbade him to travel despite the rapper’s scheduled tour dates.  In 2017, Meek Mill was arrested and charged with a felony count of reckless endangerment after popping wheelies on a dirt bike in New York City.  Meek Mill was later sent to prison again for violating his parole in a case that gained national attention.1 Meek Mill’s celebrity status increased his support as he received backing from fellow musician and criminal justice reform advocate Jay-Z, owners of the Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, and New England Patriots, and other individuals and groups that sought to reform the criminal justice system.2

Growing up during an era of mass incarceration in the United States, Meek Mill lived in Strawberry Mansion in North Philadelphia.  Today, Strawberry Mansion’s violent crime rates are three times as high as they are at the state and national levels.  Household income is 43 percent lower compared to other Pennsylvanians.  Additionally, Meek Mill’s neighborhood high school faced closure and even drew national attention for its school violence.3 Socioeconomic and educational attainment factors often drive incarceration rates in communities like Strawberry Mansion.

Statewide, about 96,000 Pennsylvania residents are incarcerated in various facilities today.  Approximately 380,000 Pennsylvanians are either in jails or prisons or are under some form of supervision.  In fact, Pennsylvania incarcerates its residents at a higher rate (725) compared to the national average (698) of the US.  The Commonwealth also holds higher incarceration rates for black and Hispanic residents when compared to white residents.4 The roughly fifty-year period of mass incarceration (1970-present) led to these alarming rates.

This unit aims to explore the trends and attitudes that led to the jail and prison populations of the US, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia today. Furthermore, this unit will examine the prosecutor’s role during this period.  Meek Mill’s experience with the criminal justice system was the product of societal beliefs and governmental policy that led to the progression of mass incarceration.

Comments:

Alexander William De Arana

September 30, 2019 at 9:47 pm

Update on Meek Mill

Since the final draft of this unit was submitted for publication, hip hop artist Meek Mill's convictions on old gun and drug charges have been vacated by the Pennsylvania Superior Court. Not only did District Attorney of Philadelphia Larry Krasner support Meek Mill's appeal, but Krasner also endorsed the decision that was published by the judges stating that Meek Mill is eligible for a new trial. Ultimately, Meek Mill pleaded guilty for a gun possession charge with no further sentence. Krasner publicly stated that Meek Mill's case was an example of excessive punishment, excessive supervision, unfair procedures, and questionable integrity. Krasner used Meek Mill's case to demonstrate how people can evolve. He also used this opportunity to recognize that cities and sometimes (criminal justice) systems also need to evolve.

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