Prison Gerrymandering: How Rural Prisons are Removing Funding and Votes from Urban Areas, Poster 22

The placement of urban prisoners into rural prisons affects urban representation and individuals' right to the city -- or the political and residential rights an individual should have to the city in which he/she lives.... [ view full abstract ]

The placement of urban prisoners into rural prisons affects urban representation and individuals' right to the city -- or the political and residential rights an individual should have to the city in which he/she lives. Although Caucasians are the largest racial group within the United States, there are more Hispanic and black men imprisoned than their white counterparts (Warren 2008). The connection between race and incarceration rates is the result of discriminatory policing practices in conjunction with the United States’ “War on Drugs” (Wacquant 2001; Corva 2007). Through an analysis of U.S. population statistics, U.S. congressional districts, and U.S. prison census bureau data with GIS, I explore the question: how does the U.S. justice system and the placement of urban criminals into rural prisons affect individuals' rights to the city? My research indicates that racialized policing practices and laws targeted at minority populations result in increased incarceration of minority groups and a subsequent loss of political influence in urban areas (Wacquant 2001). This reflects the inability minorities have to access their right to the city, in this case: equal representation, safety, a voice in democratic processes, and community access to resources.