Social Capital Amplifies Racial Disparities in State Incarcerations

This paper examines how social capital affects incarceration policies differently across racial contexts within U.S. states.

Racial Disparities Focus

The study finds that while social capital generally correlates with higher incarceration rates, this effect is particularly pronounced for African Americans.

Theoretical Explanation

Drawing on Hero\'s work, the author proposes that social capital functions differently in diverse versus homogeneous contexts:

• It enhances social empathy in places where everyone shares similar backgrounds.
• In more racially diverse settings, it strengthens informal social controls instead.

Key Findings & Implications

The analysis of state-level longitudinal data reveals:

• Higher incarceration rates are linked to greater levels of social capital.
• This relationship intensifies as minority populations grow larger.

This suggests that policies promoting social networks may unintentionally worsen racial inequality in the justice system.

Policy Equity Relevance

The findings highlight how state-level factors interact with race to shape criminal justice outcomes.