Nicole Porter argues that the United States is “still, by far, the world’s number one incarcerator.”

 Nicole Porter argues that the United States is “still, by far, the world’s number one incarcerator.”

Fifty years into the era of mass incarceration, states such as Arkansas, Montana, California, and Colorado are moving to build new prisons and expand immigrant detention facilities. In this episode of Rattling the Bars, host Mansa Musa speaks with Nicole Porter of The Sentencing Project about how federal and state governments continue to invest in prison construction and ICE contracts to grow the prison-industrial complex. They explore what makes the U.S. criminal justice system distinct from those in other countries and how grassroots organizers are pushing for real population reductions rather than more cages.

Guest:
Nicole D. Porter—recognized by Essence Magazine as a “New Civil Rights Leader” for her work to challenge mass incarceration—leads state and local advocacy at The Sentencing Project. Since joining the organization in 2009, she has advanced reforms across states including Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, California, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Porter specializes in research and advocacy on racial disparities, felony disenfranchisement, prison closures, and prison reuse. Her work has been featured in major outlets such as Salon, The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, and MSNBC.