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Re-Punished for the Past: How Criminal Records Increase Prison Terms and Racial Injustice

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Re-Punished for the Past: How Criminal Records Increase Prison Terms and Racial Injustice Prior criminal records account for a large share of already lengthy prison sentences, often adding years or even decades to sentences, without evidence of community safety benefits. Related to: Sentencing Reform, Incarceration, Racial Justice Although it is a widespread practice in the United States to increa...
The strongest version of this narrative highlights a systemic issue: criminal record enhancements disproportionately lengthen sentences for African Americans, with little evidence of public safety benefits. The data is compelling—African Americans receive sentences five years longer on average for similar offenses, driven by higher criminal record scores rooted in racial disparities in policing and prior convictions. The report effectively ties these disparities to broader systemic inequities, s...