The Impact and Legacy of the Obama Presidency for Crime and Punishment

• In Event: Causes, Consequences, and Legacies of Mass Incarceration

Abstract

As Barack Obama concludes eight years as the nation's first African American president, it is an opportune time to reflect on the changes that have occurred (and not occurred) in incarceration and in criminal justice more generally. From the "beer summit" to federal ban the box, this paper explores the expectations, impact, and likely future legacy of the Obama presidency for U.S. crime and justice.

Author

• Christopher Uggen, University of Minnesota