--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... as recently as the mid-1970s, the…" description: "\"... as recently as the mid-1970s, the most well-respected criminologists were predicting that the prison system would soon fade away. Prison did not de..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/michelle-alexander-750_commit_as-recently-as-the-mid-1970s-the-most-we_2489516.jpg" --- # ... as recently as the mid-1970s, the most well-respected… ![“... as recently as the mid-1970s, the most well-respected criminologists were predicting that the prison system would soon fade away. Prison did not deter crime significantly, many experts concluded. Those who had meaningful economic and social opportunities were unlikely to commit crimes…” quote by Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/michelle-alexander-750_commit_as-recently-as-the-mid-1970s-the-most-we_2489516.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/michelle-alexander-750_commit_as-recently-as-the-mid-1970s-the-most-we_2489516.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cbe/michelle-alexander-750_commit_as-recently-as-the-mid-1970s-the-most-we_2489516.jpg) > “... as recently as the mid-1970s, the most well-respected criminologists were predicting that the prison system would soon fade away. Prison did not deter crime significantly, many experts concluded. Those who had meaningful economic and social opportunities were unlikely to commit crimes regardless of the penalty, while those who went to prison were far more likely to commit crimes again in the future.” [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The author notes that criminologists once believed prisons would become obsolete, but evidence shows prisons fail to deter crime and often increase recidivism, especially without socioeconomic support. **In simple terms:** Prisons don’t stop crime and can make it worse without opportunities. Key Takeaway Address root causes, not just punishment. Themes justice reform recidivism social inequality Mood concerned hopeful Type policy analytical When to use this quote - policy making - community programs - rehabilitation services Key Concepts sociology criminal justice policy Questions to Reflect On - How can society balance safety with reform? - What alternatives reduce repeat offenses? A Different Perspective It overlooks that some crimes may still require incarceration for public safety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Experts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experts/) [Meaningful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meaningful/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Penalties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/penalties/) [Prison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison/) [Prison system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prison-system/) [Social](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/social/) ## Related quotes > [Let's stop pretending we can arrest our way to safety and security. Despite all the fine work that policemen and women do, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-p-meek/let-s-stop-pretending-we-can-arrest-our-way-to-safety-and-security/) [Carrie P. Meek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-p-meek/) > [First of all, it does not deter crime, the death penalty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/first-of-all-it-does-not-deter-crime-the-death-penalty/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [The war on drugs has been the engine of mass incarceration. 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If you ask for jobs or economic investment, you won't get that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/if-you-ask-for-good-schools-you-aren-t-likely-to-get-them-if-you-ask/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [The uncomfortable reality we must face is that California, like the nation as a whole, has treated generations of African Americans and Latinos as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-alexander/the-uncomfortable-reality-we-must-face-is-that-california-like-the/) [Michelle Alexander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-alexander/) > [“Seeing race is not the problem. Refusing to care for the people we see is the problem. 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