The document outlines a writing assignment requiring students to analyze an economic podcast on the topic of mass incarceration and its reforms, specifically focusing on the First Step Act. Students must summarize the podcast, apply economic concepts, and conduct a critical evaluation of the arguments presented, while adhering to MLA formatting guidelines. The assignment is assessed based on clarity, thoroughness, and use of economic models to support their analysis and evaluation.

1. Task
There will be one writing assignment in this course to give you
practice and opportunities to get feedback on your writing. This
is an individual writing assignment.
For this writing assignment, you will be given an economic
podcast and will be asked to critically evaluate it. You will be
graded on the quality and thoroughness of your analysis.
Therefore, you will also be graded on the clarity, flow and
overall cohesiveness of the writing in your paper.
Podcast:
http://freakonomics.com/podcast/uber-economists-dream/ (Links
to an external site.)
Paper Outline
Introduction (5 points): The introduction (first paragraph)
briefly summarizes what you consider to be the main point(s) of
the article. If there are many, focus on the one(s) that you will
analyze in the assignment.
Summary (5 points): A short summary of the podcast should be
included. This summary should capture the key points
presented in the article and any important facts or elements. Do
not spend the whole assignment summarizing the entire
podcast. Summaries should be succinct and to the point and be
approximately one paragraph.
Analysis (15 points): Your analysis should use economic
concepts you have learnt in class. In other words, analysis
should focus on how topics covered in class are
applicable/relevant to the real world. Be sure to demonstrate
your analysis using graphs and/or models learned in class. Be
careful to address the appropriate audience. Remember; narrow
your focus so that your analysis can be more in-depth. That is
much more important than hitting every point made in the
podcast.
Critical Evaluation (20 points): This is the most important

2. aspect of this assignment.
Students should focus on whether they agree with what is stated
in the podcast or what their recommendations may be. Students
can also analyze how the material in the podcast will impact the
economy in a micro setting. The analysis portion has the
potential to be varied in nature. However, I recommend
sticking to my guidelines below:
· To evaluate an article you need first to understand the author’s
arguments. Start by identifying the assumptions inherent in the
argument, checking to see if the conclusions follow from these
assumptions. Try to distinguish the argument from the evidence
provided to support the argument
· To do a critical evaluation, essentially you should take apart
the various steps in the argument and see if they make sense
separately and as a whole. Can you use the tools learned in class
to think about the argument in another way? Check to see if the
author is missing anything in his/her argument or has used some
tool or method incorrectly or inappropriately. Is there evidence
that contradicts their argument?
· You need to have 1 – 2 economic models we have learned
during the semester. (ie, Supply/Demand, Cost Curves, Perfect
Competition, Monopolistic Competition, Monopoly, etc)
Conclusion (5 points): It is important to have a strong
conclusion since this is the last chance you have to make an
impression on your reader. The goal of your conclusion isn’t to
introduce any new ideas, but to sum up, everything you’ve
written. Specifically, your conclusion should accomplish three
major goals:
1. Restate the main idea of your essay, or your thesis statement.
2. Summarize the main sub-points of your essay.
3. Leave the reader with an interesting final impression.
Works Cited: Works cited completed using MLA format. Must
cite at least 3 sources. Class notes/lecture can account for one
source. The textbook can account for one source.

3. How to format your assignment
· Your assignment should follow MLA format. In other words,
your assignment should be typed, double-spaced and have a font
size of 12 points.
· The length of the assignment is 3-4 pages (excluding the title
page and work citation)
· The title page should have your full name, student id number
and the class information.
· The assignment should be in Word.
Running head: MASS INCARCERATION: FIRST STEP ACT
REFORMS
1
TITLE OF PAPER 4
MASS INCARCERATION: FIRST STEP ACT REFORMS
2
Mass Incarceration: First Step Act Reforms
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course
Date
Mass Incarceration: First Step Act Reforms
The United States has the highest percentages of prison
population. For a country that accounts for about 5% of the
world population, figures show that it holds about 25 % of
prison population. (Michelle, 2015) As reports show the drastic
reduction in the rate of crime, there have been a rise in the
number of incarcerations mostly alluded to unfair policies on
sentencing and granting of bail. Mass incarceration is a cancer
that causes major dire consequences in the social, economic and
racial spheres across the country. It has cost the taxpayers
colossal amounts of money and also disproportionally hurt

4. communities and families of colored people. (Jean, 2018) There
have been an increase in the number of people held before trial,
over criminalization of activities and more harsh punishments
on less serious criminal activities.
Hope is not lost however as there has been the enactment of
transformative legislative reforms to counter mass incarceration
and reduce its negative effects. One of this legislation which
signed into law by President Trump in December 2018, is the
First Step Act. This piece of legislation provides major reforms
in the criminal justice system focusing on reforms in prisons
and sentencing at federal level. The major notable reforms is the
increase of judicial discretion in sentencing and prisoners would
be allowed take part in “evidence-based recidivism reduction
programs”. This paper will focus on the impetus for criminal
justice reform and will focus on the reforms contained in the
largely bipartisan-supported First Step Act.
Mass Incarceration in the United States ; Economic Theory
The incarceration rates in the United States of America have
significantly increased over the last three decades. (U.S.Census
Bureau, December 2018) The growing increase in incarceration
rates is mainly attributed to the lack of proper reforms in the
criminal justice system, given its political inclination. This has
raised significant concerns regarding the mushrooming
populations of incarcerated individuals besides the
socioeconomic and racial disparities that come with criminal
convictions. Reports reveal that crime and the growing
incarceration rates are significantly expensive for the taxpayers
as they place significant constraints on the public budget.
Punishments, with precision to incarceration, remains an aspect
that is equally costly for the offenders as it significantly
reduces the level of attachment between the perpetrators of
heinous crimes and their family members as well as the
community. Several measures have been construed with the

5. cardinal intent of reducing the growing recidivism rates. Given
this, one of the significant measures placed by the criminal
justice system lies in the incarceration of the offenders for life,
an approach that criminologists have often inferred to as
incapacitation. This approach, as adduced in the views of
various research studies, is significantly costly as it
significantly decreases the labor market's productivity, affects
the well-being of the family, and increases the publics' budget.
The period that an offender spends incarceration, as well as
their experiences in correctional facilities, may significantly
influence recidivism. Prison reforms and sentencing, in this
case, remain the fundamental trajectories of the criminal justice
reforms that draw an understanding of these effects. According
to the economic theory, the longer prisoners spend in
correctional facilities, the higher the risks that come with
detachment from their communities, family members, and work.
The prisoners are, therefore, vulnerable to the acquisition of
skills that may increase their attempts to commit more crimes.
Contrarily, sentences that encourage behavioral and substance
abuse programs, recidivism prevention initiatives, and job
training programs play a fundamental role in reducing the
criminal activities of the prisoners following their release.
Conclusively, it is evident that sentences that last longer
uniformly help in reducing the increasing rates of crime, an
observation coined in the economic theory.
Fundamentally the need for reforms within the criminal justice
system lies in the fact that half of the federal detained inmates
are primarily detailed for drug offenses. This has the public
eyebrows significantly regarding the element of criminalization
as more individuals are sentenced for non-violent offenses-often
considered as victimless crimes. This argument supports the
discussions emerging that drug offenses related to the
consumption and the possession of substances may not be
remedied through incarcerations-establishing the essence of
rehabilitation outside the criminal justice system. Given the
nature of the emerging issues, it is evident that criminal justice

6. requires reforms, with one of the main decisions established
lying in the need to define the activities that are perceived as
criminal. The schools of thought that support the legalization of
drugs decry instances of overcriminalization, a controversial
issue establishing the need and essence of reforms. It is argued
that in the event that the scope of overcriminalization means
that some of the prevalent crimes may surprise the offenders.
This, therefore, establishes the need for the establishment of a
post-correctional experience of the offenders that are currently
considered as a fundamental aspect of the overall criminal and
justice approach. (Gill, 2018)The advocates of the former
offenders have alluded to different concerns, with some
establishing the challenges in making transitions for the repeal
of the new method.
A set of other advocates equally believe in finding remedies
from the local communities, citing the role played by the
Church as well as civic organizations. Current programs, as
alleged by a set of these advocates, are mainly focused on
serving the former offenders through training programs and not-
for-profit entities that fund these initiatives with the intent of
removing the taboos regarding the incarceration of offenders for
an extensive period. It is also cited that there is the need for
the state to hold conversations with faith-based organizations on
the measures that may be used in addressing the issues
circumventing the criminal justice system. Most fundamental is
the need to ensure that citizens, as well as their neighbors,
should provide tolerance to the incarcerated or the former
offenders. This, therefore, calls for the Church to make
contributions towards recognizing its universal role in bringing
together the society while, on the other hand, ensuring that the
dignity of human beings is upheld.
The Beckerman theory is suggested in predicting criminal
elements within the society so as to address the increasing risks
that come with recidivism.It remains fundamental in the
prediction of the risks of recidivism among the incarcerated
criminals who may once more re-enter the society. (Beckett,

7. 2016)This model builds on a seminal work with an economical
connection on the need to cut down on the resources that the
state uses in the incarceration of criminals. The fundamental
goal of the model lies in addressing the growing cases of long
sentences through the reduction of future incidences of crime.
Generally, it is essential to note that the economist has a vital
role to play in contributing to the discussions on criminal
justice reforms. This denotes the need for economists to gain
awareness on some of the prevailing social as well as scientific
adages that fail to address the growing instances of
incarcerations. Secondly, economists, as well as the elites
within the society, need to focus on the need to harness good
intentions in an effort directed towards the achievement of the
established goals. Tougher as it seems, there is a need to
accentuate human behavior remains complex. It is widely rooted
in the self-interest of a section of individuals who make it
extremely challenges to underscore the essence of policy
measures that are fundamental in reforming the criminal justice
system. All the stakeholders within the society, therefore, need
to collaborate in the achievement of the established goals.
Justice Reforms; the First Step Act
The First Step Act, as enshrined in the laws that were passed by
the 115th Congress needs to be informed by the responses of
economic theories and literacy into the establishment of
evidence-based initiatives in correctional facilities.(Wendy,
2019) It is first essential to note that the prevalence of some of
the unintended outcomes mainly supports the demands for a
solid base of evidence that supports the judicial actions, a view
that is imbued in the economic theory. Reforms within the
context of the law mainly denote the inclusion of varied
elements that are put together within the intent of upholding
human dignity. Some of the significant and widely known
reforms include the expungement of restraints on the pregnant
prisoners, the prohibition of restrictions regarding the use of a
solitary form of confinement for the juveniles, and the increase
of access to feminine hygienic products. (Samuels, 2019) Given

8. this, there is a need to focus on some of the common areas of
reforms in the judicial system:
i. Reforms in Prisons.
As provided in the First Step Act, an incentivized system for
offenders need to be established to allow them to participate in
evidence-proven recidivism reduction initiatives. Given this, it
is alleged that one of the consequential incentives lies in the
provision of time credits for the eligible prisoners to correct
their behaviors. Time credit equally allows the offenders to get
into pre-release custody, residential reentry, and home
confinement. This model allows the offenders to reduce the
higher prevalence of recidivism to receive a time ward of 10
days every 30 days to participate in some of the deserving
programs. However, those deemed as below the minimum risk
rates are subjected to a 15 days time award for 30 days to
participate in the established activities. The initiatives mainly
include the addition of phone as well as visitation privileges,
increased commissary spending levels, the transfer to a nearer
facility to the prisoner's residence, access to emails, and some
of the fundamental incentives as deemed fit by the Bureau of
Prisons.
ii. Sentencing Reforms
The federal law has made efforts directed towards lowering the
mandatory minimum cases of drug offenses, providing the
judges with additional discretion to sentence criminals with
low-criminal histories to low imprisonment. This remains
evident in the retroactive law established in 2010 that was
designed with the intent of reducing the disparities in
sentencing for offenses that involve crack and cocaine. Before
the emergence of this act, second felonies of frug offenses
required the federal judges to make sentences of at least 20
years; however, currently, a mandatory of 15 years is allowed.

9. Given this, individuals convicted with the third felonies
regarding the use of drugs and who would face the charges of a
life sentence now look at a minimum of 25 years in sentence.
This reform plays a fundamental role in increasing the
discretion of the judges during sentencing to understand if an
offender has a drug history. Besides this, offenders convicted of
drug crimes mainly sentenced before the Fair Sentencing Act
established in 2010 have the capacity of requesting their
resentences, efforts that increase the capacity for those with
cocaine and crack convictions to reduce their sentences.
iii. Reforms on Anticipatory Reentry
The First Step Act denotes the need for criminals to be placed
close to their residences, a radius of 500km from their primary
homes. On the other hand, the law establishes the need for the
Bureau of Prisons to enable the prisoners to obtain their birth
certificates and other government identification documents
before they are released to the community. These changes have
significantly impacted the post-incarceration results, efforts that
have moderated the element of physical separation from family
members and the community. This, therefore, enables the
offenders to establish approaches of establishing attachments
with the community following their release.
Possible Effects of these Reforms.
It is anticipated that reform in these laws will cut down
significantly on the number of offenders by up to 10%, efforts
that will positively impact the offenders and society. On the
other hand, the laws will direct focus on the establishment of
criminal corrections in an effort directed towards reducing the
increasing levels of recidivism. Since the population of
incarcerated individuals is projected to have hit a 90% rate,
there is the likelihood of the increase of offenders reentering
society. This is anticipated to significantly increase the element
of skilled labor in the market place while equally reducing the
levels of criminal activities among the former offenders.

10. The law currently gives cognition to incentives for the former
offenders, an aspect that is inconsistent with the element that
the offenders are irrational and criminal in type. The established
incentive structures are, however, limited to the devised
recidivism reduction programs. An instance of this is evident in
the placement of the offenders close to their homes and
families, an essential aspect of increasing the levels of
connection between the offenders and the community. The law
equally assists the prisoners in the obtaining of their
identification documents before their reentry into the
community, an element that is important for the captives
seeking reemployment. Economists would, therefore, regard the
reforms as fundamental in increasing the familial ties as well as
the labor market connections while on the other hand, reducing
the levels of crime in the future.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, it is imperative to note that sentencing reforms,
as defined in the First Step Act, are fundamental in leveraging
on the public budget, with this playing a role in the reflection of
justice as opposed to punishment. The reduction of longer
sentences is, therefore, perceived as fundamental in the
reduction of the levels of recidivism among the cases reported
of substance abuse as opposed to the other common forms of
crimes. These efforts may, therefore, help in the reduction of
the public budget and the allocation of the resources that would
have been used in prisons in other projects. The laws, therefore,
help in the preservation of families until the offenders return to
their homes.
References
1. Michelle Ye Hee Lee, “Does the United States Really Have 5
Percent of the World’s Population and One Quarter of the
World’s Prisoners?,” Washington Post,April30,2015
>https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-
checker/wp/2015/04/30/does-the-united-states really-have-five-

11. percent-of-worldspopulation-and-one-quarter-of-the-worlds-
prisoners/.
2. Gill, M. (2018). Threading the Needle: The FIRST STEP Act,
Sentencing Reform, and the Future of Criminal Justice Reform
Advocacy. Federal Sentencing Reporter, 31(2), 107-111.
3. Samuels, J., La Vigne, N., & Thomson, C. (2019). Next Steps
in Federal Corrections Reform.
4. “Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010
to July 1,2018,” U.S.Census Bureau, December 2018,
https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/produ
ctview.xhtml?pid=PEP_2018_PEPANNRES&prodType=table.
5. Jean Chung, “Felony Disenfranchisement: A Primer,” The
Sentencing Project, July 17, 2018,>
https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/felonydisenfran
chisement-a-primer/.
6. Beckett, K., Reosti, A., & Knaphus, E. (2016). The end of an
era? Understanding the contradictions of criminal justice
reform. The Annals of the American Academy of Political and
Social Science, 664(1), 238-259.
7. Wendy Sawyer and Peter Wagner, Mass Incarceration: The
Whole Pie 2019,Prison Policy Initiative,November, 2019,
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2019.html.