Changing the Narrative: Media’s Role in Perpetuating Stereotypes
By: Marc Andrew Tager 2025 November 26th 1. Introduction: The Architecture of Perception The American criminal justice system operates not merely through laws, courts, and prisons, but through a pervasive cultural narrative that shapes public consciousness. Throughout the Justice Unshackled series, the structural mechanics of mass incarceration have been laid bare: from the criminalization of […]
The Economics of Incarceration
1. Introduction: The Market in Human Confinement The American penal system, often conceptualized in civic discourse as a mechanism for public safety, accountability, and legal retribution, operates simultaneously—and perhaps more fundamentally—as a vast, intricate economic engine. This engine, frequently termed the Prison-Industrial Complex (PIC), functions on a disturbing premise: the commodification of human confinement. While […]
Restoring the Right to Vote
A deep dive into felon disenfranchisement laws, their history, and the movements to restore voting rights to millions of Americans. Introduction: A Second Sentence at the Ballot Box The fluorescent lights of the county elections office hummed with a sterile indifference. He stood at the counter, the voter registration form crisp in his hand, a […]
Is the U.S. Prison System Broken or Designed This Way?
For years, I believed the system that held me was broken. From the inside, it felt like a chaotic, dysfunctional machine, chewing up lives through incompetence and neglect. It was a narrative of failure, of a good idea—justice—gone horribly wrong. But the deeper I dig, the more I speak with experts, and the more I […]
The Forgotten Gender: The Fight for Women’s Rights in US Prisons
Abstract The incarceration of women in the United States exposes deep flaws in a justice system that fails to address the unique needs and circumstances of its female population. Women, who are disproportionately affected by nonviolent offenses, trauma, and systemic inequities, face significant challenges that traditional carceral models neglect or exacerbate. This essay examines the […]
Cycles of Injustice: Examining Race, Poverty, and Incarceration in the United States
Abstract This long-form essay explores the intersection of race and prison reform in the United States, shedding light on the systemic racial disparities that permeate the criminal justice system. Tracing back to the historical roots of slavery, Black Codes, and Jim Crow laws, the essay examines how racial injustice laid the groundwork for present-day practices […]
Imprisoned Identities: How LGBTQI+ Individuals Face Systemic Injustice in U.S. Prisons
Abstract We examine the unique challenges faced by LGBTQI+ individuals within the U.S. prison system, highlighting the systemic discrimination, abuse, and neglect they endure both during incarceration and upon reentry into society. The essay traces the historical context of LGBTQI+ incarceration, revealing how discriminatory laws and systemic biases have disproportionately targeted this population. It further […]
Of Young Chains and Forgotten Ones: Inside the Juvenile Justice System
[Chapter 1: Introduction] Welcome back to Justice Unshackled, the podcast that delves deep into the intricacies of the criminal justice system. I’m your host, Marc Andrew Tager, entrepreneur, father of three, and an impassioned advocate for reform. If you joined us for our introductory episode, you know the journey we’re on – a quest for […]
Welcome to the Justice Unshackled Podcast
[Introduction to the Podcast] Welcome, everyone, to ‘Justice Unshackled’. This isn’t just another podcast; this is a call to action, a platform for change, and a deep dive into one of the most urgent social justice issues of our time: prison reform and the rights of felons in the United States. If you’ve ever felt […]
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing!