IMPRISONMENT IN THE AMERICAN STATES

This study examines eight rival hypotheses concerning determinants of state incarceration rates in 1984. Multiple measures of crime, economi cs, social characteristics, demographics, ideology and culture, senten cing and parole reforms, alternatives to corrections, and institutiona l conditions are evaluated in light Of their ability to account for cr oss-sectional variation in-incarceration practices. Initially the anal ysis reveals that all eight hypotheses are associated with imprisonmen t. However, in light of statistical controls, the explanatory power of most variables is greatly diminished or found to be indirect rather t han direct. The two factors having the greatest direct impact On incar ceration are crime and culture.