“Prison is no longer a rare or extreme event among our nation’s most marginalized groups. Rather it has now become a normal and anticipated marker in the transition to adulthood.”

This quote addresses a central theme in Pager’s book: the mass incarceration of young Black men. The criminal justice system has grown exponentially since the 1970s and disproportionately targets Black youths.

“The phenomenon of mass incarceration has filtered into the public consciousness through cycles of media coverage and political debates. But a more lasting source of information detailing the scope and reach of the criminal justice system is generated internally by state courts and departments of corrections.”

Pager argues that the credentialing of stigma plays a central role in perpetuating racial stereotypes and racial discrimination. The criminal record, a paradigmatic example of a negative credential, marks ex-offenders and restricts their access to opportunities in the long term by remaining publicly available years after an offender is released from prison.

“Despite the vast political and financial resources that have been mobilized toward prison expansion, very little systematic attention has been focused on the potential problems posed by the large and increasing number of inmates being released each year.”

One of the distinguishing aspects of Pager’s book is its focus on what happens to convicted criminals after they are released from prison. The number of ex-offenders has ballooned alongside mass incarceration. Pager studies their transition and reentry into mainstream society, focusing on the struggles of young Black men in the entry-level labor market.