What Happens When You Lock People Up

Is it possible that the rise of white nationalist philosophy in America is linked to the rise of the number of white people from conservative areas being sent to jail? Maybe, but I'm not a real scientist and don't have the time or desire to do actual research to verify my theory. My theory goes like this, and is based in part on this article about rising incarceration rates in white rural and conservative counties.

Prisons are hotbeds of gang activity and gang membership is a need for many to make long term prison stays "comfortable" (ie not beaten, robbed, and raped regularly). Most prison gangs breakdown along racial lines and these divisions often foment extreme forms of prejudice and racial hatred. It stands to reason that if more white people are going to prison then more white people are joining white nationalist gangs.

When these prisoners are released they don't leave all of their prison culture behind, and in fact the gang indoctrination always promotes recruiting. These ex-cons are now out and promoting their extremist ideologies to their co-workers and neighbors in the real world. Combined with a general sense of ill-ease about the economy and a long running narrative of the ignorant or ineffectual government the message of these newly freed white nationalists takes easy root.

Like I said this is a "shower thought," and has little to back it up. However this is the New America where feelings are facts so I'm going to go ahead and call it true.