The struggle between American values ​​of equality and freedom and the actual reality of social, economic, and political structures has historically proven difficult. Throughout history, stratified institutions have existed to keep power and privilege in the hands of the wealthy majority (white males) and struggles to keep the disadvantaged group (minorities, blacks, low income) oppressed and controlled. The powerful have created institutions that contain policies and procedures that benefit only their chosen class and/or race and continue the cycle of disparities. One of the primary ways the system has maintained social control is through mass incarceration. This is a problem that deserves our attention because it allows racism, inequality, and the cycle of poverty to persist while the system profits from the disadvantaged. This essay will explain the social antecedents and institutional policies that led to mass incarceration and how mass incarceration is a macro-institutional level problem. Mass Incarceration American incarceration rates are among the highest in the world and show no signs of slowing growth. Since the 1980s, incarceration has grown from 300,000 individuals to over 2 million in 2007 (Alexander, 2010). The majority of inmates are African-American men, Latino men, and low-income individuals. Approximately one in three African American men have been convicted of a serious crime (Wakefield, 2010). The incarceration system encourages the persistent cycle of minority and low-income individuals into prison and poverty, further limiting the opportunities of disadvantaged people. Once an individual has been convicted of a crime, they automatically lose resources and opportunities to succeed outside of incarceration. Depending on the moment, the paper ration allows the powerful to maintain their authority and resources and hides their real motivation. Once released, convicts no longer have the right to vote. This keeps opposing and angry voices silent and leaves little room for changes in political parties that would be in the interests of minorities. Conclusion In conclusion, the issue of mass incarceration can only be fully explained by planned political and institutional changes, and not by individuals. level behavior. It is a socially stratified structure that provides materialistic advantages to leaders and prevents disadvantaged groups from succeeding and expressing themselves successfully, establishing itself as the new caste system. The level of mass incarceration will continue to rise until racism, stigma, and encouraging policies are changed to reflect the rights and interests of citizens.