Larry King Now Season 2 Episode 84 Incarceration Nation

Larry King Now season 2 episode 84 titled "Incarceration Nation" starts with Larry King interviewing Bryan Stevenson. Stevenson is a widely celebrated public-interest lawyer, social-justice activist, and author who is the founder and executive director of Equal Justice Initiative. In this episode, Stevenson talks about the state of incarceration in the United States, and how it is affecting millions of lives in devastating ways.

Stevenson firmly believes that the United States has developed a system of mass incarceration that has resulted in the highest incarceration rate in the world. He argues that this system has been designed to punish people for their poverty, mental illness, and substance abuse, rather than for the crimes they have committed. During the interview, he discusses the moral implications of this system and how it affects people's lives in ways they often can't imagine.

The episode also features a panel discussion with several experts, including Valerie Jarrett, the former senior advisor to President Obama, and Cathy O'Neil, a mathematician and author of the book "Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy." The panelists offer their insights on the policies that have led to the unprecedented growth of the country's prison population, the ways in which this growth has affected different communities, and what can be done to reform the criminal justice system.

The discussion highlights how incarceration has become the default response to societal problems like drug addiction, homelessness, and poverty. Valerie Jarrett points out that many people behind bars have not committed violent crimes, and that the criminal justice system needs to address the underlying causes of these behaviors. She also calls for a society that focuses on rehabilitation and not just punishment.

Cathy O'Neil adds an interesting perspective to the conversation, arguing that the policies that contribute to mass incarceration are often driven by algorithms and mathematical models. These models, she argues, are flawed and often lead to unintended consequences that disproportionately affect marginalized communities. O'Neil believes that reforming the criminal justice system requires not just legal reform, but also changes in how we use data and algorithms to make decisions.

The episode also features a segment on the "ban the box" movement, which aims to eliminate questions about criminal history on job applications. By removing these questions, advocates hope to give people with criminal records a fair chance at getting a job. The segment includes interviews with people who have been affected by the policy and experts who can speak to its effectiveness.

Throughout the episode, Larry King engages with his guests in his signature style, asking insightful questions and providing valuable context for the discussion. Overall, Larry King Now season 2 episode 84 is a thought-provoking exploration of the state of incarceration in the United States and the policies that underpin it. The show offers a diverse range of perspectives on how to reform the criminal justice system and provides a platform for important conversations that can help shape our society's future.