Disability, Violence, and Prison

Nomi Ostrander This chapter explores the intersection of disability, race, and violence within the context of US carceral settings. To foreground this discussion, the author traces the War on Drug’s impact on prison population growth. These policies simultaneously increased community violence that resulted in countless disabilities, along with thousands of deaths. The surviving combatants were often left to serve time in prisons that were not equipped to house and support individuals with disabilities and complex medical needs. Once incarcerated, many people with disabilities experience higher rates of violence and manipulation from other inmates and guards. The chapter concludes with several recommendations to improve conditions for people with disabilities who are incarcerated or face incarceration for criminal offenses.