carceral

American  

[kahr-suh-ruhl] / ˈkɑr sə rəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to prison or imprisonment, or to other formal methods of social control.

   This book is a blueprint for policymakers to reform practices and for concerned citizens to understand our changing carceral landscape.

   Critics claim that these policies could result in an expanding carceral state.

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Etymology

Origin of carceral

First recorded in 1570–80; from Latin carcerālis, equivalent to carcer “prison” + -ālis -al ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

When June Jordan died in 2002, I was being reborn into the world of literature after a five-year prison stint inside the carceral state.

From Salon

The county, which is responsible for the safety of children inside juvenile carceral facilities and foster care, has seen more than 12,000 claims and counting since the law took effect in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times

This takes on a dangerous context inside a carceral setting.

From Slate

Not that these co-directors could take their cameras inside the country’s most notorious state carceral system to film wretched conditions: overcrowding, understaffing, abuse, death and untreated addiction.

From Los Angeles Times

Security theater, in this case, that prioritizes a retributive desire to see people jailed rather than a smart, data-oriented understanding that the justice system of Norman England left a lot to be desired, and that, these days, we can get better results with less carceral horror.

From Salon