b'Mass Incarceration in the United States: What Factors Predict the Incarceration Rate across the 50 States?Madison Everett, Department of Political Science Faculty Sponsor: Dr. James LaPlant, Department of Political Science This study examines the demographic, economic, and political predictors of the incarceration rate across the 50 states. The rising rate of incarceration across the United States has captured the attention of the public as well as politicians. Given the cost to society and taxpayers, states are looking at a variety of prison reform proposals to alleviate high incarceration rates. However, with the reform proposals and movements, prisons are still over capacitated. This study analyses six independent variables: region, percentage of the population within each state that has attained a bachelors degree, per capita income, unemployment rates, the support for President Trump in each state, and the violent crime rate. The relationship between these variables and incarceration rates is analyzed through regression and analysis of variance. Out of the six independent variables, five of them proved to be statistically significant: percentage bachelors degree, per capita income, unemployment rates, support for President Trump, and region. Percentage bachelors degree and per capita income had a negative relationship with incarceration rates, while unemployment rates and support for President Trump had a positive relationship. Region revealed that the South has a much higher incarceration rate, and the North East has the lowest. The violent crime rate had no relationship with incarceration rates. The results of this study highlight the key predictors of incarceration rates which can inform public policy debates for how to address mass incarceration rates in the United States. 71'