Why Surveys Should Pay Attention to Prisoners

According to a new book, many major government polls exclude prionsers entirely, which has significant implications for evaluating the progress of black Americans. Invisible Men by Becky Pettit, points out that surveys that report on certain demographics, such as the high school dropout rate or the voter-turnout rate, may not be accurate if they have not taken the inmate population into account.

According to a new book, many major government polls exclude prionsers entirely, which has significant implications for evaluating the progress of black Americans. Invisible Men by Becky Pettit, points out that surveys that report on certain demographics, such as the high school dropout rate or the voter-turnout rate, may not be accurate if they have not taken the inmate population into account. Some argue that the exclusion of prisoners in surveys can cause certain groups to be under or overrepresented in research findings. Recent data shows inmate populations offer different statistical results as compared with the population in general, sparking debate over whether or not prisoners should be included in government surveys.