The 20th century American war on drugs dramatically affected African American innercity neighborhoods and families, and many within these communities see more signs of vindictiveness than reconstruction in the aftermath of this conflict. This article considers the dilemma that the erosion of state capital and the formation of negative social capital poses for the return of incarcerated parents into these communities and families. It examines new federal family welfare legislation as indicative of state disinvestments in these families. The final part of the article suggests directions for research on the reentry of persons released from prison into these communities and families.
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