decarceration

English

Etymology

Modeled on incarceration, replacing the prefix with de-.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /diːˌkɑː.səˈɹeɪʃən/
• (US) IPA^(key): /diːˌkɑɹ.səˈɹeɪʃən/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃən

Noun

decarceration (countable and uncountable, plural decarcerations)

1. A policy of reducing the amount of imprisoned people in a given population.
   • 2020 August 21, Jiménez, M. C. et al., “Epidemiology of COVID-19 among incarcerated individuals and staff in Massachusetts jails and prisons”, in JAMA, →DOI:

     Whereas rates of COVID-19 vary nationwide, our results add to a growing body of literature emphasizing high COVID-19 rates in carceral settings and the importance of testing and decarceration.

Related terms

• decarcerate
• incarceration