In the article, Unwinding Mass Incarceration by Stefan Lobuglio and Anne Piehl, they argue that unwinding the mass incarceration “well neither be cheap nor easy, and to be done responsibly will require a new infrastructure of coordinated community-based facilities and services that can meet evidence-based incarceration needs while also ensuring public safety.” Hence, their argument is clean-cut with evidence in the article to back up their argument of unwinding the mass incarceration. Similarly, a solid fill of a concluding statement upon the unwinding of the mass incarceration as stated in the article, “requires much more than stopping current practices or reversing course by mass commutations and early release programs.” Subsequently, from this article, there are numerous interesting key points, and perspective of unwinding the mass incarceration. However, one main point struck my attention, as quoted from the article, “participants with criminal records frequently end up incarcerated, incurring probation or parole violations, or detained awaiting resolution of new charges.” Hence, with this statement it really is an eye-opening statement because it is a true …show more content…
Since, such correctional residential facilities are run by programs that can support their system this is a key element that Lobuglio and Piehl has stated in this article. As well as, any other key point, in this article, the finally statement that is held very accountable towards is that in order for this process to thrive it “will require a large expensive, and politically challenging investment…throughout the country.” Besides, it isn’t easy to unwind such development of mass
Just imagine the city of Houston being populated with nothing but prisoners. This is how badly the prison system has gotten overcrowded since the 1980's, and it is only going to get worse. Overpopulation has affected the lives of prisoners inside and outside of prison with a plethora of reasons that cause more harm than good. The only way to solve these problems is to reform the programs inside prisons and to reform the laws in the justice system. Prison reform is needed in the current rehabilitation programs inside of prison since little effort is used to implement a correct recovery for the convicted.
Although, the justice system impacts many lives, especially within the African American community many individuals are unaware of the effects that the Criminal Justice system can have on offender while incarcerated and even after incarceration. The reading is intended for anyone willing to learn about how are society uses Mass Incarceration as a method to hinder individuals of the African American community from being successful in our society. The author’s writing style is very informative. Michelle Alexander uses clarity and factual information to explain to the reader the many issues that are within our Criminal Justice system. Further, Michelle Alexander is very detailed with the information that she shares within the text.
The recommendation calls for civil rights advocates to put mass incarceration on their agenda similar in the ways civil rights advocate’s affirmative action agenda. In my opinion, America is at a turning point where mass incarceration is slowly fading away with state lawmakers trying to cut prison cost. Being labeled as a felon is a stigma that can and will follow individuals for the rest of their lives. However, there is a change in the atmosphere and how society view individuals with felony records. Opportunities are slowly becoming available such as jobs and education, allowing these individuals to reenter society.
Zuckerman abolishes some of the myths that most people believe to get the reader to better understand his argument. He refutes the argument that prisons correct behavior by using the statistic that about 60% of people that have been released from prison will return (Zuckerman). It is important to refute preconceived thoughts in order to get the reader to accept new ideas. People tend to have an “if isn’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. After hearing this statistic, the reader can be made aware that the criminal justice system is broken. Zuckerman reveals the imperfections in the criminal justice system and allows for the audience to be more open to a different solution to the problem.
Mass Incarceration: Transforming an Unconstitutional System. Guild Notes, 40(4), 12. Brad Broussard in his article, Mass
Periods leading to the 1970's that created mass incarcerations The population of imprisonment of the American prisons greatly increased from 1970’s most of them being the blacks and their residential areas depict low standards of life. As of, Simon, (2014), the causes of incarcerations in the ninety seventies was as a result of the new directives which stated that vindictive sanctions was to be placed to the United States community if they do not arrest law breakers. Social factors such as unemployment and poor living standard increased imprisonment rate, during this period African Americans were mostly affected because politicians and law enforcing agencies believed that such group of people would commit crime frequently.
War on drugs, a campaign for the prohibition of drugs using military aid and military intervention gave birth to mass incarceration. Unfortunately, the consequences of this campaign targeted minorities and people of color, who are in disadvantage. Mass incarceration promotes devastating effects in society, such as racial inequality and poverty. Michelle Alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar is the author of “The New Jim Crow” Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. This book purposed to educate people about of mass incarceration that originated due to the war on the drug's movement, as well as to point out the racist system.
Beside restorative justice, mass incarceration acts as another solution to decrease the amount of crime, yet it should be limited. There has been a longstanding debate over the effectiveness of correctional institutions. Some argue that incarceration deters offenders while others argue that the experience of being incarcerated causes individuals to continue in their life of crime. According to Bruce Western, a professor of sociology and director of the Malcolm Wiener Center, the drastically increase amount of incarceration resulted from problems such as harming prisoners, families, and social groups. He indicates, “Black are seven times more likely to be incarcerated than whites, and large racial disparities can be seen for all age groups and
While "tough on crime" policies may be effective in incapacitating offenders, little consideration has been given to the impact this mass incarceration effort has had on offenders following their release from prison. Every year more than 600,000 people are released from jails and prisons to face the challenge of re-entering society in a productive capacity (Geiger, 2006; Travis, Solomon, & Waul, 2001). Due to the collateral consequences of a criminal conviction, reintegration is often met with a host of daunting and unnecessary barriers. Black Americans comprise a major segment of the neglected population and when they are released from prison the barriers to reintegration are often compounded by the stigma of their racial classification and the mark of a criminal
Research strongly indicates that transitional housing reduces the recidivism rates of parolees. Housing for many released inmates is very difficult to obtain for a variety of reasons, including prohibitions against people with drug convictions living in federally subsidized public housing. The state department of corrections has decided to rent a multiple-dwelling unit in a low-income area and to allow 200 inmates to live there six months following their release from prison. People in the neighborhood complain that this parole housing unit will increase crime in an already trouble area, will endanger local children, and will place an undue burden on local police and social service. So now the question is do you open the parole transitional
What does this mean for society? More and more criminals are being released on parole, expecting to be monitored, and many falling through the cracks of the system to
After being released, ex-offenders are challenged to obtain stable employment to reduce opportunities of reoffending or recidivism, find a suitable home, stay clean from their addiction
In the United States “1 in nearly 100 American adults” are incarcerated. (ALEC) The increase in prison population began in the late 80s and early 90s, due increased prosecution for all levels of crime and the adoption in many states of “three strikes” laws requiring mandatory sentences for offenders convicted of a third felony. (ALEC) Many jurisdictions are attempting to find alternatives to incarceration including community supervision programs to deal with the revolving door of prison and the overcrowding that results from it.
The second, provide meaningful treatment in prison—overseeing the mental health treatment of each prisoner by the Department of Corrections and a newly established court (i.e. special court consisting of judges and mental health professionals). Thirdly, continue meaningful treatment after prison—continual mental health treatment upon the prisoners release, a reentry plan. Exceptionally, an interesting proposal made because it is intelligently proposed of how the criminal justice system will evolve to be if it was to propose such proposal. All in all, an exceptional read of this report given because of the massive support I can give with the information provided and proposals made. The knowledge perceived from the report was also extraordinary convincing.
This research paper will provide information on the overcrowding issues that America’s prison system is facing; and the first sign that this was becoming a disaster waiting to happen; was back in the 70’s. The United States has the highest incarceration rate than any other nation in the world. There will be examples giving of the many different causes of this growing population; factors that greatly increases one’s odds of going to prison; and how it could be minimized; the War on Drugs, another major factor in the increase of overcrowding prisons. The elderly are a contributor to the overcrowding prisons; and the consideration of their early release; women; nonviolent offenders; and minorities; also a major factor in overcrowding prisons.