Incarceration In The Criminal Justice System

Abstract: This paper provides an introduction to the social impact of the collateral consequences (the families left behind) of mass incarceration. The reading will include thoughts from sociological perspectives and empirical studies that focus on the consequences incarceration and re-entry have on the striving family left behind. Partners and families of felons suffer from the system in place that punishes, rather than “corrects,” criminal behavior. Collateral Consequences Patience Kabwasa Prof. Laura Howe Soc 231-C21 May 1, 2014 Collateral Consequences The effects of incarceration are many. In fact as defined by Badger Lawyer a website dedicated to answer legal questions for the general public, “Collateral consequences are the effects of

Slavery, Jim Crow, the ghetto, and the carceral apparatus are all structural institutions that share a mutual beneficial relationship where each has supplemented and historically progressed into more advanced subtle forms of oppression and racism. Past and current regimes served as social functions with the objective of encompassing African Americans in a permanent subordinate position. In each generation, newer developments of a racial caste emerge with the same objective of repudiating African Americans citizenship. The only thing that has changed since Jim Crow is the language we use to justify racial exclusion (Alexander, 2). These four regimes are genealogically linked because they all advanced and developed from one another. As the generations progress, newer forms of social control, racial exclusion and oppressions develop. All of these regimes function as a racial caste system that locks a stigmatized racial group in

The story of Troy Davis and his conviction can be seen as an example of how the criminal justice system has been manipulated into a system of racial segregation. In this situation, Davis was convicted as the shooter when evidence of his innocence was provided. In addition, a lack of evidence against Davis, including the lack of a murder weapon, one of the most crucial pieces of evidence in a murder case, generates further curiosity as to how Davis was found guilty of the shooting. The fact that the officer killed in this situation was white almost certainly increases the significance of the case. A white officer, serving his country, shot and killed by a black man, made the headlines and further portrayed the image that all black men are criminals.

Millions of Americans cannot vote because of a felony conviction. People who have done nothing wrong and people who have committed minor crimes have been removed from voting rolls. The American penal system was based on the belief that status in society can be redeemed, and the standards should not be changed for felons. After a felon has served the sentenced prison time, he or she should be able to rejoin society. Felons should have the right to vote restored after being released from prison.

violent or nonviolent (1). It is hard to figure out who is a violent criminal due to the way they were charged under the justice system. There is no way of showing whether or not violence was used while they were dealing or drug using. These statistics prove that by focusing on other resolutions for non-violent crimes, the incarceration rates could be reduced. Along with rehabilitation for drug offenders, there is also a need for proper rehabilitation of mentally ill patients and prisoners to keep them from relapsing and ending up back in the system. Brooks states in his article that in the early 70s, a large majority of people were released from mental institutions. This caused an issue because a lot of these inmates released were not mentally

The high incarceration rate of Black Americans has pervasive and chronically negative stigmas regarding the social and economic vitality of the Black American community, such as a lack of democratic participation and violence within urban communities (Burris-Kitchen & Burris, 2011). According to Forman Jr. (2012), some of 5 the negative affects of systemic racism of Black Americans born into the hip-hop generation who have been convicted include the ineligibility of public assistance programs such as health care, food stamps, public housing, student loans, and some employment opportunities. Additionally, many of the individuals suffering from the stigma of incarceration come from backgrounds of disadvantage such as single parent homes, low

In contrast, stricter policy reforms were implemented into the courts due to the reflective increase in use of illegal substance among offenders. Moreover, the increase in violence and drugs among offenders enhanced stricter policy reforms, for more than 78.7% percent of offenders have used illegal drugs, which is three-fourth’s of the incarcerated population. Also, 62.2% percent of convicted drug offenders meet the diagnostic criteria of drug abuse or dependence that accumulates to be two-thirds of the populations, while 64.3% percent of offenders used an illegal substance regularly. In addition, convicted offenders have a high rate of 56.7% percent in committing recidivism, for Mark Harmon author of "Fixed ' Sentencing: The Effect On Imprisonment

In her book “The New Jim Crow” (2010), Michelle Alexander, a civil rights lawyer and an activist in the civil rights movements, that many people think has long been concluded, argues that the results of prison go well beyond the walls of the facility and can even have a perpetual effect on a person's life. Alexanders exact words on page 142 are “ Once labeled a felon, the badge of inferiority remains with you for the rest of your life, relegating you to a permanent second-class status.” Alexander supports her claim by interviewing people and describing their experiences in prison and their life after prison. She also informs the reader of laws that make it harder for felons to not only get jobs, but also limits their access to housing, and

My findings focused on the points that mass incarceration substantially affects families and jobs, which then become factors in the issue of recidivism. Moreover, these problems especially target minorities at high rates. To strengthen these points, I could have done more interviews, especially with past convicts or convicts who have returned to jail in order to get more first-hand experiences. As well as interviews with different ages of children exposed to incarceration to see if or how the effects differed. In the future, I hope to expand on the other ways incarceration affects lives, such as through health, especially mental health, or college opportunities. Maybe even focusing specifically on the effects of incarceration on younger people,

To begin with, our class material and content ranged from pervasive novels and excerpts to compelling documentaries and talks. Consequently, many class assignments left students grappling with the issues of mass incarceration and experiences with race. I insist that, due to this exposure, my most important learning was being challenged to keep my mind open to and critically thinking about situations and perspectives that I had not been aware of or experienced.

Stock hill Lane aims to supports ex-offenders in the transition of leaving prison and to address issues of reoffending, consequently persistent re-offenders, have multiple and complex needs. There is a very high correlation between persistent offenders and history of social exclusion and disadvantage.

Employers, whether corporate owned or privately own, can either create or dismantle a barrier for an ex-offender. Willful and cooperation from communities housing businesses, it is probable, and researched, that ex-offenders will revert back into criminal behavior; criminal behavior involving theft, for money, or selling narcotics, for money. Social interaction between a released inmate and a community involve employment opportunities, and trust from an employer to an ex-offender. Without an opportunity. it poses the threat of a collateral consequence; a collateral consequence is “civil death” or “invisible punishment”. It is the burden on individuals long past the expiration of their sentences and,which individually and collectively frustrate

The correctional system consists of many different government agencies that are responsible for protecting the population from dangerous individuals who may bring self harm or bring harm to others. The correctional system is made to keep everyone safe from those who are considered a criminal or convict. Punishment and rehabilitation are two of the methods used for those who have been categorized as criminals. Punishment consists of parole, probation, imprisonment and death whereas rehabilitation consists of redirection for an individual that has been convicted of a crime. Rehabilitation is a method that could be a mental aid for someone who may possess a mental illness depending on the severance of the crime.

Specific Purpose Statement: To invite my audience to see the different viewpoints involved with life after prison in the U.S.

is likely that ex-offenders might relapse to criminal behaviorand return back to prison due to the difficulty and stress in managing a different yet normal life (Wikoff, Linhorst&Morani, 2012).