To address this issue, politicians and activists have called for increased funding for drug abuse treatment programs both inside and outside the criminal justice system. Nonetheless, there has been an increase in support for prison alternatives that prioritize rehabilitation and
Post Incarceration Syndrome, also known as PICS, is the set of symptoms that arises in recently released prisoners and is caused by being incarcerated for a long period of time with punishment and little to no opportunities to make transition out of prison easier. PICS arises most often in those that were subject to abuse while incarcerated. PICS is a mix of mental disorders, and the five clusters of symptoms include Institutionalized Personality Traits, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Antisocial Personality Traits, Social-Sensory Deprivation Syndrome, and Substance Abuse Disorders. PICS affects more than just those suffering from it personally, it can severely affect those around them as well. Many of those that suffer from PICS end up being
Society most of time tends to be keen on helping each other. One way we help each other is by allowing inmates, no matter the crime, to join rehab. Steve Earle the author of ‘A Death in Texas’ was in drug rehab at one-point, finished rehab, and got clean of drugs. Earle then wrote about Jonathan Wayne Nobles a man on death row for killing two people. While Nobles was on death row he took drug rehab and got clean of his drug addiction.
After conducting some research I have reached the conclusion that drug offenders are the population in which could be more successfully controlled and rehabilitated in less secure correctional alternatives. There are a couple different beneficial aspects to transferring drug offenders out of prisons and into programs. The first is that is saves money while also being more effective. When you place an inmate into a program that is designed to help them with their specific problem your results improve. The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment’s final report on NTIES noted that “In summary, we observed a pattern of substantially reduced alcohol and drug use in every type of treatment modality, with reductions typically between one-third and two-thirds
The prisoners that have struggled with drugs are place in a pre-released program to prepare them for their release. I think the justice system hands are tied a little bit to maintain the prisons and community well
Most people in the United States each year go the prison and keep there for non-violent crime, such as drug related offenses. This issue has affected many family’s life for many years and caused the prisoners to deprive from many of their rights. Lacking the appropriate policies for keeping drug related offenses in prison has been a public health crisis and created a new addiction, like penchant for locking people up in prison. The author in this article “prison addiction: why mass incarceration policies must change.” discusses about lacking the appropriate policies for incarceration for non-violent drug related offenses.
Rehabilitation is paramount in order to form a brighter, healthier future. After all, what good to society is a brilliant mind, if a highly disorientating substance continually afflicts it? Most of the time these same people that abuse drugs are the ones being directly affected by some type of outside oppression. Our jails and prisons serve as a type of rehab as well. Once in jail or prison, abusers have no access to illegal drugs and are forced to quit cold turkey from all illegal substances, including nicotine.
The recidivism rate is also higher among inmates with substance use issues. Treatment helps prepare addicts to return to society and a chance to choose something different. Offering addicts treatment rather than incarceration, will allow them to have a better chance at their future. In 2009 African Americans were incarcerated at a 6.7% higher than whites and 2.6% higher in the US than Hispanics.
Imagine being a child imprisoned for committing a crime for which you did not understand the consequences. Alone and afraid, with only hardened criminals and psychopaths as adult role models, you live in fear. Through a vicious combination of physical, sexual, emotional, and mental abuse, there is no option but to turn back to crime as an adult, and continue the cycle. This is a daily reality for thousands of American juveniles. Yet, we continue to call it the juvenile justice system.
The Drug Treatment Alternative-to-Prison Program is another attempt to provide better treatment for people who are convicted. The study showed that drug offenders who underwent a treatment program outside of prison had a 26 percent less rate of re-arrest after two years than a control group that was sent to prison (Justice Policy Institute, 2010). Rehabilitative programs like the Second Chance Act and the Drug Treatment Alternative-to-Prison Program has shown to growth and positive
However, crimes are committed whilst in prison, such as drugs and assaults. Some critics say the ‘three strikes and you are out’ law where repeat offenders get a longer sentence are wrong, as the third strike could be a lesser crime such as public disorder. Nevertheless, if just incapacitation and no rehabilitation some critics say will be costlier to society as they will go out and reoffend and, they are not employed and pay taxes. Rehabilitation is also a punishment which should improve the offender's behaviour and stop them committing crimes. Advocates of rehabilitation state prison does not work; however, critics of rehabilitation state prison does work as the criminal cannot commit a crime against the public while incarcerated (Cavadino, 2007 p 36/56).
This approach also prevents overcrowding in prisons because it also deals with rehabilitative
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.
Prison is a very harsh and bad place that no one should want to be in. Little freedom can make a person really aggravated. Nobody wants to be away from their family with little contact allowed. Little space and little privacy can only go for so long. Personally I think prison doesn't reform people because there are many repeat offenders, some people act worse when they get there, and also some people just don't like help and never want to change.
This leads to the question of whether the justice system is doing an adequate job of dealing with drug addiction. Instead of incarcerating people for drug abuse, an alternative is treating victims by rehab and treatment. This paper will exam why treatment is the superior option for
