On July 1st 2017, Dr. Anne Fowler, Professor, Louisiana Tech University, approved a title for proposed long report by Elise Johnson, student, Louisiana Tech University to study the American prison system and the direct correlation to slavery and find viable solutions to resolve the increase incarceration rates. The author begins performing research to gain a better understanding of the American prison system, focusing solely on the Texas prison system. Reason being the Texas prison system leads the way with punishment, of petty offenders (simple burglary, theft) and serious offenders (sexual assault, murder). Then materials were collected via the world wide web, and the local library, regarding the origin of slavery, and the penal system.
Government paper The Texas prison system is a very cruel cutthroat system that has many problems And racial issues. The system is deeply embedded in the state’s budget, but also in its political, cultural, and social fabric and impacts the lives of millions of people. From the wrong the accused, actual criminal and racial profiled African Americans and hispanics to the wardens, prison guards, judges and politicians who work on or for the prisons. Through his Book “Texas Tough” Robert Perkinson shows an effective argument against how Texas is using the prison system as a way to control and unethically treat African Americans and other minorities just like they did from 1870-1965 with the jim crows laws through the criminal system by using statistical evidence, Historical evidence, and Historical pictures of african american prisoners being treated like slaves by the Texas prison system.
In An Empire for Slavery: The Peculiar Institution in Texas, 1821-1865 Randolph B. Campbell discusses the institution or empire of slavery in Texas from early 1821 until its somewhat conclusion in 1865. In Campbell’s book he provides readers with a look at the slavery existence in the state of Texas and how it was an empire that was a major part of Texas’s growth and history. Throughout the book Campbell explores many different aspects of the slave institution throughout the many cities and counties in Texas. Campbell discusses the perplexing economic impact of slavery, the relationship between slave and slave master, the life of a Texas slave and delves into the physical and psychological effects of both slaves and their masters preceding the Civil War.
Over the last thirty years, the prison population in the United States has increased more than seven-fold to over two million people, including vastly disproportionate numbers of minorities and people with little education. For some racial and educational groups, incarceration has become a depressingly regular experience, and prison culture and influence pervade their communities. Almost 60 percent of black male high school drop-outs in their early thirties have spent time in prison. In Punishment and Inequality in America, sociologist Bruce Western explores the recent era of mass incarceration and the serious social and economic consequences it has wrought.
The film 13th is a documentary that explains how the prison systems are another form of slavery and is built to effect colored individuals and colored communities. The film identifies and explained a loop hole in the 13th amendment, which banned slavery. The loop in the amendment is that slavery and involuntary servitude is illegal unless a person is convicted of a crime. This clause in the amendment led to the first prison boom in America and mass incarceration. This film opened my eyes to underlying aspects of things that I have had previous knowledge about.
The Slave Experience: Education, Arts, & Culture’, n.d.) The American slave code in theory and practice: its distinctive features shown by its statutes, judicial decisions, and illustrative facts./ By William Goodell. (n.d.). Retrieved 22 July 2015, from http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/abj5059.0001.001/251?rgn=full+text;view=image;q1=251 (‘The American slave code in theory and practice: its distinctive features shown by its statutes, judicial decisions, and illustrative facts./ By William Goodell.’, n.d.) The American slave code in theory and practice: its distinctive features shown by its statutes, judicial decisions, and illustrative facts./ By William Goodell.
Invisible Men: A Contemporary Slave Narrative in the Era of Mass Incarceration (2016) written by Flores Forbes illustrates the importance of prison education in the United States. Prison education is a program where inmates may be permitted to either continue or start their college education while serving their sentence. In this paper, I will address the meaning and purpose of prison education. I will discuss the importance of the policy, and how it may change someone’s life like it did to Flores Forbes. My goal in this paper is to alert other colleagues the important issue of education within our prisons.
overview In 1854 the Texas legislature authorized a commission to codify the existing laws in Texas; and in 1856 the Texas Penal Code was established. Prior to 1856 Texas was governed mostly by common law; it was not until 1895 that the Texas Penal code was revised. In 1974 the Texas Penal code went through another revision, this time more extensive than the previous revisions, and mostly based on the American law institute penal code model. The main goal of the revision was too Clarify and consolidate the fundamental law of crimes, and to modernize and simplify the penal code for the rural, less populated areas of Texas, to reasonably grade offenses based on the severity of the crimes; as well as to ensure that the punishment for committing
In todays’ society does race matter? Who in society thinks that race matters and who thinks it no longer matters? In our daily living we experience different types of racism. Some of us experience racism because of the color of our skin, the country we migrated from or just because we speak a different language. Additionally, people can be judged by the way they dress, or the food they eat.
In The New Jim Crow, civil rights lawyer Michelle Alexander makes the case that the system of Jim Crow never died. It just took a new form in the shape of mass incarceration. Today, African American men are labelled “criminals” and stripped of their freedom, their voting rights, and their access to government programs. Alexander’s thesis is that we are currently living in a new Jim Crow era; the systemic oppression of slavery and segregation never actually went away, Alexander argues, but merely changed form.
Jalynn Jureczki Individual Policy Report 2: Texas Castle Doctrine “Capital Punishment” If you’re gonna do it, do it right! Due: March 8, 2016 I. Introduction
Since the earliest inception of a codified concept of crime and punishment the criminal justice system has been in a state of ever changing progress building on the philosophies of laws and their subsequent punishments from as far back as ancient times of human society. In this essay what will be looked at are the current policies and principals of punishment of the state of Texas with regards to specified and targeted crimes in particular the crimes of aggravated assault, and grand theft auto, as well it will be looked at to see if there are any new practices that may improve the current system that is in place or if any changes or modifications needs to be done. In centuries past the most common forms of punishment have their roots in
The creation of prisons were established around the time of the emancipation of slavery. The black community were released from the horrific life they faced when living in slavery, but slavery was not over. Once the African American’s were free society configured a plan that would put an end to the freedom of slaves. The creation of prisons, allowed society the ability to enact a formal genocide of black people by placing them in cages. The roles of prisons over time as established locations that conduct inhuman treatment of Americans, primarily those who are colored, immigrants and other communities labeled as inferior to whites.
The “13th” is a documentary about the American system of incarceration and the economic forces behind racism in America especially in people of color. One of the claims that the author mentioned is that today incarceration is an extension of slavery. It is also mentioned that most of the time in society we are defined by race. In the documentary, we can see how African Americans are sentenced for many years since they are too poor to pay their fines or sometimes most of these people plead guilty to get out of jail fast. However, African Americans are separated from their families and also treated inhumanly in prisons just because they are of a particular race.
Introduction: During the 1800’s, Slavery was an immense problem in the United States. Slaves were people who were harshly forced to work against their will and were often deprived of their basic human rights. Forced marriages, child soldiers, and servants were all considered part of enslaved workers. As a consequence to the abolition people found guilty were severely punished by the law.
The US prison population makes up 25% of the world’s prison population while the rest of America only makes up 5% of the world population. The cost of keeping these 2 million people in the US behind bars is an astonishing $80 billion. With such a gargantuan price, politicians, economists, and concerned taxpayers are struggling to find ways to reduce costs. Two ways have been identified as the most promising: privatize the prison industry or put inmates to work. There have already been successful implementations of both around the country, yet inmate labor is likely to be stifled and greatly discouraged due to its association with slave labor.