Prison Reform The United States - 2438 Words

Michael Wilson Palo Alto University SOCI300 Prison Reform in the United States Prison reform. What does it mean and why is it necessary? To answer these questions we must look at a number of interrelated social areas. These include the motivations for and against prison reform, and where they come from. To this end, we must explore the American political system, public perception, prisoner rights, disenfranchisement among parolees, the social justice movement, and efforts to lower recidivism among convicted felons. As seen throughout the history of the United States, there has always been a degree of exploitation by politicians in regards to crime that is meant to direct public attention and unease. Over the last four and a half decades the U.S. prison population has grown to more than six times it’s former size. Socially speaking, the impact on certain social groups within the U.S. population cannot be overstated (Gottschalk, 2009). The idea of prison reform is somewhat interwoven with the idea of criminal recidivism. In the case of violent crime, the prison reform agenda often meets resistance in the form of public opinion, and because of this both those incarcerated and their victims continue to suffer. Lack of reform within America’s prisons is thought by some to perpetuate a cycle of crime, harming both the perpetuators and their victims. Since the 1970s the United States has seen a surge in growing population rates within prisons, significantly greater sentencing,Show MoreRelatedPrison Reform in the United States of America1318 Words   |  6 PagesPrison Reform in The United States of America â€Å"It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones† (Nelson Mandela, 1994). The United States of America has more people behind bars than any other country on the planet. The prisons are at over double capacity. It cost a lot of money to house prisoners each year. A large number of the prisoners are there because of drug related offensesRead MorePrison Reform During The United States1456 Words   |  6 PagesAshlyn Frazier Taylor English IV October 20, 2015 Prison Reform in America For many years now, the criminal justice system has become stricter, causing more and more people to be arrested and sentenced to prison. As prisons become more occupied, the living conditions, health, and treatment of prisoners starts to deteriorate, which has become a trend over the last few decades. However, President Obama has noticed this prison environment and has taken a stand in saying that something needs to be doneRead MoreReform, Means Improvement : Prison Reform Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesReform, means improvement. Prison reform, means the attempt to improve conditions inside prisons, establishing a more effective penal system, or implement alternatives to incarceration. The penal system is part of the larger criminal justice system. Prison reformation, is not just about the justice system or the criminal justice system. They all have a different meaning, but, in all, they do involve with the same concepts, expectations, and ways of doing things because it deals with community, societyRead MorePrison Reform Is Not The Best Option For Punishing Criminals Essay921 Words   |  4 PagesTo pursuade my audience to belive that prison reform is necessary. I. INTRODUCTION A. Attention Getter: It is estimated that there are about 2.2 million offenders in U.S. prisons. That is larger than some samllers nation’s whole population. B. Credibility Statement: I have done exstensive research on prison reform, and I have wirtten a paper on it. I have also taken a class on the prison system. C. Audience Relevence: It is important to be aware of how our countries correctional system is runRead MoreSolitary Confinement Is The Violation Of Rights Essay1563 Words   |  7 Pagesirreversible effects. The United Nations, established following the end of World War II, attempted to form universal standards of human rights that would force accountability for each country. This charter was in direct response to the heinous crimes against targeted groups, especially those that were placed in concentration camps. While the U.N. does not specifically mention prisoners, it is clear that everyone is viewed as equal under the law (The United Nations, 1945). In 1948, the United Nations producedRead MorePros And Cons Of Solitary Confinement1001 Words   |  5 PagesOver the last couple of decades, prison systems have adopted the use of solitary confinement as a means of punishment and have progressively depended on it to help maintain obedience and discipline inside the prison structure . Solitary confinement is a form of incarceration in which a prisoner is isolated in a cell for multiple hours, days, or weeks with limited to no human contact. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, the United States represents only 5% of the worlds population yetRead MoreA Step Towards Democracy: The Jacksonain Era848 Words   |  4 Pageswere filled with reforms ranging from political reforms to religious reforms. This era is commonly known as the Jacksonian Era. Prior to the Jacksonian Era, the early 19th century was classified to be a period of extreme instability. The Jacksonian Era involved many new ideas such as King Mob, the spoils system, expansion towards the West, and the Bank War. These characteristics of the Jacksonian Era brought stability and set a foundation for which its people could start reform movements. Even thoughRead MoreThe American Penal System : The United States Essay1705 Words   |  7 Pages That is where prisons come into play. When a pers on commits a crime, he or she might stay in a prison while awaiting trial and might also stay in a prison as a punishment if that trial does not end in his or her favor. According to The Sentencing Project, as of 2015, the United States’ rate of incarceration was the highest in the world, standing at 698 people per 100,000 people. That means that nearly 2.3 million people in 2015 were behind bars. Because of this, the United States penal system needsRead MoreThe Sentencing Reform Act Of 19841526 Words   |  7 PagesThe Sentencing Reform Act is associated with the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, were the U.S. federal statute increased the consistency in the United States federal sentencing. The Sentencing Reform Act created the United States Sentencing Commission. This act allowed the independent commission into the judicial branch of the United States Sentencing Commission. It consists of seven voting members and one nonvoting member. For the sake of the United S tates Sentencing Commission, thereRead MorePersuasive Speech Outline1232 Words   |  5 Pagestime, the United States has only 5 percent of the world s population, but holds 25 percent of the world s prisoners, this is costing the country approximately $80 billion dollars per year. B. Tie to Audience: From your point of view, you might think that keeping all the law violators behind bars is a positive thing because it enhances public safety, but you should take a look on how incarcerating people impacts families and the nation’s economy. C. Preview and Thesis: We, the United States of America