The Growing Inmate Population And Its Effects On The...

The Ever Growing Inmate Population and Its Effects on the Prison System Frankie Lorino Jr. University of Troy Abstract The purpose of this paper is to look at the prevalence of overcrowding in the United States prison system, what led to its current conditions, and how it effects the its fundamental function. The explanation of growth is suggested by Davey 1998 and Anderson 2000. Jacobson, 2005 outlines some of the affairs leading to the change in prison functions. The dire state of conditions in prison facilities is exemplified by McConville, 1987. Furthermore McConville also offers some possible resolutions to the current problems. The Ever Growing Inmate Population and Its Effects on the Prison System When thinking of the prison system in the United States, one fact that may be shocking is that it ranks as one of the highest per capita inmate populations in the world. The United States has seen an ever growing prison population over the last few decades. The results of prison inmate inflation are causing more strains than facilities can handle. The increasing number of inmates is a result of the reluctance to help rehabilitate inmates and develop their ability to function and add value to society. Increase in prison population through the years Consequences â€Å"The United States now locks up a higher percentage of its population than any country in the world† (Jacobson, 2005, p. 8). Prison populations across the United States are increasing at a fasterShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Prison Overcrowding907 Words   |  4 PagesAnother effect is that prisoners must spend more time inside due to the lack of officers to watch them in the outside areas. This results in less time outside in the fresh air and sunshine for the prisoners which lead to their dissatisfaction; unhappy prisoners are harder to control and more fighting is the result. There is also the problem of watching the inmates so that they have to remain inside their small cells for more time during the day. (Prison overcrowding is a growing concern in the URead MoreProblems with the American Prison System1076 Words   |  5 Pagestoday, there have been many problems with our prison system. Prisons are overcrowded, underfunded, rape rates are off the charts, and we as A mericans have no idea how to fix it. We need to have shorter sentences and try to rehabilitate prisoners back to where they can function in society. Many prisoners barely have a high school education and do not receive further education in jail. Guards need to pay more attention to the well being of the inmates and start to notice signs of abuse and addressRead MoreIncarceration : Cruel And Unregulated Punishment Essay907 Words   |  4 PagesIncarceration: Cruel Unregulated Punishment Inmates held in the United State’s prison system face critical exposure to numerous violations of their basic human rights. Abuses of power present themselves in a myriad of ways, including; the unregulated approach in which prison facilities enforce solitary confinement, the misuse of â€Å"compassionate release† policies and the judicial system’s wrongful imprisonment of individuals suffering from mental illness and, or mental disability. In most casesRead MoreIncreased Population of Prisons Essay1606 Words   |  7 PagesOvercrowded prisons and improper punishment systems are enormous social issues for our government. The United States has seen steady growth in its prisons. A projected increment in seen due to â€Å"get-tough† policies that locks up offenders for longer sentences (Ohlemacher, 2007, para. 1). The correction system had been through various phases of transformation, and the government had been tough on crime; this approach had resulted i n rising prison populations. There are many factors that cause overcrowdingRead MoreManagement Concerns Of Corrections For Special Populations Essay1289 Words   |  6 Pages Management Concerns in Corrections for Special Populations Michelle Bergos Introduction to Corrections 140 September 25, 2016 Jason Skeens Abstract More often than not, if John Q. Public is asked the purpose or goals of our American correctional system the reply is incapacitation, retribution, deterrence, and rehabilitation. However, what we are really asking for our corrections system to do is to secure and supervise the individuals cast out of society through the judicial process regardlessRead MoreThe Problem Of Prison Population1536 Words   |  7 PagesAfter decades trying to prevent it, prison population continued to increase. Mandatory minimum sentences and the privatization created more prisoners, rather than cutting down on the amount incarcerations. Since the 1980’s, the prison population has quadrupled and today one in every one hundred adults are in prison (Mandatory Minimums (HBO)). Infact, America leads the world in prisoners with 20% of the earth’s prison population (The Prison Crisis). In a study done by The American Prospect, chartsRead MoreRecidivism And The Criminal Justice System1686 Words   |  7 PagesCurrently there are 2.4 million inmates in state and federal prisons across the United States. (Cullen, 2011) Each year, more than 700,000 individuals are released from state and federal prisons. Statistics indicate that more than two-thirds of state prisoners are rearrested within three years of their release and half are reincarcerated. High rates of recidivism mean more crime, more victims and more pressure on an already overburdened criminal justice system. A topic of much discussion is whatRead MorePrisons Are A Violent Dangerous And Hospitable Place For Any Person1666 Words   |  7 Pages Prisons are a violent, dangerous and hospitable place for any person. A significant amount of academic research and literature exists on the underlying causes of prison tension, violence and misbehaviour within the prison system. Pre 1950 violent outbreaks in the where a largely rare occurrence. Post 1950 violence and riots become a more common occurrence within the prison system. Literature around this issue suggests three main theories of approach when examining the fundamental causes of prisonRead MoreSolitary Confinement And Mental Disorders972 Words   |  4 Pagescompared to the general population. Such effects are psychological and they are as follows: (1) anxiety; (2) depression; (3) anger; (4) cognitive disturbances; (5) perceptual distortions; (6) obsessive thoughts; (7) paranoia; and (8) psychosis (Metzner Fellner, 2010). Being confined inside a unit with no windows can disorient inmates with or without mental disorders, and failure to provide mentally ill inmates with p sychiatric help could result in more disruptive behaviors. Prison officials must be awareRead MoreOver Population in the Prison System Costs Billions, and That Affect Us All!1299 Words   |  6 Pages Over population in the prison system costs billions, and that affect us all! Tjy Helms Composition 1 ENG1001 BH Week 5 Professor Henry 05/6/2011 I say why should we the people pay to house, feed, and provide medical care for people who have never had a history of violent behavior? The issue becomes compounded when we cram thousands of people into a space designed for hundreds. Look at the number of people who are doing hard time, for non-violent crimes. These are the people who are costing