...been a constant issue of mass-incarceration, a lack of rehabilitation, and a rate of reentry that far exceeds that of any other nation, yet this problem’s escalation has done little to bring it to the platform of reformation. The prison system has cost American taxpayers billions of dollars, and a majority of these citizens are completely unaware of the needlessness of the costs with which they are burdened. With 2.2 million people incarcerated in the U.S., Americans cannot afford to continue to turn a blind eye to the economic issues presented by the current prison system (Council of Economic Advisors 3). Due to prison growth, an increasing incarceration rate, and a lack of rehabilitation and...
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...highly rational beings who intentionally chose their own courses of action (Schmalleger, 2012). Contemporary sentencing stems mainly from the Classical School theory. This theory stated that criminality, rather than being caused by evil or some higher beings, was actually the result of the bad choices people make of their own free will. The other competing theories of corrections besides the Classical School, prevalent in today’s prison system are retribution, deterrence, restorative justice, and rehabilitation. According to the Classical School theory, the punishment should fit the crime equally. Meaning, that the punishment a person is given should equally fit the seriousness of the crime committed, and not be more extreme such as hanging or burning someone. Someone who steals should not be burned at the stake, because the punishment does not fit the seriousness of the crime. The need for punishment is still there, but it is just applied more rationally....
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...Community Corrections or Incarceration Are community corrections a better solution than incarceration? Michelle Brooks ITT Technical Institute Community Corrections or Incarceration Abstract In this research paper will read about different subjects and topics that pertain to incarceration and community corrections. The incarceration rate is going up in the United States while at the same time community corrections is slowly fading away because of limited support from the local communities and government officials within each state. In this research I hope to find out those community corrections has more to offer than incarceration. In conclusion incarceration is not the right way but community corrections will be. Community Corrections or Incarceration Table of Contents Abstract Introduction Background on Community Corrections Background on Incarceration Effectives of Community Corrections Effectives of Incarceration Programs dealing with Community Corrections Programs while Incarcerated Theory Interview with Mr. Sharron Wilson Result Reference Page Community Corrections or Incarceration Introduction Community Corrections is a better solution than incarceration because it offers many different alternative programs for several different types of offenders. Incarceration also offers similar programs...
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...Criminal law involves both the criminal procedure and criminal law. The procedural law consists of the regulations on how the government proceeds against a person suspected of committing a crime. Examples of procedural law involve the right to counsel, right to appeal, trial by jury, and the right to face the accuser among others. The substantive law is the proscribed behaviors and the specified penalties. Some of the substantive laws are unlawful acts such as rape, robbery, and murder among others. When the government violates these rights, it has already violated the due process. The criminal law defines the rights, justice, and the punishment for the accused person. The law covers exclusively criminal acts. The most important thing about the criminal law is proving a crime. It must prove an individual is guilty of the accused crime beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution should explain to the judge why the defendant should be punished (Norrie, 2014)....
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...Juvenile Sentencing Alternatives to Incarceration David Schuster Oakland Community College Abstract There are many different ways to punish a juvenile for a crime that they have committed. The most common is incarceration, otherwise known as jail or prison. This option has many disadvantages. I will explore the different aspects of incarceration: how it affects the juveniles, and if, over all, it is an effective way to punish young criminals. I will then present several alternatives to incarceration, now being used, such as: community diversion, counseling, education, behavior management, probation, as well as other methods that not only punish the juvenile, but also provide an opportunity for rehabilitation. For this paper, when talking about incarceration and community alternatives as sentencing options, I intend for them to be applied to the not as serious juvenile crimes. Status offenses, minor in possession, breaking and entering, and minor burglary charges would fall into this category. However, I think for more serious, violent crimes there is less discretion as to punishment options, and therefore most community alternatives may not apply to them. Keywords: Incarceration, community alternatives, juvenile delinquents Juvenile Sentencing Alternatives to Incarceration Incarceration for juveniles in this country is largely based upon our criminal justice system for adults. As Jeffery Fagen (2010) states in his article, there are many similarities between...
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...Imprisonment Does Not The drug epidemic is something that has affected many families all over the world. Drug abuse puts a lot of stress on parents, brothers, sisters, and grandparents – anyone who is part of the home (“Alcohol”). Along with the drug epidemic comes the criminal activity to obtain the drugs. Our nation’s prison population has exploded beyond capacity and most inmates are in prison, in large part, because of substance abuse: 80% of offenders abuse drugs or alcohol; nearly 50% of jail and prison inmates are clinically addicted; approximately 60% of individuals are arrested for most types of crimes test positive for illegal drugs at arrest (“Alcohol”). Although the current system emphasizes putting addicts in jail, it would be more beneficial for them and society to enter into inpatient rehabilitation. The relationship between drugs and crime is very complex. At the most intense levels of drug use, drugs and crimes are directly and highly connected. Serious drug use can amplify and prolong preexisting criminal activity. There are essentially three types of crimes related to drugs: Use-Related crime: These are crimes that result from or involve individuals who ingest drugs, and who commit crimes as a result of the effect the drug has on their processes and behavior. Economic-Related crime: These are crimes where an individual commits a crime in order to fund a drug habit. These include theft and prostitution. System-Related crime: These are crimes that result from...
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...Everyone says they want to reduce prison populations, but here comes the hard part, are politicians and big corporations willing to reform criminal sentencing policies? The silenced sentencing reforms pursued by states include allowing offenders to shorten their prison time by participating in different penalty methods, such as rehabilitation programs, thus decreasing the ever-growing overcrowding rates. Moreover, prison would be more effective if the time in prison was used to prepare the individuals for life outside of jailhouse walls, following release. Marc Levin, Vice President of Criminal Justice Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, emphasizes,”Once you reach a certain rate of incarceration, you start to have diminishing returns...
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...and Incarceration HOMELESS AND INCARCERATION Homelessness is the problem that influences the life of the whole society. It is critical for the United States and as almost half a million of citizens do not have their own houses. They do not have the opportunities that the representatives of the general public have and cannot afford even some basic needs. Homeless individuals have to break the law and commit crimes, such as stealing food, even though they do not intend to do so, which leads to mass incarceration. This influences their behavior and increases the chances of becoming drug or alcohol addicts, which makes homeless individuals even more likely to become incarcerated. People who are imprisoned, often have no or underpaid job that does not provide these people with money enough to have a decent residence, which makes them a vulnerable population (Johnson 2015). It is important to consider what makes homeless people commit crimes that result in imprisonment. The information from various articles received during the literature review, I will reveal the connection between homelessness and incarceration, emphasizing the history that lead to their occurrence as well as the main causes of both problems. I will point out and explain the correlations between homelessness and crime rates, as well as its connections to the mental disorders, substance abuse, and chronic health condition in the context of how homeless lifestyle can be related to the incarceration. Also...
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...THE BUDGET COST AND EFFECTS OF PRISONS IN THE UNITED STATES Christina Adonia Turner June 15, 2013 Introduction to Public Administration TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Table Of Contents…………………………………………………………2 2. Executive Summary………………………………………………………..3 3. Scope and Statement of the Problem………………………………………4 4. Literature Review………………………………………………………….5 5. Methodology………………………………………………………………7 6. Analytical Results………………………………………………………....8 7. Discussion………………………………………………………………...10 8. Bibliography………………………………………………………………16 9. Appendix………………………………………………………………....17 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In summary, the cost of housing an incarcerated inmate does affect the budget of the United States. Whether, the inmate is sentenced to life imprisonment or the death penalty. The facts in this research paper leans heavily in favor of life imprisonment as a cheaper form of punishment verses an inmate being sentenced to death row. The judicial system and politicians have formed several alternatives to assist our country with the ability to lower the cost of housing an inmate in our prison system. For example, the United States detaining systems are concentrating more on issuing a fair sentence to nonviolent offenders, such as, substance abusers and prostitutes. They realize that the majority of the inmates are in need of drug rehabilitation and have a mental illness. Also, the research shows that women offenders are the most affected with drug addiction...
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...corrections measured by the black to white per capita incarceration rates vary from state to state, This paper will analyze the current trends and the impact incarceration has on communities of color and how criminal justice policy and practice plays a role in this. According to the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Statistics, out of a total population of 1,976,019 incarcerated in adult facilities, 1,239,946 or 63 percent are black or Latino, though these two groups constitute only 25 percent of the national population. Some of the greatest racial disparities in rates of incarceration happen in states in which minorities are massed in urban areas, which tend to have both higher rates of crime and greater law enforcement activity. This paper will also discuss how these incarcerations affect the offenders, public safety, criminal policies and procedures. Racial Disparities in Corrections There are many factors regarding the disproportional rates of incarceration in communities of color. Data generated by the U.S. Department of Justice predicts that if current trends continue, one out of every three black males born today will go to prison in his lifetime, as well as one of every six Latino males. The rates of incarceration for women overall are lower than for men, but similar racial/ethnic disparities still apply. Some law makers are looking at ways to develop policies and practices to reduce insupportable racial disparities in the criminal justice...
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...Correctional Counseling and Treatment Correctional counseling is a type of counseling that assists criminal offenders in dealing with specific problems their current personality structure lack, so they can make better decisions in the future. Correctional Counselors deal with specific life-adjustment situations, while trying to expand on the underneath "good" personality that already exists. In our correctional system, this type of counseling exists, but is it effective? With news flashes of violence daily, and deadlines burred with murders and violent acts constantly, it is easy to say no. The re-offending rates in our country are among the highest in the world, and several underlying problems exist in offender lifestyles and upbringing that will allow them to be treated. When you read a newspaper or see the news you often encounter stories of violent acts by criminals with long wrap sheets. They have not been helped simply because the correctional system has not been able to deal with the enormous number of offenders, and therefore cannot give them the individual treatment that they would need. This lack of specific counseling allows the offender to go untreated, and commit more criminal acts. Next, some believe that if we want to rehabilitate criminals we must do more than just send them to prison. For instance, we could give them a chance to acquire job skills; which will improve the chances that inmates will become productive citizens upon release...
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...However, the kind of education received within the United States Prison Systems is actively doing the opposite. The oppressed inmate populations are ultimately being exploited for cheap labor in order to support a capitalist society that they do not benefit from. This paper will argue that the education being withheld from prison inmates is both cultural and educational imperialism. This paper will also argue that the Prison Industrial Complex is intentionally exploiting inmates to contribute to a capitalist labor market instead of receiving education they are entitled to in order to be rehabilitated, reduce recidivism, improve their lives and ultimately better benefit society. Incarceration in the United States is the main form of punishment, rehabilitation, or both as a consequence of felony and other criminal offenses. The United States is the world’s leader in incarceration with 2.2 million people currently in the nation's prisons or jails. This means a 500% increase over the past thirty years (The Sentencing Project.org). These trends have resulted in prison overcrowding, and billions of dollars being spent to house inmates, and supervise them on probation and parole after they are released, ultimately to return to prison as a repeat offender. Instead of an increased amount of funding and expansion of educational programs to keep up with the increase in inmate population, there has been a rapid increase in budget cuts, and educational opportunities are the...
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... According to the video, how many people are incarcerated in the United States? * According to the video, 2.4 million people are behind bars. 2. What has the crime rate in the United States done over the last 20 years? What is the percentage of the change? * In the last 20 years the crime rate has dropped by more than 40%. 3. How many of the world's population of prisoners does the United States house? * The United States has 5% of the world’s population, and 25% of the world’s prisoners. 4. How much does it cost U.S. taxpayers per year, to incarcerate prisoners? * It costs the U.S taxpayers more than 63.4 billion per year to incarcerate prisoners. 5. When did the explosion of incarceration begin? What were the reasons for the explosion? * The explosion of incarceration begin in the early 1970s. The reasons were drug use. 6. How many people are incarcerated for drug offenses? * In 1971 fewer than 40 thousand people were incarcerated, but now more than half a million are incarcerated for drug offenses. 7. What is the percentage of ex-prisoners that will be back behind bars? What is the time period? * More than 50% of ex-prisoners will be back behind bars, within 3 years. 8. What are some factors that may have contributed to the decrease in crime rates in New York? * No one can really explain exactly why it could be the change in the economy, change in drug use. One factor that will decrease the crime rate in New York is increasing...
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...The American Criminal Justice System: The Social and Cultural Considerations Introduction The American criminal justice system, the largest in the world, with 2.3M people incarcerated (Prison Policy Initiative 2016) has a significant impact on many aspects of American society when viewed through the social and cultural lens including the psychological impact of incarceration, varying treatment based on race, and post-incarceration results. Based on the analysis of various positions of experts in the field, it is clear that certain policy reforms in the existing system would be beneficial for the incarcerated and the broader society. When comparing the scale of incarceration and other related metrics in the United States...
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...What is a courtroom work group? How does this courtroom work group interact on a daily basis? What changes to the courtroom work group would you recommend? What is the role of the prosecutor? How does a prosecutor determine which cases to pursue? What would happen if the criteria for taking a case were more or less stringent? What are the effects of the criminal justice funnel and the backlog of cases on the court system and the courtroom work group? What are some solutions to help eliminate the funnel and reduce the backlog of cases? Provide examples One of the effects of the Criminal Justice Funnel System and back log of the cases is that the systems interferes with protection of the dependents rights and causes a longer wait time for the individuals verdict on their case, which cause the dependents to remain a suspect for a longer period of time. The prolonged process generates and continuously adds to the back logs of cases. Which interferes with an effective operating structure in the court system. While the Funnel system decreases the number of incarcerations and court trials which cases money and manpower. The backlogs of cases and delay at the court process also inhibits the Justice System process by helping theses offenders to get away with their cases. While there is a decrease number of incarcerations, more offenders are being put on probation and are only face with a direct punishment once they either commit an additional crime or violate their current probation...
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