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Incarceration In Prisons

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Prisons have seen an increase in population largely due to the War on drugs (Austin, et al., 2001). The highest majority have been males, however the female population has increased as well. Nearly 1.5 million children have a least one parent incarcerate ( Austin, et al. ,2001).
Incarceration rates have risen steadily since the 1980's. Many of the reasons stated are income equality, low levels of trust and legitimacy, weak welfare states, politicized criminal justice system and conflict in the criminal culture. ( Bohm and Haley, 2011). The number of inmates has been increasing steadily in prisons from 329,821 inmates at the end of 1980 to over 126% increase in the early 1990's. Also in local community jails the number of inmates increased 89% from 1982 to June 2009 ( Bohm and Haley, 2011). …show more content…
Non violent crimes such as insufficient checks, minor traffic violations, shoplifting, and other petty crimes , offenders are placed on community probation.
The United states has a higher rate of incarceration that other nations due to sentencing to jail for less serious crimes ( Bohm and Haley, 2011). The cost estimate for each prisoner varies from state to state due the area, also healthcare for prisoners varies.
Crowding in prisons and jails also causes inmates to become more aggressive, this problem has gotten larger with the populations increasing. Crowding also causes limited inmate services and programs ( Bohm and Haley, 2011).
Characteristics common of the incarcerated in the united states are; under 35 years of age, not married or divorced, under educated, black and male. Only 21% graduated from high school and 29% had received their GED. However, 72.4% were working the month before they were incarcerated (Bohm and Haley, 2011).

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