...Prison Overcrowding in the US Name: Institutional Affiliation: Prison Overcrowding in the US Introduction Prison overcrowding in the US is a serious problem that has remained elusive for many decades. The problem of prison overcrowding emerged since the invention of prison as correctional facilities in the 19th century and until now; it is still troubling the authorities. Overcrowding in modern prisons is multidimensional problem. Various reasons are blamed for the challenge but they significantly differ from one nation to the other. Causes of prison overcrowding are not limited to the bounds of criminal justice but stretch to other facets of authorities including social welfare plans, availability and ease of access to health services, formal education and job opportunities. Debates on how to handle this issue on political platforms is an enough illustration of the problems political leaders undergo in looking for a lasting solution challenged by increased pressure from court orders and rigorous financial crisis. It is therefore evident that it is much easier to have overcrowded prisons than it is to develop and implement effective and efficient ways to manage overcrowding in prisons. Overcrowding in prisons is a broad problem that is centered on issues of policies and crime research. These issues involve criminal sentencing, the role of correctional facilities and sentences, accommodation of prisoners with access to health care and rehabilitation services and causes of crimes...
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...The future of the US Criminal Justice System considering current affairs is influenced by various injustices and disparities. The U.S. Criminal Justice System is mainly influenced by the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. The assumption of innocence, due process of law, double jeopardy, mass incarceration, inequity and gun law disparities to name a few are constantly at odds with current affairs. The U.S. Constitution shapes the U.S. Criminal Justice System with rights and due process for all citizens. The US Criminal Justice System is currently faced with challenges of prison overcrowding, mental health, drug offenses, inequity and gun violence. American society keeps asking for changes to be made to each part of the system. Changes and the...
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...Overcrowding in Prisons. Overcrowding in prisons is one of the biggest challenges facing the American criminal justice system today. The total population of prisons and jails in the United States neared the 2.1 million mark in June 2003, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The Bureau of Justice Statistics reported incarceration rates of state and federal prisoners continued to rise. At midyear 2003, the number of sentenced inmates was 480 per 100,000 U.S. residents, up from 476 per 100,000 on December 31, 2002. There were 238 jail inmates for every 100,000 on June 30, 2003. Overall, one out of every 140 U.S residents was incarcerated in prison or in jail. During the late 1980’s and early 1990’s state and local governments got tougher on crime by passing legislation calling for mandatory sentences for repeat offenders, such as California’s “three strikes you’re out” law and New York and other cities adopted the “Broken Windows” strategy that called for the arrest and prosecution of all crimes large and small. Because of these polices the number of violent crimes has dropped. Unfortunately, one unintended consequence of America’s new tough stance on crime is that our prison system has become dangerously overcrowded, forcing prison officials to release violent criminals after serving...
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...Criminal Justice Trends Paper Dwight Blackshire September 9, 2013 CJA/484 Mr. James Herring Criminal Justice Trends Paper New philosophies to aid in the future progress of corrections are being developed as a result of past and current trends. The issues and concerns surrounding the corrections component of the criminal justice system are overcrowded prisons and their decreasing budget. If these issues and concerns are not address, they will continue to affect the effectiveness and future operations of corrections. Restorative and community justice programs are options being considered for the future of corrections as administrators, legislators, and activists debate philosophies to address these issues and concerns resulting from past and current trends. In the past, the national political climate favored the “get tough” approach against crime. It was believed that treatment programs could not reduce recidivism. Furthermore, it was also believed to keep the national crime rate low and protect the public, offenders of crime must be punished to deter crime. As a result, reforms such as truth-in-sentencing and three-strike legislation were implemented into the law. These...
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...War on drugs and prison overcrowding Analysis Kevin Jackson CJA/454 March 02, 2016 Professor: Charles Davis War on drugs and prison overcrowding Analysis In this essay, I will discuss the crowding effect the war on drugs has had on correctional organizations in the state of Virginia. I will also propose three workable solutions to the situation while substantiating my solutions with appropriate facts and figures. To understand and comprehend the natural of this essay I will define what this article means when we talk about the war on drugs. War on Drug – Is defined as a series of actions tending toward a prohibition of illegal drug trade. It is a campaign adopted by the U.S. Government along with the foreign military aid, and military intervention to both define and end the import, manufacture, sale, and use of illegal drugs (Definitions_Uslegal 2016). The war on drugs has been a virtual disappointment throughout the United States since it was adopted in 1971 by then President Ronald Reagan with his anti wife slogan "Just say No" campaign. Since the war on drugs have been introducing the only job that it has accomplished is the increase in our prison system. In the state of Virginia alone from 2002 to 2011 drug offense arrest rate increase from 346.1 to 455.0 which is an average of 31.5% increase (Bradford 2013). This incredible inclined can be contributed to a greater number of arrest for drug violations but what this is doing is costing Virginia taxpayer money...
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...American Correctional System Issues The American correctional system is thought to be the most advances correctional system today. Our correctional also has its issues just like anything in this world. Now a day, the greatest issue with the correctional system in our country amongst other countries I would have to say would be that there is not enough room to hold all of our criminals. Over population of inmates in prisons is an issue that is hard to control as you cannot control people from not committing crimes. There are many different problem and issues that should be addressed within our correctional system. Its very difficult to only focus on one problem/issue to focus on. One main issue that seems to pop up where ever you research for the top issue within the American correctional system is how many inmates out prisons are holding. The population of prisoner is growing much faster than we are constructing prison. Criminals such as murders who are hardly serving their complete sentences are over crowding these prisons. These murderers are being release early from these prisons because of how over crowed they have become and they now need room for other inmates that are now coming into the prison. Many problems come from releasing criminals earlier than they were supposed to. Let me set up a scenario where this may make a citizen uneasy, lets say that a person tried to kill you and your spouse but they were only successful in murdering one of you and this inmate...
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...Prison Overcrowding Final Project Terence Ingram Professor Karina Arzumanova, Esq. March 17, 2013 Strayer University Prison Overcrowding Final Project Criminal Activity is on the rise. With prison populations growing at an all-time rate, the federal prison system has not been able to keep up. As a result, this is a serious problem which puts inmates and guards in danger and holds back efforts to rehabilitate convicts. (McLaughlin, 2012) Violence will be on the rise as more inmates are squeezed into small living quarters. Increased inmate misconduct is a direct result of prison overcrowding which negatively affects the safety and security of inmates and staff. If prisons don’t find a solution to this problem, it will create more tension and could potentially cause an inmate to snap and create a violent incident. With more prisoners confined in small spaces, prison officials are forced to cut back on inmate’s cafeteria time, time in the recreation yards, and television rooms. Multiple inmates are put in cells that were specifically created for one individual inmate. Common areas that were not meant to be used for inmates are being used for living arrangements even though it was not designed for that. Crowded cells and the loss of privacy increase the odds that inmates will lash out, threatening the guards keeping watch. ( McLaughlin, 2012) Policies have been put in place to make sure that inmates are not being violated. Some may say that overcrowding in prisons is inhumane...
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...War on drugs and prison overcrowding Analysis Kevin Jackson CJA/454 March 02, 2016 Professor: Charles Davis War on drugs and prison overcrowding Analysis In this essay, I will discuss the crowding effect the war on drugs has had on correctional organizations in the state of Virginia. I will also propose three workable solutions to the situation while substantiating my solutions with appropriate facts and figures. To understand and comprehend the natural of this essay I will define what this article means when we talk about the war on drugs. War on Drug – Is defined as a series of actions tending toward a prohibition of illegal drug trade. It is a campaign adopted by the U.S. Government along with the foreign military aid, and military intervention to both define and end the import, manufacture, sale, and use of illegal drugs (Definitions_Uslegal 2016). The war on drugs has been a virtual disappointment throughout the United States since it was adopted in 1971 by then President Ronald Reagan with his anti wife slogan "Just say No" campaign. Since the war on drugs have been introducing the only job that it has accomplished is the increase in our prison system. In the state of Virginia alone from 2002 to 2011 drug offense arrest rate increase from 346.1 to 455.0 which is an average of 31.5% increase (Bradford 2013). This incredible inclined can be contributed to a greater number of arrest for drug violations but what this is doing is costing Virginia taxpayer money...
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...Comparison In the U.S. criminal justice system, when a person is arrested, the first place they are usually taken to is jail. From there, they see a judge and go through a court process. If further incarceration is needed, the individual is sentenced to serve time in either a county jail, state prison or federal prison. This paper will help discuss the history behind the jails and their use in addition to the history of state and federal prisons. While understanding the history of these three correctional facilities it will help to compare the different levels of security and how they work differently in each facility. A major problem in the United States, regarding the corrections system, is overcrowding. The effects of overcrowding are visible throughout the criminal justice system and there are different factors that influence the growth of jail/prison incarceration. The jails of the modern era can be traced back to the 1100’s in England. The first jail created was ordered built by King Henry II in 1166, and the English term gaol was used in place of the word jail (Seiter, 2011). Jails then were also used, as they are now, for the purpose of housing offenders that were waiting for trial, but also took in individuals who were homeless, poor or suffered from mental disabilities. Individuals that are incarcerated in the jails today get 3 meals a day, shelter from the outside environment, and a decent place to sleep. A famous reformer of the jail system is John Howard, who...
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...contributed greatly to the overcrowding epidemic now facing our prison system. In this paper, the author will explore some of the negative consequences incurred due to mandatory minimum sentencing. Furthermore, the author will examine the effect this has had on non-violent offenders and the burden it has put on both the taxpayers and our prison system. Finally, the author will discuss the overwhelming affect it has had on our judicial system. An Overview Mandatory minimum sentences require a judge to impose a statutorily fixed sentence on offenders convicted of certain crimes, regardless of other mitigating factors. Discussions on mandatory minimum sentencing indicate the purpose to be multifaceted. Using mandatory minimum sentencing reduces crime, especially drug use, controls judicial discretion over certain sentencing decisions, increases prison sentences for serious and violent offenders; and lets everyone know that action is being taken to fight criminal activity. However, it is widely acknowledged that mandatory minimum sentencing laws have not always achieved their objectives and have often resulted in unintended consequences such as sentencing inequities and unduly harsh penalties. Overcrowding One of the main unintended consequences of mandatory minimum sentencing has been that of overcrowding, which has had much like a domino effect. It is estimated that our federal prison system is overcrowded by nearly 40 %. Two noted criminal justice researchers, Judith Greene...
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...method of punishing for lawbreakers, debtors, and a facility to housed slaves. Throughout history, jails have served as facilities where the laws of the land are enforced. These institutions are an important factor within the justice system, which allows criminal justice procedures to take effect. These institutions house suspects in order for law enforcement officers (LEOS) to conduct their investigation to bring the guilty to justice (Princeton, 2010). Jails can be traced back to ancient civilizations; these houses of justice form the fundamental iron cloth of the law that ensures laws and discipline of the nation are adhered. The correctional system of today's generation have conformed and improved the jail system, these facilities are now humane in comparison to old civilizations. Offenders of modern society still initiate the first phase of his or her restitution, rehabilitations, and reformation behind these walls. Enslavements have been replaced with prison labor; furthermore, these theological methods help inmates to repay society while earning a stipend in jail. The correctional system of some regions still practices the old jail concepts of inflicting pain by torturing individuals in lock up for crimes committed. This atrocious and inhumane system was used to defer others from committing similar crimes through fear of imprisonment. This way of punishment did not...
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...Corrections Trend Evaluation Carla Howard CJA 394 University of Phoenix Corrections have existed throughout society for many years and continued to change and evolve in the United States reflecting society’s values and ideals throughout the centuries. In the criminal justice system, corrections exist in more than one form. Not only do corrections refer to jails and prison systems but they also pertain to community-based programs, such as probation, parole, halfway houses, and treatment facilities. Past, present, and future trends in regard to the development and operation of institutional and community-based corrections vary between states but corrections have grown immensely since the early 1800s and have continued to expand over time. Corrections are adamant to continue to expand into the future because crime is not slowing down so there will remain a strong need for corrections throughout society. The subject of this paper pertains to research of past, present, and future trends in the development and operation of corrections. In some ways corrections are similar to the operation trends of two decades ago. In other ways the development of corrections has come far compared to corrections in the beginning. Other subjects of the paper include current and future issues for prisons and prison administrators and an explanation for why these issues overwhelm corrections. A last topic for discussion is the roles of alternate corrections as a developing trend. ...
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...Prison overcrowding, also called "prison crowding," is a matter of great contention and concern in current criminal justice public policy debates in both Canada and the United States. Coming to public attention as a social problem most recently in the United States in the late 1970s, prison overcrowding has coincided with the unprecedented growth in the nation's prison population over the past several decades. Because of the "war on drugs" and mandatory sentencing, the United States has become the world's foremost jailer. With just 5 percent of the world's population, the United States has 25 percent of its prisoners, approximately 2.4 million, a number that steadily increases by about 3 percent each year. In 2006, federal prisons were operating at 37 percent above capacity. The criminal justice system responded to what some jurisdictions call the "crisis" of prison overcrowding through diversion strategies, relying more heavily on jails for the overflow of prisoners, doubling up prisoners in one cell (also called double bunking), hotly debated early release strategies, and an increasing reliance on private (for-profit) prisons, to name a few. However, policy focus on capacity issues sometimes detracts from the actual conditions of privacy, security, and manageability (including meeting basic needs for nutrition, health, and sanitation) within prisons. In 2006, the Vera Institute of Justice's Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prisons held public hearings, which...
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...of Reducing Prison Overcrowding Laura Macella AIU Online Abstract This paper is going to discuss the benefits of why reducing the overcrowding of prisons with help the inmates, employees, as well as the citizens of the state. It will show that crime within the prison walls will go down, the stress of the inmates and employees will reduce, as well as showing that we can save taxpayers millions of dollars a year. Lastly, this paper will look at programs that the inmates can be sentenced to for minor petty crimes that they are incarcerated for. As a result of all of this the overcrowding of prisons may come to a halt and may not be as stressful as many people think. Benefits of Reducing Prison Overcrowding When thinking about prison overcrowding it kind of makes you want to cringe and hope you never have to be in that situation, however, in each state it is very common and is causing unbearable situations and long term effects for many people. Reducing prison overcrowding can help many employees of the prison, citizens, and inmates in many ways. At this point we can put a stop to the overcrowding and try to make the judges and court systems realize that it will be beneficial to all parties involved. First of all, by reducing overcrowding in prison it will help reduce crime and murder within the prison facilities. Prisons right now have caused more aggressive, antisocial behavior that is causing a lot of violence (“Effects of Prison Overcrowding”, 2012). Because there...
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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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