The United States prison system costs tax payers over sixty billion dollars a year. One of every one hundred adults is behind bars. Reforms are needed to keep projected costs down in the future; such reforms are needed to ensure fairness and humane treatment behind prison walls.
By mid 2007 the rate that African Americans were serving sentences was an astonishing 4618 per every 100,000. The comparable amount for Hispanic Males was 1747 sentenced prisoners per every 100,000. White males were the lowest at 773 sentenced prisoners per every 100,000. That means that African American males are most likely to be incarcerated in the United States. An estimated 10% of the prisoners incarcerated are mentally ill and have developmental disabilities.
The Prison system has many different venues and avenues to travel. First of all there are four types of prisons Super Maximum Security, Maximum Security, Medium Security, and Minimum Security. Super Maximum Security prisons are state of the art high security facilities most of which have guard towers, high level security systems, and armed guards. Maximum Security Prisons have the same security as Super Maximum Security prisons with more lenient supervision. Medium Security prisons have open court yards and are actively involved with prisoners with programs that keep them busy. Minimum Security prisons have open areas inside the facility for games and television, the area surrounding the prison usually has no fencing Minimum Security prisons prepare inmates for release.
Rehabilitation in prison is relatively an issue with most prisons and persons incarcerated. A growing number of prisons have started implementing rehabilitation centers into their facilities taking advantage of programs while serving time in prison is a good idea for prisoners planning for early release, probation or parole. Some of the programs offered are Anger Management, GED, College, Drug Abuse, and Alcoholics Anonymous classes.
Work release programs are a good way to extend the gradual incline of self rehabilitation improving ones social values to meet goals that are presented by the work place, showing past convicts that they have a worth in our society. Work programs are designed to instill pride in one’s self and the environment they live in. The counselors and other associates that participate should show the prisoners how to appreciate life and enjoy fulfillment of advancing in careers while meeting career goals.
Making the person pay for their crimes is a big step in the prison system. Per each type of crime there are different levels of security and punishment. Being that most punishments are identified by the level of security generally security ranges from Maximum Security to Minimum Security.
Time in jail is also a big factor; the fact that a person who robbed a bank with no shots fired and no injuries would serve less time than one which has kid napped a victim during the same type of crime explains the differences in sentences appointed by the court. A robber who has kid napped a victim would be first judged by his act of kid napping, and then for robbery. A basic robber who has not endangered anyone other than stealing the money would spend relatively less time in prison than one who has endangered lives during the process of robbery, in my view both committed the same crime and each additional crime would have to be punished individually. The fact that reckless people belong in Maximum Security prisons while people that are task oriented deserve Medium Security prison terms makes us aware of discipline differences in the criminal mind. The separation of each type of criminal in the United States Department of Justice is very important; it displays the kind of rehabilitation the prisoner will have to undergo. Criminals perform criminal acts for reasons unknown to the community but well studied by psychiatrists and mental health specialists. The issue is helping the prisoners understand their down falls, and rehabilitating the prisoner to allow inmates the social reform to function properly in society without having recidivism after they are released. Classes and group sessions that allow professionals to learn the mental state of the prisoners have to be initiated. Keeping a close record of the prisoners’ strengths and weaknesses will help inmates and counselors decrease the nations over fifty percent recidivism rate. Prisoners that do not want to participate in such programs should be evaluated and separated from the prisoners who honestly seek help.
Prison Reform is a costly process that takes man power, money, and time. Due to the fact that many prisoners have mental problems and need help by qualified professionals raises some questions among tax payers such as how much will prison reform cost? How long will the reform process take to implement rehabilitation centers? Are prisoners treated fairly? Reform starts with the very lowest and works its way to the top.
Cleanliness of prison facilities is another reform topic. Nearly all of the prisons are self sufficient meaning the inmates take care of all workloads in the walls of the prison accept guard. Cleaning, Wash room, Kitchen duties, and Painting are done primarily by the prisoners themselves. Keeping inmates busy on day to day tasks will help redeveloped minds showing people that we do care about their environment and are trying to provide a safe place for prisoners to rehabilitate and change their lives.
As you can see prisons today are taking leaps and bounds in rehabilitation and reform we are at an economic brink, society is in the middle of the electronic era, there are plenty of opportunities that are present to make life easier for past convicts. By adding computer labs, work study program, and libraries the opportunities for prisoners to advance themselves are endless.
Reference Page
All references pertaining to the World Wide Web and Internet are as follows ….
I. http://2009transition.org/criminaljustice/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=27&Itemid=23
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