Mass Incarceration

A prominent political analyst and author Mark Braider recently made the case in a 2015 New York Times piece stating that corporations and their influence on our government is a major, often un-recognized pitfall of America. While many may be ignorant of the issue, those who are informed often come to the same conclusions as Braider in his argument about to which the extent of corporations in America affect our government and way of life; often for the worse. Looking at the macro scale at which government has an effect the lives we live; private prisons serve as the epitome in commercial-political interaction. The issue of private prisons the reason why I strongly agree with Braider’s controversial opinion about the importance of informing the ignorant of this pressing issue. American politics work somewhat simply at the legislative level in regards to their relationships with major companies and corporations.

“As of December 2000, there were 153 private correctional facilities (prisons, jails and detention centers) operating in the United States3 with a capacity of over 119,000 (Cheung, 2004).” Some people believe and set an argument that the privatization can save the government money and that the profit can help. Although there has not been much proof of this out of all the research to today says that there is no real difference. After numerous studies it still can’t be proven if it saves money and if it does how much it saves. (Cheung, 2004) says; “Proponents’ Arguments: Proponents contend that cost-savings and efficiency of operation place private prisons at an advantage over public prisons and support the argument for privatization.

In today's society more and more violence is occurring each and everyday. With the increase of violence, the inmate population grows and locations of inhabiting inmates are rising as well. In his article, Private prisons, career correctional administrator and academic, Richard P. Setier argues that the private prisons care about the well being of inmate not about making money. Setier jumps right into debunking myths and explains the realities and educational side of private prisons. He explains how they myths stem form inadequate information of what the corportation represent and what they value

Thesis: It is very important for the sake of Americans tax dollars that we change the way that prisons are run and increase the productivity of inmates so when they are released from jail they are ready to be a productive member in society and have the confidence to achieve new goals. Introduction: Day after day, millions of inmates sit in jail doing nothing productive with their lives. We are paying to house inmates that may not even have a good reason to be there. For example, drug offenders are being kept with murderers and other violent offenders.

An early study by the Federal Bureau of Prisons indicates problems with “adequately trained and experienced staff” and . . . critical lapses in appropriate security practices” perhaps leading to riots, escapes and deaths. There other complications related to private prisons: poor health care and early deaths. (See piece entitled Private Prisons for Profit out of Control.

Introduction A late time of mass incarceration has prompted incredible rates of detainment in the United States, especially among probably the most helpless and minimized groups. Given the rising social and financial expenses of detainment and firm open spending plans, this pattern is starting to switch (Petersilia and Cullen, 2014). Toward the commencement of the 21st century, the United States ends up confronting the huge test of decarcerating America, which is in the meantime an enormous open door. Through decarceration, the lives of a vast number of individuals can be immensely enhanced, and the country all in all can desert this limited and dishonorable time of mass detainment.

The Impact of Privatization on Prison Quality Crime policies adopted in the US since the 1980s as well as federal and state budget constraints have facilitated a crisis in the nation’s prisons. Campaigns like The War on Drugs, harsher sentencing policies, and the adoption of mandatory minimum sentences have resulted in overcrowding of the country’s prison system. The need for managing the rapid growth in prison population has driven the government to look for efficient alternatives to provide correctional services without increasing public spending, including the privatization of penitentiaries. Proponents of privatized prisons have long claimed that the private sector could operate prisons more efficiently.

These factors create vulnerable circumstances for both inmates and the society. Moreover, these are possibly clear symbols of a failed concept, this raises questions on the methodological aspect of private prisons. Another disturbing effect the privatization of prisons has contributed to, is noted by Ecenbarger, (2012). It involves a case whereby thousands of young men, were wrongfully convicted with many not even receiving legal representation.

Finally, the cost and quotas associated with these particular prisons further promote dehumanization. Privatized prisons reduce the cost of housing inmates but at what cost? Private prisons have the authority to overcrowd their cells. This can be considered an aspect of dehumanization because the inmates would not have any space. The report from In the Public Interest dove into the areas of prison life that one would not even know existed such as minimum occupancy guarantees or low crime taxes that some states found themselves wrapped up in.

In the article “Even Prisoners Must Have Hope”, Richard Stratton (the author) talks about his thoughts on the federal prison system in America. Stratton himself had served 8 years in jail for smuggling marijuana. He strongly advises not to make the prisons even worse than they already are. The harsh conditions and other peoples’ vengeful attitudes toward criminals only make the violence and crime continue. According to Stratton, instead of improving the harsh conditions and trying to rehabilitate and help prisoners that could lead to peace, our society inflicts more pain and punishment, enforcing a violent cycle.

A comparison between American prison systems and other prison systems around the world shows the massive difference in the way the United States views and handles crime and punishment. When looking at numbers revolving around prison, the public tends to reflect on the amount of people detained and how it seems that crime rates are at such a high. “Since 1991 the rate of violent crime in the United States has fallen by about 20 percent, while the number of people in prison or jail has risen by 50 percent” (Schlosser 54). When reviewing the systematic functions of United States prisons, we overlook the issues that surround prisons across the nation. Issues that not only affect those incarcerated but those who are living on the outside, in addition

Weldon’s case seems all too common today with the gargantuan population of the American prison system. A system which cannot see to the needs of the citizens it houses. It is clear that current policy regarding incarceration in America has proven to be a failure;

Once outlawed in the beginning of the 20th Century Vickers (1991), private corporations have made a come back with possessing and operating prisons for profit. Privatization is a controversial issue that can be dated all the way back to the days of the civil war. The corrections industry analyzes its re-appearance today amidst globalization and the most impressive growth of prisons in all of modern history, painting an analyzable portrait of what few are calling the "prison industrial complex. " Whenever a state wanted to build a new prison, they traditionally would ask the voters to approve the cost through a bond issue. But, voters throughout the country began to say no.

"The figures show that the United States has locked up more people than any other country: a half million more than China, which has a population five times greater than the U.S. Statistics reveal that the United States holds 25% of the world’s prison population, but only 5% of the world’s people"(Pelaez). The Global Research website publishes new article, commentary, background research and analysis on a broad range of issues, focusing on social, economic, strategic and environmental issues. Within the wealth of articles , there was an article that stood out and talked about the USA 's prison system and provided great statistics like the one above. The imprisonment rate have gone up, and now there is got to be a reason for such a rapid growth

There has been a huge increase in the amount of prisons built in the United States over recent decades, and a continually growing number of incarcerated criminals. This has led to less criminals being out on the street, and in return less violent crimes have been committed (Haq, 2010). While more criminals being in prison has helped decrease crime rates, there has also been several negative effects. An article from the American Legislative Exchange Council tiled “Prison Overcrowding Threatens Public Safety and State Budgets” discusses some of the downfalls of the United States prison systems. For example, many prisons are becoming overcrowded, and the constant need for more prison space and security is becoming a major financial issue (Williams,