The Incarceration Of Prison Rates Essay - 1435 Words

Currently as a nation we use severity as our biggest form of deterrence; our threat of imprisonment has grown dramatically over time. In 1985 the average release time for a conviction of robbery was 32 months and in 2002 it jumped to a minimum of 53 months (Incarceration and Crime). We focus heavily on severity and longer incarceration rates; the idea is that a 10% increase in incarceration would lead to a 1.6%-5.5% decrease in crime (Lieka 2006) but this is not true. Prison rates have increased tenfold since 1970 and yet the crime rates have not dropped near those percents.The leading argument against increase in incarceration uses other states as examples of how ineffective it is; for example Florida heavily focuses on imprisonment to reduce crime with no effect (Incarceration and Crime). This idea would be great and a good mode of deterrence if those who go to prison actually learn their lessons and mend their future ways. Also if the unwanted effects of prison were at least toler able this might deter crime but sadly even after experiment and evidence it is not a well functioning theory. The cost of funding our mass incarceration does balance out the decrease in overall crime. Besides when we have a nation who is majority hard on crimes compared to other crimes we end up severely punishing people who probably would respond better to rehabilitation than jail. My Cousin is a Director of unit in the prison system that serves as an alternative to long term segregation.Show MoreRelatedThe Incarceration Rate Of State And Federal Prisons2418 Words   |  10 Pagesdecades there has been a considerable increase incarceration rate in state and federal prisons. This is due to the public demanding more castigatory laws along with harsher sentencing policies. In the United State there 2.3 million people are incarcerated in prisons and jails which make the United States the lead in the incarceration rate (Wright, 2010). Truth in sentencing law made it essential that offenders serve a significant portion of the prison sentenced handed down by the court before he orRead MoreSouth Carolina Should Reduce Crime Rates Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pagescausation, then crime rates are extremely high due to the increase amounts of people being incarcerated. South Carolina should offer a proposal to reduce crime rates. Possible proposals to reduce crime rat es- offering inmates or ex-convicted felons opportunities to find jobs, developed new skills or trade, and the ability to asses counselling once release. These alternatives can possibly improve not only the society, but also South Carolina. To find a program to reduce incarceration, create a positiveRead MoreEssay on Cost of Incarceration1308 Words   |  6 PagesWhat is incarceration? Incarceration is the act of placing someone in prison. Incarceration serves as a punishment for criminals due to their actions against the law. It is a solution for keeping the public safe. Prisoners follow a strict rules and schedules while following the culture within the walls among other prisoners. As a result of their crimes, convicts lose their freedom and are place among others who suffer the same fate. Crime is the cause of this establishment, but what are the effectsRead MoreAmeric Land Of The Incarcerated1296 Words   |  6 Pagestransformed the once â€Å"land of the free† into a c ountry of mass incarceration which emphasizes on punishing offenders rather than rehabilitating them into productive citizens. To the typical American, radical governments such as Russia or China come to mind when one thinks about countries that have strict criminal codes that punish offenders with extreme prison sentences. Shockingly, the United States has the world’s highest incarceration rate of 716 prisoners per 100,000 citizens compared to the averageRead MoreRacial Disparities Of Mass Incarceration1572 Words   |  7 PagesRacial disparities in mass incarceration Introduction Mass Incarceration in the United States has been a large topic of choice because rapid growth in the prison and jail populations, the long sentences the inmates face, and the inability for some inmates to incorporate themselves back into society. Since the 1970’s the U.S. prison population quadrupled from 158 to 635 people per 100,000, causing the U.S. to gain the title of country with the highest incarceration rate. (Massoglia, Firebaugh, WarnerRead MoreLegislation and Incarceration in United States956 Words   |  4 PagesLegislation and Incarceration (Order #A2068178) The incarceration rate in the United States has steadily risen since 1973, and Franklin Zimring has examined the relationship between penal legislation and the incarceration rate. He has discovered three distinct periods which demonstrate three differences in the way legislation effects penal practices. During the first period in which there was a major rise in incarceration rates, 1973-1985, Zimring asserted that there was no relationship betweenRead MoreMass Incarceration During The United States1322 Words   |  6 PagesEnglish 3 Honors 30 March 2017 Mass Incarceration in the United States There are too many people in prison in our country and any people in prison today are non-violent drug offenders. The American war on drugs has targeted people in poverty and minorities, who are more likely to be involved in drug use. This has created a pattern of crime and incarceration and â€Å"...[a] connection between increased prison rates and lower crime is tenuous and small.† (Wyler). The prison system in our country today focusesRead MoreRacism: Incarceration of a Household Member and Hispanic Health Disparities1344 Words   |  6 Pageslooking at our nation’s prison system and how the incarceration rates are skewed towards African American men. The reasons for the incarceration rate disparity are argued and different between races, but history points out and starts to show the reason of why the disparity began. Families and children of the incarcerated are adversely affected due to the discrimination as well as the discrimination against African American students and their likelihood of going to prison compared to the white studentRead MoreThe Incarceration Of Drug Offenders894 Words   |  4 PagesA. Rise in Incarceration of Drug Offenders Another major subset in the overall prison population in the U.S. is the growing rise in incarceration rates of drug offenders. Professor Blumstein notes that when considering the growth of incarceration rates by specific type of crime, such as murder, robbery, assault, burglary, drugs, and sex offenses during the two decades from 1980 to 2001, the single most important result was that the prison rate for drug offenders increased by a factor of 10;Read MoreThe Death Of The Prison1446 Words   |  6 PagesPrisons have been around for many years. The prison was created as a punishment for individuals who broke the law. There could be many reasons for a person to receive imprisonment; ranging from homicide to fraud. Due to many law violations, there are more people in prisons and jails. From the year 2000 to the present, there was an increase. Jails and prisons house about 1.6 million individuals (Peak, 2012). There are many reasons why there is an increase in individuals going t o prison. The first