Incarceration for crimes serves the purpose of protecting the community and victims from offenders. When prosecuted correctly, it serves the purpose of fostering protection, a sense of value on communities, and the spirit of belonging for all. Society requires safety from offenders', while perpetrators deserve sentencing and imprisonment that resonate with the crime. Indeed, prison programs ascertain hope for convicts, which shows they are treated with respect and human dignity in hope for rehabilitation. However, in a country whose people work towards realizing the American dream, it is not always the case for people who choose to offend others. Specifically, mass incarceration remains high as prisons continue to house thousands of offenders for various crimes. Despite reforms to improve the justice system, racial profiling increases the likelihood of mass incarceration for people of color and intensifies targeted war on drugs. Consequently, mass imprisonment leads to overcrowding and high costs of running facilities with an elderly population. Nonetheless, judicial reforms and relaxation of sentencing for low-level, non-violent crimes is vital. Still, as we continue to apply Saint Leo's values on community and personal development, advocating for equal employment opportunities for ex-convicts and reforms could reduce re-imprisonment.
Due to racism, the justice system struggles with the mass incarceration of minorities. According to Cole et al. (2019), most prisoners in the justice system are male and members of the minority groups. As an unfortunate truth, a particular way of dressing, walking, or confrontation with the police officers is highly likely to end up in unlawful arrest for blacks. The fact that arrests highly occur in impoverished, marginalized communities makes it difficult for black people to trust police officers' integrity as they perceive justice as favoritism. In most states, the minimum jail term is not logical, and prosecutors use this fact to threaten offenders to plead guilty or testify against other inmates (Bruce, 2013). Since the justice system is highly politicized, high levels of incarcerations could be encouraged to please conservatives that neighborhoods are safer as judges shift their focus on passing down judgment rather than focusing on the evidence presented.
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The standard norm of racial profiling on the war on drugs leads to imprisonment for people of color for longer jail terms. For blacks, going about a day could quickly call for an arrest depending on the officer's perception present. As a form of social control, racial profiling sees one group of people having more power on the other because the system is protective of its own [sic]. Although offenses should match jail term, for most black people, a single violation calls for a longer jail term duration that is not justifiable to the crime committed. Punishment should only be based on offense but not on the judge's perception of what justice should be like (Verbruggen, 2017). When a judge is biased on handing down a longer sentence based on what they think should happen rather than what is lawful, many people end up serving longer sentences than they were supposed to. For instance, as an offender, invoking a right to remain silent may attract an unfair ruling on the case with little regard for the evidence at hand as we tend to judge the offenders' attitude. One is highly disadvantaged if they rely on public defenders who, in most cases, are underfunded, making it easy for the offender to accept plea deals in a bid to avoid further punishment.
Consequently, mass incarceration leads to dense prison populations resulting in high costs due to increased numbers of the elderly. According to Cole et al. (2019), using community corrections options would be impactful in reducing prison populations. However, when unserious crimes result in imprisonment, it leaves thousands of people in the system, which affects the cost of running prisons effectively. Indeed, the elderly who spend the better part of their lives locked up require special treatment for underlying conditions that leads to over expenditure that could otherwise be avoided through community corrections. Cole et al. (2019) outline that the elderly population has risen thrice to approximately 156 545 offenders serving longer sentences. People have needs for chronic illnesses, dementia, and numerous tests that reveal the health condition at an old age. In some cases, the prisons have to contact outside care with vast resources and adequate caregiving services. It costs five times more to cater to the older prison population's needs than for younger offenders (Cole et al., 2019).
Additionally, the imprisonment of persons with mental illness puts a strain on facilities. According to Cole et al. (2019), in 2011, 97 people arrested with mental illness were rearrested over 2000 times, requiring institutions to spend $13million. In most instances, just like the elderly and the physically ill, the mentally ill require costly treatment for prison systems. However, since most institutions are ill-equipped with limited resources that do not cater to special needs, an undeniable gap and mismatch are evident. Even with counseling programs and therapy sessions in place, mental illness is progressive and could easily result in psychological breakdowns and suicide. Also, the employees do not know how to handle such persons and the mental disturbances they experience (Cole et al. 2019). Ideally, when the incarceration rate does not match the improvement within facilities to accommodate all kinds of offenses and mental conditions, it leads to suffering and preventable deaths.
For mitigation, there is a need to relax the "three strikes rule" that lead to longer sentences and overcrowding. Judges have the power to hand down sentences accordingly with the authority to even issue orders in lowering prison populations that cater to inmate's appropriate needs and care. However, for states such as California, the three-strike rule impacted 40% of prisoners serving long sentences for unserious and non-violent crimes (Willis, & Zaitzow, 2015, p. 25). The idea of being "tough on offense could be right on paper, but the financial constraints are unviable, mostly if there was a minimal threat from the inmate. Ideally, for persons who have only violated parole provisions, the option of community corrections could be a better idea than re-imprisonment. Also, various states requiring that offenders serve 85% of their prison sentences leaves little room for rehabilitation into society (Willis & Zaitzow, 2015). Indeed, the focus on imprisonment should be centered on giving second chances, especially for unserious crimes where individuals can be incorporated back to the community with minimal risk of jeopardizing the community's protection.
Also, increasing financial grants would improve facilities to cater to varying needs. As indicated, most facilities cannot handle offenders with mental illness. Also, underpaid personnel mean less motivation to join the force and supervision ability, impacting longer sentences for offenders. Still, lack of prison officers' training implies that there are additional current costs incurred for other personnel outside the facilities to care for inmates. However, through financial grants, it makes it possible to improve the system to habitable living. It would also ensure a compelling correlation between the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program, where inmates do not have to go to the extremes of taking their own lives because of mental disorders. Although critics could argue that the states and federal government overspends on prisons, budget cuts could result in more extended prison periods and inhumane living conditions that make rehabilitation impossible.
It would be vital to ensure that judicial reforms on public defenders' funding and handing down considerable judgments. Since most offenders reside in poor communities, affording a personal lawyer is almost impossible. Court cases require money, and if that option is not available, the affordable option is preferred. As Verbruggen (2017) outlines, in 43 states, the defender has to pay some amount for the state provided lawyer while the prosecutor can also decide whether the defendant can serve in prison. Funding would ensure that the 43 states can comfortably provide the defenders with the necessary defense team reducing the possibility of wrongful imprisonment. A comprehensive guide on how judges can hand down sentences per evidence and law instead of perceptions ensures justice irrespective of color.
Economically, there is a need to curb unemployment, which correlates with re-imprisonment. The social setups within society make integration of former offenders costly, making it difficult to seek employment. Black people are four times more likely to be unemployed than whites, with the percentage worsening with a criminal record with cities like Milwaukee having the highest incarceration records countrywide (Gayle, 2019). For most ex-offenders, securing a job after incarceration is a process subjected to racism and stigmatization of perception that behaviors have not changed. Moreover, Gayle (2019) asserts that for 40% who are lucky enough to be employed, their wages are likely to fall by 15%, which is unlikely to increase employers. With such, it makes it easy for ex-offenders to commit a crime and go back to prison. Such facts are because even after incarceration, the re-entry of former inmates into society becomes a challenging venture that sees many of them discriminated against while seeking employment, housing, and community association. When integration with society becomes a challenge, it becomes relatively easy to fall back to crime.
In fostering the spirit of belonging, we should be at the forefront of assimilating ex-convicts back to society to minimize stigmatization. Although learning at Saint Leo is of optimal value, how we live with others determines who we are. People who commit minor crimes can change their ways through programs that encourage a change of behavior. Therefore, making people feel less of themselves create psychological strains that impact the ability to adapt to the outside world. Stigmatization increases marginalization chances even though some of the crimes are committed at an earlier development stage. As such, given the history of offenders and offenses, we should use the education acquired to help rehabilitate individuals who have served their time back to society.
Indeed, we should advocate for reforms that promote equality and justice for all, which protects our individual integrity. According to Schumake (2019), mass incarceration deters society's growth, especially for inmates with low crimes and with changed prison behavior. For instance, voting reforms that are inclusive of all people regardless of incarceration status should be enacted. For instance, in places like Wisconsin, the system does not allow anyone incarcerated to cast a ballot or those who are in supervision. Every four years, the election commission deactivates the registration of persons who have not voted (Schumake, 2019). The prison system, mostly occupied by blacks, limits the ability to vote for those who might best represent their interests. The right to vote should prevail regardless of social status in society. Taking away both freedom and the right to express the choice for leader’s limits the possibility that once one is released, they will feel the leaders do not present their interests.
Finally, advocating for minimum wage for ex-offenders ensure that with prison record or not, they continue with their quest for personal development. Moynihan's work on introducing a minimum wage for the minority is an idea that congress should consider implementing. The fight against mass incarceration in America should not ignore the positive correlation between poverty and crime. Hence, even after imprisonment, it is ideal to think of people's goals before they committed a crime. Therefore, the minimum amount that they earn should not be discriminatory due to past criminal records. Hence, the move would go a long way in minimizing the difficulties of securing work and the pay cuts resulting from ex- convict's criminal records.
In conclusion, correction facilities are integral institutions to the functionality of society. However, with undeniable gaps in the justice system that results in racial profiling and imprisonment for non-serious crimes, it leaves mass imprisonment in the system, which contributes to large prison numbers. Accordingly, the lack of lenient sentencing creates overcrowding and monetary strain on the facilities' capabilities to cater to individuals with mental problems. However, through realistic and sentencing in non-violent and non-serious crimes, the justice system can reduce the imprisonment period. Thus, with high chances of re-imprisonment for ex-convicts, employment opportunities would help them go on with their lives after release. Also, an increase in funding could improve equipping personnel with skills to handle inmates with mental problems and resourceful operations. Additionally, as we incorporate the community and personal development values, advocating for reforms, reducing stigmatization that affects ex-offenders' ability to survive in the real world is essential. Reforms must be enacted to ensure that the affordability of a public defender or perception of the judge does not mean a longer prison sentence.
References
Bruce, W. (2013). "Locked up, locked out: the social costs of incarceration." The reason, vol. 43, no. 3, July 2011, p. 40+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.db19.linccweb.org/apps/doc/A257764746/OVIC?u=lincclin_pbcc&sid=OVIC&xid=9d4acb2a. Accessed 6 May 2020.
Cole, F.G., Smith, C., & Dejong, C. (2019). The American system of Criminal Justice . Boston: Cengage.
Gayle, C. (2019) “Inside the ‘Most Incarcerated’ Zip Code in the Country.” The New Republic, newrepublic.com/article/155241/inside-most-incarcerated-zip-code-country.
Schumake, B. (2019). Urban Research and Resource Center: The Year of Criminal Justice Reform. Reducing Mass Incarceration
Verbruggen, R. (2017) "The hidden realities of U.S. incarceration." The American Conservative, vol. 16, no. 3, May-June, 2017, p. 50+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.db19.linccweb.org/apps/doc/A490821859/OVIC?u=lincclin_pbcc&sid=OVIC&xid=3c95ddb5. Accessed 6 May 2020.
Willis, A. K., & Zaitzow, B. H. (2015). Doing “life”: A glimpse into the long-term incarceration experience. Laws , 4 (3), 559-578.
