Overcrowded Prisons Essay, Research Paper
Many prisons throughout the United States have been experiencing the problem of overcrowdedness. This is not a new issue though, in April of 1978 New York State was already feeling the affect of crowded prisons. In an attempt to alleviate the problem the state tried to buy Richers Island from New York City. Since then a rise in population and in poverty have increased the problem and the government has been think of solutions ever since. The main problem was coming up with programs that kept criminals off the streets without overpopulating the prisons. One example of how the government tried to make the streets safer was by imposing mandatory minimum sentences. They were designed to put people behind bars that until then were being released with nothing more than a slap on the wrist. The problem began when they realized that although less criminals were on the streets there were also more in prison which took up space for new prisoners, who in some cases should be there before the ones that were already inhabiting the jail. There have been many new experimental programs in which the government is trying to keep the prison population down. Some of these have proved to be very successful while others have failed. Although not everybody agrees on what the solution they do agree that something has to be changed.
Although many agree that mandatory minimum sentences are out dated and should not be imposed any longer, there are those who approve and support them. Those in favor of them have two strong reasons for there beliefs. First, they believe that the sentences act as a deterrent to possible criminals. The sentences are especially aimed at drug related crimes. The idea was to deter people, especially teens, from looking to make some money in the drug business by weighing it against the jail time they would receive if the were caught. This also directly makes the streets safer by scaring people away from a life of crime. Another argument people have in favor of the sentencing is it speeds up the legal process. Because many of the crimes are misdemeanors, there are no criminal trials. Therefore, when a person is convicted they go straight to jail without having to wait for a sentencing date. Also, with mandatory minimum sentencing there is no chance of a plea bargain.
The argument against mandatory minimum sentencing is , however, as strong as the argument against them. The main reason against this type of sentencing is what I spoke of in the introduction, overcrowded prisons. In a time when overcrowding in becoming a very major problem in prisons things like mandatory minimums only add to the problem. Judges are forced to put certain people away for a set amount of time regardless of there past record. In theory, a person who is a first time drug offender at the age of eighteen could serve more time than a thirty year old child molester.
However this issue is not just cut and dry. There is a medium somewhere in between where an agreement can be made. Even the people who agree that the mandatory sentences should be imposed also believe that they should also be controlled somehow. And that goes the other way too, the people who don t agree with them do agree that criminals should not just be let free. The crime that is on the rise the most lately does not have a mandatory minimum sentence. This crime is related to all sex crimes. Many people believe that as society changes the laws that govern it should change with it. It is ridiculous to me that a child molester should not serve three times what a drug offender should serve. Although drugs in our society are a big problem the is no reason why someone who sold pot in their life once and got caught should take up cell space instead of a molester.
Of course, there are alternatives to incarceration altogether. One of these programs is Shock treatment. Shock was designed for young people who were first time drug offenders. It is now open to any health, first time offender of a misdemeanor, that is no older than thirty eight years old. In order to receive Shock you must get a recommendation from the court and then put in an application yourself. The application is then reviewed and can either pass or be denied in which case you must serve you full sentence. If accepted you go through a six month program of physical and mental training. It is a camp which is designed after a military boot camp. While there you are allowed to pursue your G.E.D. and learn a trade so you are an asset to society when, and if you graduate. An average day at one of the Shock centers in New York starts off with morning physical training. Then you have class to receive your degree. After that you then attend drug and alcohol awareness classes. You then move to another physical training session. The program is designed to build self-discipline along with self-esteem. I personally know someone in Shock right now. He went to high school with me and like many kids from my area turned to drugs. Now he realizes what he did and plans on starting fresh in a new city when he is released in January. Once you are released you stay on probation for the remainder of your sentence. For example, if you are sentenced to three years in state prison but receive Shock, the you serve your six months and the you are on parole for two and a half years. If at any time you violate your parole you are back in jail to serve your full sentence. Also, if you are dismissed from the camp for bad behavior you go straight to a cell to serve your time.
Другие работы по теме:
Mental Illness Essay Research Paper Eng 201Essay
Mental Illness Essay, Research Paper Eng. 201 Essay #1 Persuasive Essay Wisconsin has a problem on its hands and it is not being dealt with in the right manner. The problem keeps getting bigger and bigger everyday. Instead of giving treatment to the mentally ill, hospital facilities have pushed thousands of mentally ill people on to the street.
Angola Essay Research Paper I feel that
Angola Essay, Research Paper I feel that Angola prison system is a very effective correction system. The video demonstrated how the system has different setups to keep the prisoners working to keep them out of trouble. Although Angola is a rough maximum-security system, it seems to have great control over the inmates.
Capital Punishment 6 Essay Research Paper CAPITAL
Capital Punishment 6 Essay, Research Paper CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCapital Punishment or Life Imprisonment? I think that capital punishment should be use more often than just life imprisonment. Life imprisonment is just not working. The death penalty does have some cons but it has its share of pros too. Lets start with the pros.
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper I am
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper I am all for Capital Punishment. I think that if you kill someone you should be given the death penalty. I think that the death of the killer would give family and friends a bit of ease
Mentally Ill In Jail Essay Research Paper
Mentally ill in jail The articles inform that more mentally ill people are in jail than in hospitals. According to statistics 159,000 of mentally ill are presently incarcerated in jails and prisons, mostly of crimes committed because they were not being treated. Some of them become violent and may terrorize their families and neighborhoods.
Prisons Don
’t Work Essay, Research Paper Prison’s Don’t Work In our society, the dual purpose of imprisonment is punishment and/or rehabilitation. Throughout the states, there is an increased prison population. For example, more than 40 states’ prison systems are under court orders to rectify overcrowding. Some prisons have what is called a “zero sum” status.
American Prisons Essay Research Paper The
American Prisons Essay, Research Paper The “Invisible” Problems of Racism The problem with racism is that many people don’t think it is. Many live their lives not even realizing what is happening the world around them. “Racism, here, nah.” Others know all about it, but they don’t realize that they themselves, yes, themselves, are racists. “Huh, I’m not racist.
Illegal Drugs Essay Research Paper Goals 2
Illegal Drugs Essay, Research Paper Goals – In order to solve the problem of drugs in this country, supporters want to inplement programs by stepping up enforcement of already existing drug laws and enforcing new ones. The war on drugs, should eventually become a responsibility shared by the federal, state, and local governments, along with every citizen of this country.
Controlling Immigration Essay Research Paper With the
Controlling Immigration Essay, Research Paper With the many different groups of people coming to this country in search of a better life. I believe that we should better control Immigration to the U.S.. Since I am born native to the U.S. it is hard for me to say that others are not allowed to come into the U.S. But throughout this report there is evidence why control of immigration is needed.
To Kill A Killer Essay Research Paper
TO KILL A KILLER A few of my friends and I once saw a bumper sticker that questioned, “Why do we kill people who kill people, to show that killing people is wrong?” Suddenly there
Incarceration Of Men Women And Juveniles Essay
, Research Paper Prison populations have been on the raise since the early 1970s. Today we incarcerate over 2 million men, women and juveniles in the various correctional facilities around the country. These facilities can range from local jails or detention facilities to the new so called “Supermax” prisons.
Weed Essay Research Paper The Marijuana Reform
Weed Essay, Research Paper The Marijuana Reform Party believes: That adults who choose to use marijuana in the privacy of their own homes should not be subject to civil or criminal sanctions.
Crime And Punishment Essay Research Paper Crime
Crime And Punishment Essay, Research Paper Crime and Punishment Our topic for this paper is Crime and Punishment. There are several different issues on this subject. We chose three main points
Why The Electric Chair Is A Fair
Punishment Essay, Research Paper This topic is a very controversial one. The paper you are about to read could cause intense arguments between some groups of people. All that doesn?t matter to me because when you finish reading this, you will agree with me if you don?t already.
Ideologies Essay Research Paper IdeologiesAn ideology is
Ideologies Essay, Research Paper Ideologies An ideology is a set of ideas connected together that explain how government and society should be organized and what set of values the society should embrace. The concept of an ideology is a very slippery topic in that people range in the level or degree of their feelings.
Proposal To Cut Prison Funding Essay Research
Paper Dear House of Representatives, It has recently been brought to my attention that many citizens of the United States have been greatly concerned about the criminal justice system. These citizens are concerned that funding for federal prisons is taking away from the funding of schools and education for their children.
Mandatory Sentencing Essay Research Paper In recent
Mandatory Sentencing Essay, Research Paper In recent years several mandatory sentencing laws have been put into motion. The original goals of the mandatory sentencing laws were to stop repeat offenders and to exhibit a “get tough attitude” on crime. These laws have not been working as intended, instead mandatory sentencing has led to some unfortunate consequences.
Plato Essay Research Paper Laura HarringtonENRU1100Instructor Rob
Plato Essay, Research Paper Laura Harrington ENRU1100 Instructor: Rob Jacobsen November 17, 2000 The Controversy of Capital Punishment(Revision) In my opinion, capital punishment is a controversial issue. This topic is constantly being debated. Some people believe that capital punishment is beneficial to society while others posit that it is detrimental to society.
Drug Use Essay Research Paper Drug abuse
Drug Use Essay, Research Paper Drug abuse takes a toll on society that can only be partially measured. While we are able to estimate the number of drug-related crimes that occur each year, we can never determine fully the extent to which the quality of life in America’s neighborhoods has been diminished by drug-related criminal behavior.
To Pay Or Not To Pay Essay
, Research Paper To Pay or Not to Pay June Stephenson?s passage is about how men commit the most crime in America and women are still expected to pay their unfair share for male pursuit. June suggests that since men outnumber women ninety-four to six men should pay one hundred dollars more in their IRS returns.
Rehabilitaitng Prisons Essay Research Paper Rehabilitating PrisonsTo
Rehabilitaitng Prisons Essay, Research Paper Rehabilitating Prisons To help the prisoners in american prisons the government should establish a more rehabilitating punishments as to giving loneger harsher time. Now some people say if they did the crime they should pay the time and then some. But, wait they are not thinking about the prisoners.
The Death Penalty. Right Or Wrong
Essay, Research Paper The Death Penalty. Right? Or Wrong? Capital punishment, or better known as the death penalty, is a very controversial issue in the United States today. The death penalty has been viewed by many people as wrong, while still other people see the death penalty to be acceptable in today s society.
Mt Olive Prison Essay Research Paper Mt
Mt. Olive Prison Essay, Research Paper Mt. OliveThe trip to the Mt. Olive State Prison was an experience that I will never forget. I had never thought of all the little things they do to keep the prison safe and under control. From the very start of the tour I thought to myself, “Why does it matter if we have more than one key, or earrings, or any other kind of jewelry.
What Is The Best Alternative To Prison
? Essay, Research Paper ?The U.S. prison population has tripled since 1980 so that on any given day there are 1.5 million Americans behind bars.? (Alternatives 1). There is a clear overcrowding problem in todays prisons. Why? I believe that the population explosion in the prison system is due to the increasing moral decline of America.
Overcrowding Of Prisons Essay Research Paper One
Overcrowding Of Prisons Essay, Research Paper One of America’s biggest problems today is the overcrowding of prisons. This began when the population of inmates started to soar in the 1980’s. With the increase of rapist, murderers, and drug dealers skyrocketing, there is no reason to this overpopulation.
Prop 21 Essay Research Paper Prop 21Education
Prop 21 Essay, Research Paper Prop 21 Education is the best part of life. Education can evolve you into a better person. Education can prevent you from committing crimes and will lead you to a prosperous life. Proposition 21; The Gang Violence and Juvenile Crime Prevention Act aims to incarcerate disturbed youth rather then educate them.
Capital Punishment Essay Research Paper Capital PunishmentI
Capital Punishment Essay, Research Paper Capital Punishment I believe that capital punishment should not only be enforced but it should be stepped up and more widely practiced. Too many bad people are filling the prisons, wasting taxpayer?s money; the situation is only getting worse. The criminals in today?s prisons aren?t being rehabilitated or made to feel sorry for their wrongs, they are trained to be better criminals.
Why It Should Be Legal Essay Research
Paper Why Marijuana Should be Legal For my final paper I am going to do it on why marijuana should be legal. I will provide factual information that will prove that there are more reasons that it should be legal than illegal. Using studies done by doctors and scientist that prove that it is used to cure many illnesses and medical conditions.
Prisons Vs Resorts Essay Research Paper Prisons
Prisons Vs. Resorts Essay, Research Paper Prisons vs. resorts Imagine, you re sitting in a courtroom, where a murder trial has just taken place. The Judge says John Doe, you have been found guilty of murdering John Smith and Lisa Franks. Now comes the sentence. I hereby sentence you to 4 years at the Utah County Resort.
Legalize Marijuana Essay Research Paper Legalize marijuanaFor
Legalize Marijuana Essay, Research Paper Legalize marijuana For the past 30 years there has been an issue throughout the United States on whether marijuana should be legalized. Supporters believe marijuana legalization would decrease drug-related crime while also posing a new drug for medicinal purposes.