Mass Incarceration, Literature Review Example

Introduction

A tremendous growth gas been witnessed in the penal population in America in the recent past. Imprisonment rates have also grown fourfold relative to the documented historic average. The most unfortunate scenario is preferential treatment with disadvantaged populations being the majority of the victims of incarceration. The greater number of incarcerated individuals is young male of African American origin, most of who have dropped out of schools. This has resulted to an extraordinary trend which can only de best described by the term “mass incarceration” (John, 2011).

John, (2011) has revealed that, the population of incarcerated individuals has undergone incredible expansion, a fact that is attributed to popular opinion which is associated with the majority of the citizens coupled with the transformations in the public policy (John, 2011). The systems of criminal justice have been associated with unfavorably pushing most of the impoverished as well as disadvantaged people in the underclass from the remunerative engagements in as far as the labor markets are concerned.

Massive incarcerations are also linked to limiting the opportunities for joining available programs of job training. It is also important to consider offering opportunities to the already incarcerated individuals so as to minimize the chances of going back to the same prisons after they have been released. The authority has the responsibility of providing for work readiness programs to the prisoners in anticipation of reforming them and preparing them for gainful employment at the time that they are released.

Available literature

Offering reentry programs was quoted by Clear, Todd R. et al, (2003) as being an imperative component in the course of a successful reentry (Clear, Todd R. et al, 2003). an epidemic of mass incarceration has got negative implications to all members of a community including the people who have never been to a prison (Robert, 2011). If for instance a child is incarcerated at early stages in life, opportunities of attending a school are curtailed. Such a situation predisposes the individual to a future life of crime and the chances of going back to prison are magnified

Durose & Christopher, (2004) suggests that, most men are usually marginalized through incarceration and this is a situation that has some negative implications to a sociological ecosystem in a community. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, (2010), such actions of incarceration deny the victims vital chances of engaging in economic activities leading to a crumbling economy. After the release of these people from prison, they go back to their communities with little or no training or education (Pew Charitable Trusts, 2010).

Mass incarceration is an action that has been disputed by majority of people with the assertions that discrimination is a key component that has been associated with the high levels of incarceration. Majority of the people in prisons are the African Americans who have been denied opportunities of education of job training.

Pew Charitable Trusts, (2010) advocates for a heightened attention on the eradication of mass incarceration. According to the authors however, eradication of mass incarceration must have a replacement and much focus has been given to programs of parole and probation which are accompanied by training programs. However, this development is hampered by many challenges which are attributed to limitation of resources to fund the programs.

Pew Charitable Trusts, (2010) has also suggested that, the system of criminal justice has been a victim of dilapidation due to its inability in the production of fruitful results and there are needs for voices of addressing the much needed transformation in the system. Punishment of offenders by locking them in the prisons has played insignificant role in their rehabilitation. Education and job related training programs have been suggested as important components of the criminal justice system if effective rehabilitation of offenders is to be achieved.

Available statistics as shown by Durose & Christopher, (2004) indicate that, the prison population has recently escalated to 500% as a result of mass incarceration which translates to about 2.3 million Americans under incarceration (Durose & Christopher, 2004) Majority of the people incarcerated are the youth who have the needed potentials to be trained and engaged in meaningful economic activities. This is a situation that has been as pathetic to the economy of the country. The practices of mass incarceration disproportionately target the low income cadre ion the society. Residents in these communities are commonly arrested and jailed for offences similar to the ones punishable by programs of treatment, probation and at times warnings for offenders of more affluent communities.

John, (2011) also argues that, majority of the victims of conviction from poor communities are involved in nonviolent criminal acts such as drug abuses are actions attributed to mental illnesses. Involvement of offenders in job training and education programs is associated with appreciable merits (John, 2011). Such people are accorded an opportunity for reformation and becoming transformed to productive members of the community. Depriving these people such opportunities is a recipe for lost potentials in earnings, human as well as social capital which is attributable to mass incarceration that in most cases is directed to the black communities. The end result is an economic loss and underutilization of potential economic development that deteriorates the political economy that has already been plunged in de-industrialization as well as capital flight. Upon their release from prison with little or no education and work readiness, they contribute to high levels of crime, poverty as well as despair that are likely to contribute to their return to prison.

According to Pew Charitable Trusts, (2010), spending to fund prisons continues to escalate and this has a direct relationship to the decline development if funding of constructive social facilities in areas that can curtail criminal behavior including job training, education as well as child care. Pew Charitable Trusts, (2010) notes a high increase of public investment in as far as incarceration is concerned. Most states have had a high budget of young adults’ incarceration in contrast to spending appreciable amounts in the education o college age population. There has been an increase in the costs of sustaining correctional facilities at the expense of initiating programs of work related trainings and education of young people (Pew Charitable Trusts, 2010). This has been consequential to the creation of imperative opportunity costs that are consequential to a progression of vicious as well as self-fulfilling cycle allied to unconstructive public investment.

It has been argued that, great reforms are needed in the prison as well as the entire criminal justice system. The offenders must be treated in a humane as well as a rehabilitative manner which is likely to benefit the entire society. According to Robert, (2011), investing in programs of training on job related skills for incarcerated individuals is a positive step towards the reduction of mass incarceration. Education programs should be expanded to accommodate the needs of prisoners so as to make them productive members of the society when they leave prison. Prisoners should also be accorded comfortable access to members of their families as well as friends at the time that they serve their prison terms. The programs provided in the prison should also incorporate treatments for substance abuse and related mental problems.

Durose & Christopher, (2004) argues that, the authority must consider the abolition of solitary confinement of the offenders, unreasonably extended sentences, treatment of the juveniles in a similar manner to adults as well as eradication of death penalty. On the contrary, such treatments should be replaced by vocational training which can positively transform the offenders in the course of their rehabilitation and consequently minimize mass incarceration in the future. The office of the Public Defender must be funded in equal capacity as the office of the District Attorney. The privately operated prisons and their services must also be terminated.

In the process of justice deliver, it is important to have a balanced perception of people irrespective of their race or color. John, I., (2011) argues that, the problems associated with the urban poor population must be embraced in a humane and passionate approach. All people who have been released from prison must be given an equal opportunity for a living wage employment coupled with some training. Employment barriers should be eradicated and this should also apply to access to the education facilities, rights to vote, trade licenses as well as public benefits for the individual having criminal records.

References

Clear, Todd R. et al, (2003). “Coercive Mobility and Crime: A Preliminary Examination of Concentrated Incarceration and Social Disorganization,” Justice Quarterly, Vol. 1, No. 1.

Durose, M. R. & Christopher, J. M., (2004). “Profile of Nonviolent Offenders Exiting State Prison,” NCJ Fact Sheet.

John, I., (2011). The Dark Knight’s War on Terrorism, 9 Ohio St. J. Crim. L. 209

Robert, E. F., (2011). Mass Incarceration in United States & HIV/AIDS: Cause & Effect? 9 Ohio St. J. Crim. L. 353

Pew Charitable Trusts, (2010). “Prison Count 2010: State Population Declines for the First Time in 38 Years,” Pew Center on the States.