The Future of Corrections, Essay Example

The rate of incarceration is highest in the United States relative to any other country globally. The population in jails as well as prisons has continued to increase in the past years which have been consequential to overcrowding in the correction facilities and consequently an upsurge of the state budget to cater for the convicts. United States has enacted policies that are “Tough on crime” which has led to the proliferation of ex-prisoners who are restricted from re-joining the society and engage in productive practices.

There have however occurred significant changes in correctional facilities in the United States over the past five decades. One important indication of changes is the enactment of “Prison Rape Elimination Act” of 2003 (Wendy, 2010).  Through the Act, sexual assaults have been drastically reduced in correction facilities and in the situation that an inmate is assaulted at the time of incarceration, then the officials in these facilities takes the responsibilities of treating the victim. It is however unfortunate that the legislation has not been effectively implemented due to financial factors but it has contributed significantly in improving the conditions in these institutions.

Convicts are also protected from potential physical, mental as well as emotional injuries as a result of being subjected to unusually cruel and brutal punishments among other illegitimate conducts. The future of correction facilities is anticipated to make use of programs that are intended at educating, motivating and training potential offenders so that they can become more productive members of the society after their rehabilitation. Therefore the U.S. correction facilities will be institutions responsible for fixing crime issues rather than perpetuating them

Reference

Wendy, N. D., (2010). “Unlocking the Lawsuit”.  The American Bar Association.