The Psychological Impact of Incarceration, Annotated Bibliography Example

Haney, C. (2003). The Psychological Impact of Incarceration: Implications for Post-Prison Adjustment. Prisoners once Removed: The Impact of Incarceration and Reentry on Families, Children, and Society, 33, 66

The process of “prisonization” has become intense and prolonged, and prisoners are forced to adjust to harsh policies, confinement, and denial to rehabilitation, prisons isolation, and minimal prison visits as an incarceration goal, according to Haney (2003). Haney (2003) observes that prisoners are subjected to harsh conditions and limited resources; their safeties are jeopardized and provided with less meaningful programs. Such detrimental conditions predispose individuals to long-term dysfunction and psychological distress. Haney (2003) notes that offenders will return to disadvantaged communities lacking resources and social services. This article, therefore, adds to the negative implications of incarceration by examining the prison risk factors causing psychological distress and what awaits the prisoners once they are set free.

Lewis, N., & Lockwood, B. (2019). The Hidden Cost of Incarceration. The Marshall Project

Incarceration is expensive and costs the taxpayer 80 Billion dollars to sustain 2.3 Million prisoners a year, according to Lewis and Beatrix (2019). There are other hidden costs that families and prisoners incur, such as making prison visits and sending packages, spending huge amounts of money for personal hygiene necessities, healthcare, food, clothing, and staying connected with their incarcerated persons, as noted by Lewis and Beatrix (2019). This information gives insight into the research question by highlighting the financial burden incurred by prisoners and their families, signaling economic hardships, which is a negative impact of incarceration. The cost also translates to a heavy burden to the taxpayers to sustain the huge number of prisoners.

Martin, E. (2017). aHidden Consequences: The Impact of Incarceration on Dependent Children. National Institute of Justice, 278, 2-7

According to Martin (2017), dependent children whose parents face incarceration have a high risk of facing difficulties and challenges such as psychological strains, economic hardships, delinquency, antisocial behavior, a disrupted education, and may engage in criminal activities. This may create a cycle of intergenerational criminal records, and according to Martin (2017), incarcerated parents’ children are up to six times more likely to be imprisoned. This article indicates that incarceration, especially for parents, causes distress to their children and increases the crime magnitude, bringing forth negative implications.

Morenoff, J. D., & Harding, D. J. (2014). Incarceration, Prisoner Reentry, and Communities. Annual review of sociology, 40, 411-429

According to Morenoff & Harding (2014), most of the incarcerated individuals come from poor social backgrounds with fewer or no education opportunities. Prisoners’ release adds to community burdens and increases competition for scarce resources and criminal opportunities, further accelerating crime. Released prisoners are educationally and economically disadvantaged, and incarceration further widens the economic and social inequality gaps, as observed by Morenoff & Harding (2014). The fact that they have felony records also minimizes their chances of securing formal employment; they cannot enjoy public services and are restricted from voting. This article widens the scope of the negative implications of incarceration and brings out a unique idea of social-economic inequalities and further deterioration of the status of disadvantaged groups.

Stemen, D. (2017). The Prison Paradox: More Incarceration will not make us Safer. Vera Justice Institute

States and communities with high incarceration rates have reported increased crime, according to Stemen (2017), after they have reached the “tipping point.” Stemen also terms incarceration as “criminogenic,” and prisoners may learn new criminal tactics and networks while in prisons. Most of such individuals care less about going back to prison because the fear of the unknown diminishes, and they are highly likely to commit the crime in the future. This answers the research question by providing more negative impacts of incarceration. Instead of deterring crime, incarceration seems to add to the problem, and therefore the society is at risk because public safety is compromised.

Travis, J., Western, B., & Redburn, F. S. (2014). The Growth of Incarceration in the United States: Exploring Causes and Consequences

Increased incarcerations cause overcrowding in prisons. According to Travis et al. (2014), prison conditions are harmful to prisoners and, in most cases, reduce the chances of living a normal life even after release. Lack of privacy, restricted movement, and lack of resources are perfect examples of emotional and psychological distresses that incarcerated individuals encounter and may lead to mental illnesses like depression, as noted by Travis et al. (2014). They are also prone to infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B and STDs. If such cases are not addressed, Travis et al. (2014) observe that individuals are likely to slide to substance abuse and suicide. Incarceration, therefore, is detrimental to prisoners’ psychological and mental health and the negative impacts extend to the after-prison life, which is very damaging.

References

Haney, C. (2003). The Psychological Impact of Incarceration: Implications for Post-Prison Adjustment. Prisoners once removed: The impact of incarceration and reentry on children, families, and communities, 33, 66.

Lewis, N., & Lockwood, B. (2019). The Hidden Cost of Incarceration. The Marshall Project.

Martin, E. (2017). Hidden consequences: The Impact of Incarceration on Dependent Children. National Institute of Justice, 278, 2-7.

Morenoff, J. D., & Harding, D. J. (2014). Incarceration, Prisoner Reentry, and Communities. Annual review of sociology, 40, 411-429.

Stemen, D. (2017). The Prison Paradox: More Incarceration will not make us Safer. Vera Justice Institute.

Travis, J., Western, B., & Redburn, F. S. (2014). The Growth of Incarceration in the United States: Exploring Causes and Consequences.