Prison Life and Strategies to Decrease Recidivism

Prison Life and Strategies to Decrease Recidivism

The prison system of the 21st century could be considered a resort compared to those in the 1850s. Debtor's prison, as they were referred, imprisoned people for nonpayment of debts, minor misdemeanants, felony crimes and being a juvenile delinquent. Jails were not segregated between men and women, crime, age, or mental stability. They were dark, dirty, and crowded.

It was not until the late 18th century that prisons were used for criminals. The initial purpose was to house debtors. Individuals who could not pay his or her creditors were locked up along with their entire family. These prisons also housed criminals waiting execution or transport to another facility.

Prison took a dramatic turn in early 1860 and committing a crime came with advantages. Food was excellent, rooms had soft beds and ventilation, inmates received weekly baths, daily exercise, and he or she were given an education. Free education came with books that could be used and traded with other inmates. It became almost impossible to release anyone because the conditions were so favorable and if released it was apparent they would return soon.

Prisons today are segregated between men and women, adults and juveniles, minimum and maximum security levels, and those with mental challenges. Prisons are overcrowded and at the end of 2009 state and federal prisons housed 1,613740 inmates. Courts today do not order an execution or harsh treatment because someone stole a load of bread.

The purpose of the American prison system has been debated in classrooms, by government officials, legislators, and taxpaying citizens. Every American has his or her philosophy of how criminals should be treated either through incarceration or rehabilitation. Some contend that prisons are for society's protection, if segregated from society he or she cannot commit another crime. In order for segregation to work then criminals need to be taken out of society for the rest of his or her life. Others consider prison as his or her punishment and paying off the debt to society. In reality society is not receiving any benefit of a person's incarceration; taxpayers are paying for everything he or she has in prison. Then there are those that believe prison can rehabilitate an individual.

Correctional facilities were initially designed to carry-out sentences ordered by the court system. However, it has been recognized that the mission and responsibility of the correctional institution is much broader. Society is protected from an offender while in custody with his or her movements are monitored through surveillance and controlled movement. Inmates can also have access to treatments for an addiction, education, and other rehabilitation services. "The sentencing goals of corrections are: punishment, deterrence, incapacitation, rehabilitation, and restitution" (Seiter, 2008).

Punishment can be the deterrence necessary for future criminal activity. When a punishment is carried out it is conducive to the crime not a person's circumstances or needs. The premise of punishment is to look forward to correcting current and future actions as opposed to looking back at the failures.

Deterrence through the correctional system focuses on avoiding future criminal activity. The consequences of continued criminal activity will not overshadow the punishment (Seiter, 2008). The third strike law is an example of deterrence, a criminal may do time for his or her crime, but it is a fraction of the entire sentence. However, if after two attempts the criminal activity continues he or she is sentenced to the maximum amount of time.

Incapacitation reduces the ability of an offender to commit additional crimes. This is done through incarceration; society believes they are protected from this offender committing additional criminals acts (Seiter, 2008).

The correctional systems goal is to transform offenders into law abiding citizens through rehabilitation. Individuals are afforded tools to avoid criminal activity along with the knowledge of the consequences for additional criminal acts. Restitution is a form of rehabilitation; it is structured as repayment to victims for wrongs committed. Restitution can be money, time, or property, whichever society, or the victim seeks from the court (Seiter, 2008).

In a jointly authored report by Dr. Bruce Western and Dr. Becky Pettis by the Economic Mobility Project and the Public Safety Performance Project of The Pew Charitable Trusts, "Over the past 30 years, the United States has experienced explosive growth in its incarcerated population. In 2008, the pew center on the states stated that one of every 100 adult's is behind bars in America (Western & Pettit, 2010).

Between 1925 (prison statistics were not previously recorded) and 1972, prisoner population increased from 85,239 to 174,379. Because of tougher sentences, release laws, and decisions made by parole boards there was another significant inmate population growth in 1973.

The laws in place, which were designed to send more criminals to prison or jail and make sure they do as much time as possible.

The United States prisons population is approximately 88% male, 64% of those inmates are nonwhite, 61% are under 35, and 86% have a high school education or less. Forty six percent were nonviolent repeat offenders and 41% had a prior or current violent offense. Seventy three percent had been on probation in jail, or prison. Drug use offender's account for 82% of the population that includes those that previous sought help in a substance abuse facility. Those with impaired decision making abilities because of alcohol account for 33% of crimes. Low income or individuals who earn less than $12,000 a year make up 59% of the prison population (Seiter, 2008).

Jails and prisons strive to protect those in their custody but there are times a death can occur. There were 1,103 in-custody deaths in 2007 that was a significant increase from the 905deaths in 2000. Over half of the deaths of inmates in custody were from illness that included AIDS. Natural causes like heart disease accounted for 42% of inmate deaths. However during 2000 to 2007 suicides accounted for 29% of inmate deaths making that the leading cause of deaths. Jails housing 50 or less inmates saw 169 deaths per 100,000 inmates; however, prisons experienced a suicide rate of 27 per 100,000 inmates. Differences with age, sex, race, and Hispanic origin revealed that suicide was higher in jails than in the prison system (Noonam, 2010).

According to a survey conducted by pew center on the states 45.5% of inmates released from prison in 1999 re-offended, and 43.3% of inmates released in 2004 were re-incarcerated within three