In the next few chapters of Going Up the River, Hallinan talks about family visitation programs, profits made by the prisons, and the ongoing competition between huge corporations in the prison marketplace. The first story that struck me was that of Grady Mitchell, an inmate serving life without parole at Washington State Reformatory. Hallinan speaks to Grady about his visitations with his family at the prison. Grady gets to spend two weekends a month with his wife and children and tells of how little things like helping his son make flash cards for a school report are the things that mean the most to him. Grady holds a steady job making jackets and other garments for the Eddie Bauer company, and states that he earned approximately $5,000
In this situation, social structure is the most logical explanation for the behavior of the inmates and the remaining criminal behavior. It is believed many of the individuals had hard struggles before entering the prison, hence the need to rely on gang interactions. The Pelican Bay State Prison was an environment to prove yourself to other gang members and represent the gang. You had to acquire strength, determination, and overall a violent nature. Many fights broke out in that prison, and most prisoners left with more strength and potential to continue in gang violence upon release from the prison.
Prisons are consistently overflowing with repeat offenders and minor criminals. In addition to repeat offenders and perpetrators of minor crimes clogging up the system, the cost of keeping a prisoner is astronomical compared to the author’s suggested form of punishment. However, I do see the need for prisons, or someplace comparable, to keep the most violent criminals out of society. I believe Moskos should have stated hard facts regarding the ineffectiveness of prisons and given pertinent details about the productive use of corporal punishment. I’m not sure there are any “appropriate” forms of punishment.
One in every 100 adults in the United States is incarcerated according to the PCS. The Pew Center on the States (PCS) conducts credible research and analyzes states’ experiences to determine what works and what does not work. Overcrowding has been a problem in the United States for many years. The government has tried different ways to fix it, but it has steadily gotten worse. Overcrowding has become a major issue in the United States mainly because nonviolent drug addicted offenders are repeating behaviors and ending up in jail.
Case Situation (important facts): • New Jersey senator Robert G. Torricelli ran for reelection in 2002 raising more than 2.9 million dollars in campaign funds. • Abruptly quit the race because of “ethical misconduct” Then later was stated “he accepted campaign gifts from a contributor. • Two months after quitting the race he found a lobbying practice called Rosemont Associates that had clients in Taiwan, Puerto Rico, and the United States. • Torricelli gave $10,000 to Illinois Governor and more than $40,000 to a Nevada Democratic party which all linked to the Senate leader Harry Reid. All these politicians had one thing in common which was they all had some influence over Torricelli or his clients business interests.
Prison Life and Strategies to Reduce Recidivism Student’s name: Institution: Prison Life and Strategies to Reduce Recidivism Introduction All societies in the world acknowledge the fundamental role that prisons and jails play in ensuring that law breakers receive the punishment they deserve. At the same time, prisons offer the offenders an opportunity to reform and become better people in the society. In the United States, an estimated two million inmates are housed in jails and prisons of the country. Statistics indicate that a large percentage of these prisoners is comprised of people who have been imprisoned in the past, as well as, those who have not been inmates in the past. The issue of prison conditions and the impacts they have on the future lives of inmates has attracted significant interest in the American society.
“Private Prison Experiment: A Private Sector Solution to Prison Overcrowding.” North Carolina Law Review, 1998. “The United States Department of Justice has determined that in order to manage periodic maintenance as well as to provide special housing for protective custody, disciplinary cases, and emergency needs, a prison should maintain reserve capacity. In 1996, however, a report issued by the Department of Justice revealed that on average, state prisons were operating at 116 percent of capacity, and federal prisons were operating at 125 percent of capacity. As a result of prison overpopulation and declining funds for prison maintenance and rehabilitative programs, many prisoners are being placed in “understaffed, vermin-infested” facilities. In addition, overcrowding has also increased the instances of infectious and stress-related diseases within confinement facilities.” Duitsman, Peter.
Last fall, Deputy Vrotsos told about 30 of the offenders that they would have to move to meet the requirements of Iowa's law, which he said made about 90 percent of the city of Dubuque off limits. The sex offenders are forced to live in very close proximity of each other since there is only a small amount of places where they can live. Which is very dangerous for families who live near these congested areas because it makes their children more vulnerable to these offenders? Many families who are living in rural areas near these sex offenders are moving because there are so many sex offenders living near them, they do not feel safe. How is a hardworking father trying to support his kids focus on his work while he knows that his kids are in great danger.
If anything the residents of Illinois are in need of a decrease in taxes and the overall cost of living. I have been in the workforce for 7 + years and I have started from the bottom of the barrel to break into the $10.00+ an hour rate. It really bothers me that this is just being given to others now who have not been around long enough to understand the struggle and pain that others have endured to get them to this current minimum wage amount. Due to the increase in minimum wage, all of the other businesses that are salaried based in the state are likely to get a deduction in pay. One of the main things that employers will have to do in order to make money will be to reduce hours, limit job creation, and increase prices.
Donna King (Smart Justice) described her experience in jail as “Each prison sentence I went through, my crimes got bigger. I started to learn new things about crime.” While the criminal is in prison they cannot commit crimes, however, when released a large number (44% of Victorian prisoners) reoffend, are caught, and jailed again. Society needs to accept that for the vast majority of criminals, there is no magic wand that can be waved to make them see the error of their ways and lead a crime-free life. They are unable - and do not want - to hold down a regular job; they see crime as a way of life, a source of