The Pros And Cons Of Mass Incarceration - 1542 Words

Mass Incarceration is a growing dilemma in the United States that populates our prisons at an alarming rate. Michelle Alexander is a professor at Ohio State University and a graduate of Stanford law school. She states in her award winning book, The new Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness â€Å"In less than thirty years, the U.S. penal population exploded from around 300,000 to more than 2 million† (Alexander, 6). These young men and women are unable to afford a decent lawyer because they come from such a poverty-stricken background. Men and women are at a financial disadvantage in our justice system. Lawyers and attorneys cost a fortune and most people can just simply not afford them. Others plead to their charges because†¦show more content†¦Jimmy Santiago Baca is a winner of the International Prize for his work in, A Place to Stand. The making of a poet. He writes, â€Å"I had no money. There is no way I’m going to make bail† (Bac a, 187). In some cases, prisoners are only locked up because they had to get appointed a defense attorney who convinced them to plead to the charges so they would not have to go to trial and risk getting an extended amount of time. District attorneys are elected by the citizens and those people want someone who is tough on crime. If the district attorney is not tough on crime, the people will not reelect him. This can lead to many innocent lives being wasted; For instance, some criminals will sit in a cell for decades for the smallest offense. However, if a prisoner attempts to plead not guilty and the case goes to a trial by jury and they do find him or her guilty, they will be sentenced to an even longer term. It is obvious that our justice system is unfair and against human morals and ethics. They are somehow â€Å"innocent until proven guilty† yet they cannot afford to prove themselves innocent. Not only is poverty a reason for the rising increase in the population of in mates, many lack the education needed to understand the law or what they are being accused of. Our government continues to prioritize funding prisons over classrooms. Adolescents who have access to a better education and more pleasantShow MoreRelatedThe Pros And Cons Of Modern Prisons1261 Words   |  6 Pagesdetaining criminals (â€Å"History of Prisons†). Prisons are beneficial for the nation, and are imperative. Without prisons, there will be mass destruction, and small problems that people have with prisons can be fixed and dealt with. Here are some of the problems that people have with prisons. Population. The rising population of prisoners in the United States alone is a con for prisons. There are just simply too many people. According to the Sentencing Project, the United States has 2.2 million criminalsRead MoreThe Prison System And The Jail System1352 Words   |  6 Pagespolitical action memo that I will be discussing is about the jail system. First, I will define the jail system, and what this system can do for the citizens. Second address the cons and pros about the jail system by illustrating the topic into main bullet points. Third, voice my thoughts about the jail system with adding pros and cons to a political action I should address, and concluding which action I am going to take to further y concern about the jail system. When hearing about the jail system, thisRead MoreDeath Penalty Pros and Cons1636 Words   |  7 Pages Pros and Cons of the Death Penalty The death penalty is a legal process whereby a person is put to death as a punishment for a crime. The death penalties are usually carried out for retribution of a heinous murder committed, such as aggravated murder, felony killing or contract killing. Every state handles what method they want to use to put a person to death according to their state laws. The death penalty is given by lethal injection, electrocution; gas chamber firing squad and hanging areRead MoreAlternative Course Of Action :1355 Words   |  6 Pagesback to the patient. The patient is responsible for rolling the leaves in order to smoke it. i. Pros: Although the majority of patients are not comfortable with the responsibility of having to â€Å"roll† their own cannabis, the system still seems to be functioning. This option allows patients to still legally access their treatment of choice, however many patients dislike the way it is distributed. ii. Cons: As I mentioned, a great majority of patients are unhappy with the distribution as a large portionRead MoreShould Legalization Of Recreational Drugs Be A Great Nation?977 Words   |  4 Pageswith a doctor s prescription—would save the country billions of dollars and end the mass incarceration of millions of Americans† (Rosen, â€Å"Decriminalizing Drugs†). Most of the criminals are non-violent and are usually associated with small activities, like possession of small amounts of illegal substances or trading of the same. Our criminal system should follow major drug dealers and suppliers. Wrongful incarceration of low level drug abusers leads to wastage of our resources. Much of the nation’sRead MoreCrime Rate And Its Effects On The United States880 Words   |  4 PagesAccording to Crime in America.Net the crime rate in 2015 increased (â€Å"Incarceration in the US†). This increase is attributed to the growing number of cities, metropolitan areas and the concomitant people living in poverty. A topic for debate has been how this country can stop the increasing crime rate. The best methods are to have stricter gun control laws, easier and more affordable access to a top-rate education for the lower economic classes, and the creation of good paying jobs with benefits thatRead MoreThe Legalization Of Drugs : A Controversial Issue2339 Words   |  10 Pagesdiscussed in this paper and how the damages of prohibition led to the passing of the 21st Amendment, bringing back prohibited substances. In addition, reasons to why legalization of drugs should be considered like how it could reduce crime and mass incarceration of minorities in the justice system, as well as their importance in the medical field, will be stated in this paper also. History of Drug Use Drugs have been abused for various reasons and have been a rolling factor in every cornerRead MoreAnalysis Of The Book The Guarding Sing Sang By Ted Conover1089 Words   |  5 Pagesactually apply and work there but now I have a clearer knowledge and understanding it no matter what job you apply you will eventually face the pros and cons it just depends how you will be able take it and how you treat others from each situation you will face. As for the Criminal Justice system NewJack shows the perspective on the impact mass incarceration it has on society. I will suggest anyone who wants to become a correctional should read it before pursing in that career path. â€Æ' Read MoreAustralia s Drug Policies And Efforts For Change Essay1366 Words   |  6 Pagesjustice systems close ties historically with countries like Australia; I think it fitting to use some of their recent criminal data analysis as it relates to substance abuse and the exuberant cost by the government. Don Weatherburn, author of, the pros and cons of prohibiting drugs whose article appeared in the peer reviewed Australian New Zealand journal of criminology discusses some interesting findings, â€Å"There is plenty of evidence, on the other hand, that a criminal conviction or a record of imprisonmentRead MoreEthical Concerns Of Solitary Confinement1482 Words   |  6 PagesThe UN Convention against Torture â€Å"[an] act by which suffering or severe pain, whether mental or physical, is intentionally inflicted on an individual for intimidation, punishment, information or for reasons that are based on discrimination† (â€Å"Pros and Cons of Solitary Confinement†). Jails are also known to house pretrial individuals before they receive the verdict. These individuals are typically housed in solitude until released to hear the jury’s decision. There was a recent investigation in