Analysis: Is Jail Where Only Guilty People?

On 05/15/17 at approximately 2242 hours, at the 4th Ave. Jail located at 201 S.4th Ave. Phoenix AZ 85003; while conducting a security walk in 2C 100 pod, SP-2 Inmate Arroyo, Daniel T326894 advised me he needed to be moved to a different location. I then questioned the Inmate Arroyo and asked why did he need to be moved? While speaking to Arroyo, I noticed his physical conditions and blood on his face, he advised to me that he had been assaulted and wanted to be moved from his current pod. Sgt. Weber A5273 the lead on level two at that time, was advised of the assault and directed me to review the video of 2C pod 100. While watching the video, I discovered that SP-1 inmate Gloria, Arnold T362962, and inmate Arroyo were engaged in some type

In the United States the number of people placed in prison has increased almost 5 times more among the 1980 and 2009. Minorities were greatly impacted, while Blacks completed thirty-eight percent of the prison population. Blacks make up thirteen percent of the U.S population. It is said stated that by a Black male reach the age of thirty, twenty-one percent will serve time within the prison system. As for White males, only 2.5% will serve in the prison system. While increasing, Black males will more likely spend more time within the criminal justice system, rather than attend college. It is revealed that this disparity is associated with the battle with drugs and sentencing, which would mandate longer prison time for low-level drug charges

James Gilligan relays an enlightening message in his article, Beyond the Prison Paradigm: From Provoking Violence to Preventing It by Creating “Anti-Prisons”, about the history and sole purpose of jails. Gilligan dates his research about jails all the way back from the first civilization known to man, Sumerian, to the jails we see and know so well today. At the beginning of time jails literally meant “house of darkness” which when compared to any of today’s jails is very similar to our maximum security facilities with solitary confinement. Jails were first used as a place to house those citizens, who chose not follow the social norms of society, and used a very

An inherent marker of this case’s problematic nature can be demonstrated within the representation of the defendants by prosecution. The defendants had their socioeconomic status and previous interactions with the ‘justice’ system flagrantly used against them. They were characterized as those people, the others, the ones who commit crimes – preying on implicit jury biases*1. Their background and the neighborhood they grew up in was used as an excuse to typecast them for a role in prison. It seems obvious that in any case, the class roles of any participants should be irrelevant unless their crime explicitly involves the matter. Instead, theirs were touted as evidence. Additionally, the defendants’ previous transgressions were brought up in an attempt to further incriminate them. Though recidivism rates are essentially astronomical in the United States, this argument is beyond irrelevant and at its heart a fallacy that should make this information irrelevant. (If the defendants had interacted with the justice system before and they were convicted of anything, then the system has failed them. It’s clearly ineffective given that in the eyes of the state the defendants were far from rehabilitated).

Lets take a minute to delve into the demographics of incarcerated prisoners today. According to Schmalleger, in 2012, 93% of all prisoners were male, with females picking up the remaining 7%; this is a 3% increase from 1980. 35% of all prisoners are white, 38% are black, and 21% are Hispanic (Schmalleger, 2015). Approximately two-thirds of prison inmates are between the ages of 25 and 44 years old. Why are women and minorities being incarcerated? Well, to be perfectly blunt, they broke the law. The last time I took a gander at old Lady Justice, she was wearing a blindfold; she doesn't care about your color, sex. or religion, she cares about justice. But since I am sure that is not the answer anybody is looking for on here, I'll play along.

In Eye On The Prize About Ain’t Scared of Your Jails, the students from colleges in Nashville set up sit-ins at local restaurants. These sit-ins consisted of black and African American Students would sit at counters or areas where whites had been told only they were allowed to sit. When many of these students were placed in jail, local black African American, and white supporters boycotted businesses downtown since they contributed to much of the cities income. Moreover, while the sit-ins were not violent, some violence occurred to prevent the few black residents who did try to go downtown from shopping, this fear of violence eventually spread to white citizens. The main techniques they used were nonviolent, and peaceful; they had been taught techniques to avoid engaging in violence and maintaining their place at the counter. These students wanted to keep their protests as being a student protest. Moreover, they also organized the freedom rides in order to get President Kennedy to enforce the two supreme court rulings that banned

Recidivism is a relapse into criminal activity and is usually measured by the return of a former prisoner to prison a new offense. Recidivism rates reflect the extent to which prisoners correctional programs and the role they play in the reintegration of prisoners into society liberated rehabilitated. It is estimated that the recidivism rate in the US in about two thirds, in other words two thirds of released prisoners will be re-incarcerated within three years.

There are several reasons why it is difficult to target the reentry programs to the offenders incarcerated in jail including mental illness, substance abuse and dependence, limited employability, and extensive criminal histories (Schmalleger & Smykla, 2015). A percentage of the jail inmates have reported a mental condition, consequently, less than half of those received care. More than half of jail inmates abuse drugs or alcohol, furthermore, only a small percentage join any substance programs while in jail. The inmates have a low employability, with only slightly more than half that were working prior to their arrest. Additionally, there is a general shortage of personnel in the overcrowded setting. Another factor is that rarely do offenders

The lack of answers to the question stems from the thought; what if americans don 't care if the convicted criminal suffers? Addressing this speculation was Oklahoma Republican state representative, Mike Christian, in reference to the recent media exposure of inhumane executions by lethal injection. He said, "I really don 't care if it 's by lethal injection, by the electric chair, firing squad, hanging, the guillotine, or being fed to the lions." (Parker, 2014, Web). Christian just simply wanted the convicted criminal who brought harm to other individuals and their families dead. Do people really care how inhumane the process is? Is that why the government has never addressed the issue, even with recent public exposure to its flaws? However, even with the vengeful thoughts, inhumane and inmate rights still apply, even for someone on death row. According to CivilRights.com, a website composed a constitution of inmate rights, says, “Inmates have the right to be free, under the Eighth Amendment, from inhumane conditions because those conditions constitute "cruel and unusual" punishment.” Even the most monstrous of people, do indeed carry their constitutional rights, even up until death (Andrews, 2015, Web). The Constitutional Rights of Inmates goes on to say, “Any punishment that can be considered inhumane treatment or that violates the basic concept of a person 's dignity may be found to be cruel and unusual.” It has been proven inmates carry these rights; due to the

Routinely in the news are stories of ex-convicts being arrested again, and sometimes for even more serious crimes than they had been convicted for. Currently he overall recidivism rate for Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC) stands at 21 % (Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 2014). The recidivism rate is calculated on the number of Oklahoma Inmates that reenter the corrections department within three years of release. Faith based programs ministering within the prison walls, and partnering with local churches to aid the convicted with reentry do make a difference (Dodson, Cabage, & Klenowski, 2011). The desired effect is not only a change in the life of the offender, but for their children, and in turn can reduce crime in the community.

When prison is the topic of discussion rarely is the subject of privatization or the prison industrial complex brought to the forefront with the average American citizen. What remains at the forefront when discussing incarceration is that of rape, and in particular, rape in male facilities. The cliché “don’t drop the soap” joke is known by many people in reference to an impending sodomization. The subject matter would appear to not be of any major issue because of the citizenry holding a “just deserts” approach to crime and incarceration. When considering the Eighth Amendment with its cruel and unusual punishment clause, correctional staff for many years seemed to have not made the connection that there was any violation. This is in addition

Daniel Berrigan said “writing about prisoners is a little like writing about the dead.” What I think he meant was prisoners are treated as ghosts, unseen and unheard. It’s easy to simply ignore them and even easier when the government goes to great lengths to keep them hidden. The actions of people in power when the world isn’t watching are precisely the actions that need to be told. The most experimental and secretive prison units in the United States for “second-tier terrorists” (Harley Lappin, Federal Bureau of Prisons Oversight).

To begin with, I’d like to say that jail should not be confused with prison; prison is where people go for crimes that were dangerous or inhumane, like: D.U.I’s, grand theft auto, and worst in most people’s eyes CREDIT CARD FRAUD. But, we aren’t talking about that place; we’re talking about the little local jailhouse for lower rate crimes, here are some for example: robbery attempt, assault and sometimes people are held in jail waiting to be transferred to prison.

It was an experiment where all the participants were fully understanding in what they were getting into so hopefully the fake prison wasn’t exactly like a real one. I find that your knowledge on actual prison probably made this chapter more interesting because you probably know more things about what actual go’s on than someone like my self who’s only knowledge on prison comes from the shows and movies I watch. Also, the real surprise I think was when the men in the experiment fit into there respective roles and they all seemed to fit the same role. Either a guard as oppressor and the prisoner as the oppressed. But from what you wrote about how the prisoners throwing feces at the guards seem to show that they were not weak like the prisoners

I watched the video and was not surprised about what I had seen. I have relatives that have been in state and local jails and prisons. The way they describe prison life is horrifying. Most of them come they are released from jail or prison say have glad they are to be and is never going back. Of course, for some that was not true. I was often told of how it is harder in prison versus being in jail. It is my opinion for some people being incarcerated in jail or prison is a challenge, simply because of the living conditions and having to follow mandatory rules that is set in place such as when to take a bath, eat, sleep, when to make their beds an even when they are allowed to receive visitors. When thinking about this question it should be very easy to answer, but it not looking at all of the different crimes a person can be charged with; and place in jail or prison for a long period of time. A person can be charged from one year to life without the possibility of parole.