Collaboration And Incarceration

Social bond theory was initially developed by Hirschi in 1969. The basis of this theory is that criminal behaviour occurs when social bonds are broken. Hirschi (1969) explains how there are four key factors of a social bond and the strain on these factors motivates deviant behaviour. By applying Hirschi's social bond theory to prison can begin to explain why the prison experience may increase later reoffending. Nagin et al (2009) furthers this explaining how prison may have negative effects on offender through reducing exposure of positive pro social bonds and increasing the exposure of negative influences.

This is true because of the drastic number of blacks getting arrested for small crimes compared to whites. The black arrest rate for drug manufacturing/selling skyrocketed by 363 percent after mandatory sentencing laws were passed. Compared to white’s which only went up 127 percent. This is an incredible high number given the fact that blacks only made up 12 percent of the population at the time. These massive amounts of black people were getting lots of jail time for these small crimes, which led to overpopulated prisons. Soon thereafter the mandatory sentencing laws were passed the number of sentenced inmates rose 111 percent . The prisoners were getting long sentences (10 to 20 years for drugs) so prisons weren't turning out people they

women has increased significantly, increasing at a rate double to the rate of male incarceration since 1980 (Covington & Bloom, 2006). Braithwaite, Treadwell and Arriola note that incarcerated women have historically been a forgotten population, and despite the rapid growth of the population, their needs have continued to be ignored (2005). In addition to the stigma that comes with being or having been incarcerated,

It is obvious that there are several race disparities within the criminal justice system. For decades minorities (black Americans to be specific) have been subject to higher drug related arrest rates than whites, even though there is no evidence to show that black American use or sell drugs more than whites (Spohn & Belenko, 2015, p. 143) . You made a great point about the prison race population versus the overall race population of the United States. I too agree that since a majority of the population is white, majority of the prison population should be white. However, as we all know, that is not the case. According to research, black Americans constitute for roughly twelve percent of the American population, however practically

Male and female offenders alike are incarcerated every day for various reasons. Some commit violent crimes while others are arrested for drug use or public-order offenses. The difference between the two are the rates at which they are incarcerated, the length or harshness of their sentences, for the same or similar crimes committed, patterns of drug use, and previous correctional history. While men still lead in violent crime rates, 54.3 percent male verse 36.6 percent female, women are more likely than men to serve sentences due to drug-related offenses and other nonviolent property crimes (American Corrections, 2016).

In 2009, a survey showed that blacks were arrested for drug possession more than three times as often as whites, and a survey made in 2011 showed that whites have abused drugs more than blacks (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive). Yet, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, one out of every 3 black males can expect to go to prison in their lifetime, and 225,000 of the people who were serving time in state prisons for drug offenses in 2011, blacks made up 45 percent while whites comprised of just 30 percent. One must question, why is there a disproportionate number of African Americans in the criminal justice system? Well, the majority of Americans are unaware of this mass incarceration and outright racism in the criminal justice system. When we think of racism, we think of the 1930’s-60’s, slavery, and Jim Crow which come to mind, but what

Women usually have the same type of story, on the reason they decided to get involved in drugs. Some women have the drugs introduced to them by their family or friends (Mallicoat, 2012). Others began this habit to cope with violence or abuse in their early childhood (Mallicoat, 2012). About half of the women who are incarcerated are in prison for some sort of drug offense; either for selling or for drug use. Introducing prevention programs, life skills training, mental health training, and other basic needs can help reduce the percentage of women going back to their habit and staying away from incarceration (Mcvay et. al, 2004). By just putting women in prison, instead of actually looking into the reason they are using drugs are not helping them and might even increase the risk of them returning to prison or the risk of further criminal activity. Treating drug use as a medical problem, with programs for drug addiction, can help the women from getting incarcerated. Viewing women as victims in scenarios like drug use being a medical problem or prostitution can ultimately help reduce the percentage of incarcerated women.

Thomas Riggs reported inside of the Gale Encyclopedia, “Racial profiling by U.S. law enforcement agencies has resulted in higher arrest rates among African Americans.” African Americans racially are founded to be the majority in prisons. The problem becomes why are minorities left to serve time behind bars more often. An answer to this question would be non violent drug crimes are the major influence of this epidemic. From decades ago during the 80s, a new drug evolved into a popular wave that caused thousands in poverty stricken neighborhoods affected but its repercussions. The drug dealers in these neighborhoods sold the drug, crack, but soon after were arrested and sentenced to jails for unimaginable years for one incident of a crime. There are reports of African Americans being more likely to be sent to jail on the account of drugs than Caucasians. You find out that white people produce and sell the same drugs as the minority but results from facing the judicial system one race of people will have leanen consequences than the other. Systems from centuries ago are continually being implemented whether from being written or simply just because of history repeating itself with its social

The rate of men going to prison is increasing by 2.7%, however, the rate for women going to prison is increasing by 4.8% showing a greater disparity (Hatton and Fisher, 1304). Within that population, African American women are seven times more likely to spend time behind bars (Hatton and Fisher, 1305) with 3.8

Since the mid 80’s, the number of women incarcerated has tripled.The majority of women incarcerated are unskilled, impoverished and disproportionately women of color. As a result, African American children are nine times more likely to have a parent in prison than a White child.

While the number of women incarcerated is relatively low, the racial and ethnic disparities are startling. African American women are three times more likely than white women to be incarcerated, while Hispanic women are 69 percent more likely than white women to be incarcerated.

Racial differences in social economic status could be a deciding factor with this problem. Prior convictions also may contribute to this trend. Keen & Jacobs pointed out that African-Americans had a higher rate of violent crimes. With having a prior conviction, it would seem that the prison rate would increase for African-American offenders. This in turn probably gives the courts a heavy hand on sentencing

Only 53% of state and 7% of federal prisoners served sentences for violent crimes in 2013. 59% of females and 50% of males in federal prisons and 24% of females and 15% of males served for drug violations in the same year. By the end of 2013, approximately 16% of prisoners in state prisons were convicted on drug charges. 57.6% of those convicted on drug charges were minorities—African American or Hispanic. As these statistics show, drug policies and other sentencing regulations have resulted in disproportionate imprisonment of minorities and high overall prison populations.

As mentioned, the prison system is unjust as to men of black or Latino background, and such for women just as well. “All participants who identified as black, Native American, or Latino had been arrested by a white police officer at least once (Feinstein, 2015, p.3). The fallacy of the idea of criminal justice is to protect all civilians from harm or crime while instilling fairness amongst all individuals apart from incapacitating the guilty to proportionate punishments, and restoring them as proper citizens. Yet, historically the trend of law enforcement is doing what it was actually meant to do, to target the disadvantaged, to subdue and control certain groups of people, minorities. Minorities are not considered to need a Justice system

The war on drugs has led to the increase of mass incarceration of people of color and minorities, which is a problem in the United States. The United States is known for holding more children and adults in jails, and