Examples Of Alternative Incarcerations

Over the years, many theorists have been considering alternative type sanctions for offenders, because of the ever growing issue of prison overcrowding of our jails at state, local and federal level. The use of alternative type sanctions seem to be growing, and is getting a second look from many prisons, and jails as an option for some offender. Also, “in addition to relieving jail and prison overcrowding, the level of risk many offenders represent is too much for probation, but

The author, Peter Enns, of “The Public’s Increasing Punitiveness and Its Influence on Mass Incarceration in the United States” is investigating whether the publics rising amounts punitiveness explains the significant rise in incarceration rates in the United States. Also, the author explores the importance of public influence and congressional hearing in relation to mass incarceration of individuals in the United States.

The main argument within this article was that America has a poor approach to incarceration and is ultimately an expensive failure. However, the article provided many points on how our justice system could be improved upon. For example, they could change the harsh sentencing rules, crimes that are currently felonies (drugs), and the rehabilitation programs. All of these things would help to lower the incarceration rate which would ultimately lower overcrowding within our jails and prisons. Though these tools may take time to be put in place they would have highly beneficial outcomes.

America is experiencing a social phenomenon commonly referred to as mass incarceration, in which the rate of incarceration has increased by, “...has grown by 700 percent.(Goffman)” in the last 40 years. Mass incarceration is difficult to digest in totality due to its immense nature, nuance and variety of answers with the essence of ‘could be right’. In order to decipher the complex puzzle of mass incarceration, we must establish borders to manifest clarifying order in the overwhelming clutter of data. Theory will assist in demonstrating how the general and specific facts of issues, in this case mass incarceration, relate by essentially declaring the philosophical frame of the interpretation. In order to gain a nuanced understanding of America’s mass incarceration, three relatively distinct theories will be applied: conflict theory, structural functionalism and symbolic interactionism. These theories are categorized by two approaches of sociological investigation- macrosociological, which emphasizes the analysis of social systems and populations on a large scale, and micro sociological, which emphasizes the impact individuals have on social structure.

Incarceration should not be the only form of punishment in the United States just like it is not in most developed nations. I agree with Dr. Bryant’s week three statements about the word discretion being used as camouflage for discrimination. The stakeholders in the criminal justice system used huge amount of discretion when performing their duties. In this case, the law enforcement officers, prosecutors, defenders, judges etc. The police officer can decide when making an arrest to handcuff the accused, send the accused to the community based service program or gave the accused a ride to his or her parent and warn the accused not to do it again. It all depends on how the officer chooses to use the discretion at his disposal. Indiscriminate

Mass incarceration is a barrier effecting many minorities and communities. The growth in incarceration rates in the United States over the past 40 years is historically reoccurring. According to statistics the war on drugs is the number one drive into our prisons. It took a toll on how diligently police enforcement do their jobs, communities, citizens and our 14th amendment rights which addresses equal protection under the law to all citizens, the amendment also addresses what is called "due process", which prevents citizens from being illegally deprived of life, liberty, or property. Marijuana and Narcotics are the most common drug when it comes to distributing and possession. Drug use and abuse is an expensive problem in the United States, both financially and socially. Another factor that contribute to mass incarnation rates

To support the policy there are different types of options that can be used instead of prison. These can include boot camps, electric monitoring, intensive supervision probation, day centres, periodic detention and harsher alternatives include the following community service, community based order and the option of imposing a fine (White & Perrone 2005). Boot camps are a short period of incarceration with the intention of presenting the offender with a strong message and ordinarily would be followed up by intensive supervision. The supervision can involve the offender submitting urinalysis tests and attending certain courses within the community and failing to comply with this can result incarceration (White & Perrone 2005). Electric monitoring involves the offender to wearing either an ankle or arm band that is electronically monitored from a base and will set off an alarm if they breach

The United States of America has more people incarcerated than any other country on earth, a whopping 2,220,300 adults are currently locked behind bars. We have 500,000 more citizens locked up than China, a country 5 times our population run by an authoritarian government. From 1990 - 2000 the prison population increased by 1,000,000. The main reason for incarceration as a punishment in this country is rehabilitation, or so we have been told. In recent years an industry has developed that revolves around high incarceration rates and lengthy sentences, needless to say business is booming. The for-profit prison industry now makes millions off the backs of American inmates their families and every American taxpayer. The two largest

Currently the United States holds the leading position for having the largest prison population in the world. Considering this, the cost of re-incarcerating offenders after their release remains notably high to U.S Americans and our society. Recidivism is known as the reimprisonment of an individual that is released from prison but then later returns for being convicted of a new crime. However, there is essential data that proves the drastic reduction in recidivism through academic and vocational studies. Each year, it cost twice as much to provide a room and food for inmates than it would just to educate these prisoners.

There are over 2million people incarcerated today in the United States and Statistics show that the rates every

After decades of increasing incarceration rates in the United States, it appears that the number of individuals in jail or prison has begun to decline. States such as New York have managed to reduce their prison rates by thousands of prisoners over the past couple of years. According to Families against Mandatory Minimums, New York state prison population declined by 17% from 2000 to 2009, which is about 71,000 persons to 59,000 persons (FAMM - Law Enforcement, 2014).

There are many options a judge might choose as punishment or rehabilitation for an offender other than having the offender complete his or her whole sentence in jail or be sent to jail or prison all together. Some options the judge might decide to use are parole, probation, community correction, and many other forms of sentencing him or her might hand down to an offender. There is always a better solution to the current methods of parole process, probation system, and the community corrections options. Like everything else the only way to improve a system is to continue to come with better solutions or more effective and affiant ways to run each sentencing options.

One approach to change the system may be to incorporate into criminal justice the objective of restoration – repairing the harm done by the crime itself. “Repairing harm may be a more appropriate response to crimes, and may be the only way to truly address the needs of victims of crime.” (Peter Merideth, May 1, 2009). In our traditional system of criminal justice, the victim has little to no role to play other than as witness for the prosecution. “This is the greatest complaint of most victims and victim advocacy groups” (Peter Merideth, May 1, 2009). After the victim reports the crime they are rarely notified or informed of the proceedings unless they are called upon to act as a witness. In order to implement a restorative approach, there

There are five common approaches to punishments. The first one is deterrence. It’s basically saying that if people know that they will be punished for such a crime, then they will think twice about committing it. If no one ever got punished for robbing a bank, than everyone

As a freshman I know it is important to make goals for myself to get through high school. I must also set goals in my personal life and my career. Setting goals now can help me be what I want to become. With goals I know that I must plan ahead for college and my future career. If I plan ahead now I will be able to turn my dreams into realities.