When I first started reading, ‘Burning Down the House,’ by Nell Bernstein, I was surprised at what juveniles went through while in jail. One of the chapters that caught my attention the most was chapter 5, called “The Fist and the Boot.” This chapter covered physical abuse in jail, and while reading the chapter, one of the examples of physical abuse which stood out to me the most was on page 84, where it said that, “In Mississippi, guards ripped the clothing from suicidal girls, then hog-tied them, naked and tossed them into solitary.” When I read this, I was shocked that the prison in Mississippi could even do that. Ripping clothes from suicidal girls and hog-tying them naked will not help them at all, that will only make them worse for them. …show more content…
before I read this chapter, I had known that being reentered back into society was hard, but I didn’t know it was as hard as the book describes. All I knew was that if the person had a felon, they could have a hard time finding a job or getting some of the things that people who didn’t go to jail could easily get. In chapter 9, it talks about David, who was seventeen when he was convicted of armed robbery. Even though he is twenty-two now and is out of jail, he is having a hard time finding a job because of his criminal background. One of the main things he said was that in jail, they dedicate a lot of time with providing the juveniles with tools they need to succeed outside of jail, but once they are out of jail, the tools and resources they have won’t help them. This surprised me because I thought that the programs in jail were made to help the people reenter society when they were out of jail, but from what I read, it isn’t that way. During the time frame that I have wanted to be an officer, I thought it was a great idea to have programs in jail to help the people when they are done with jail because I thought it could help them. I was disappointed to find out that what I thought would work didn’t. Because of this, I’m wondering if there is a way to have programs that the people in jail can participate
This can also lead to recidivism, which is when a convicted criminal reoffends. The documentary does highlight the correlation between these socio-economic factors and the likelihood of individuals returning to prison, as many struggle to break free from the circumstances that initially led to their involvement in the criminal justice system. By illuminating the complex web of challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, the documentary underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reform efforts aimed at addressing the root cause of recidivism and the different cycles of poverty, and creating pathways to successful
Youth in high risk communities rely on crime to get what they need or want, either because their families cannot afford their needs or simply because their parents are already working hard to afford the basic necessities of life such as food and shelter. I admit that up until I read this book I never stopped to think about the problem we face with mass incarceration; reading it made me realize how desensitized I am from some tough social realities, as an upcoming social worker it will be my goal to be more aware of issues that not many talk about or advocate for. People go through life carrying the stigmas and stereotypes they were raised with and it is our personal responsibility to challenge our perceptions and beliefs. It is easier to believe stereotypes rather than take the time to research their validity, and we conform to the idea that people are in prisons because they did something wrong and deserve to be penalized. Reality is that there are inmates whom perhaps were wrongfully convicted and in worst cases innocent, they just couldn’t afford a lawyer or accepted a guilty plea because they were told it was their best option.
Many people living in poor neighborhoods might have been to prison, have had little to no education, or even health problems. There are over six million ex-convicts in the United States. Research proposes that the best way for them to stay out of prison again is to reintroduce them into the working world and finding them jobs, but most employers are hesitant in giving them a chance. With an unemployment rate approaching its highest, getting employed is challenging. If someone has been in prison, the chance of them getting a job decreases drastically. In chapter five of David K. Shipler’s The Working Poor: Invisible in America, Shipler emphasizes on attaining a job, maintaining a job, and living while employed to successfully construct his arguments
It is not unusual to see very young people sentenced to lengthy prison terms for crimes they commit when they are teenagers or very young adults. Transitional age youth (TAY) are young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four who are in transition from state custody or foster care and are at-risk. Once they turn 18 they can no longer receive assistance from the systems of care that previously provided for many of their needs (Wilens & Rosenbaum, 2013). Katie Galloway, a producer of “The Return”, says studies show that most people age out of criminal behavior by the time they reach age 35. Between the time of being a teenager and reaching age 25 is when a lot of us have made our worst decisions. She goes on to say “when those decisions intersect with class and race disparities, you are left with a bad situation for a huge swath of young people who then realize the error of their ways.” ("3 Strikes and You're Out, 2016). The Bazelon Center for Mental Health states that there are more than three million transitional age youths who have been diagnosed with a mental illness. Transitional age youths who have mental illness are three times more likely to commit crimes than those without mental illness. They need help, not imprisonment (Facts on Transitional, n.d.). With treatment, job training and counseling, they would more likely become productive members of society instead
One of the main barriers that inmates face when they are released from prison is limited cognitive skills, limited education and work experience, and substance abuse or other mental health problems. Substance abuse and other mental health problems limit employability because it limits the job readiness that is required for employment (Holzer, Raphael & Stoll, 2003). Another issue that is faced when inmates are released into society is that any skills that they did have prior to conviction has diminished greatly and they face lower pay due to their diminished or lack of skills, and the attitudes that have been developed during their time in prison deeply affects their attitude during their search for employment. Offenders also face another barrier when searching for employment. Many businesses can be held legally liable for any criminal action that their employees may cause (Holzer, Raphael & Stoll, 2003). These barriers that offenders face upon release is why solid solutions and planning must be implemented when considering the integration of ex-felons into society and preparation for reentry must begin well before the scheduled release date in order to successfully reintegrate an inmate into society and reduce the rate of recidivism.
Studies suggest that young people are often at risk of re-offending (e.g. Sharkey, et al, 2003; Vincent & Seagrave, 2005). Sharkey and his colleagues explained that youth often reoffend since, as they prepare themselves in returning to their respective communities, they are usually confronted by similar situations that had influenced their behaviors prior to committing offenses. Another group of researchers however show that youth engaged in education, employment and other productive endeavors in their communities within 6 to 8 months after their release are less vulnerable to commit another offense (e.g. Keating, et al., 2002, Bullis, et al, 2002, Grossman & Tierney, 2008).
Today, a countless number of Americans are being imprisoned in mass quantities and are receiving unjust sentences. For the many American who find themselves in the prison system, life is squalor and their experiences are often damaging to their ability to function properly in society. In the United States, our prisons are failing miserably at effectively rehabilitating criminals. Upon release, many find reintegration to be far too hard and in turn many turn back to a life crime as a result. This is trend is called recidivism and is characterized by a prisoner’s likelihood to recommit criminal offenses. The struggles that ex-convicts experience in regards to holding a job, maintaining personal finances, reconciling with
Of the roughly seven hundred thousand individuals released from prison each year, a large majority are young men with less than a college education (Pager, Western & Sugie, 2009). Of these former
Only forty percent of employers in one study reported that they would be willing to hire an applicant with a criminal record and applicants with a criminal record are only half as likely to receive a call back from an employer where they have submitted an application. Other analysis shows that only thirty to forty percent of those previously convicted of a crime are employed and earn an average of only $667 a month, with these numbers surprisingly decreasing as time since release increases. While juveniles adjudicated in juvenile court can expect a decrease in future earnings of nine percent, similar juveniles adjudicated in an adult court will see future reductions in earnings of fourteen percent. A more recent study conducted by Pew confirms such results and shows that incarceration leads to a reduction of eleven percent in subsequent wages, nine weeks of annual employment, and forty percent of yearly earnings. All of this data displays the barriers to employment created by placing juveniles in the adult correctional system. The longstanding classification of seventeen-year-olds in Texas as adults prohibits these young people from becoming hard-working members of society upon
Among nearly 100,000 youth under age 18 released from U.S. prisons each year, the majority “are not provided with the critical assistance necessary for successful transition back to their communities, schools, homes, and peer groups” (Youth Reentry, 2012, p. 1). Instead, these youths return to neighborhoods that tend to lack the support programs necessary to ensure a positive transition back into mainstream society. Disturbingly, these youths frequently return to neighborhoods with high crime
Getting on with life after getting out of prison shouldn’t be as difficult as society and the government make it. By labeling someone a criminal the stigma that follows them will continue for the rest of their lives. There is discrimination with employment, housing and under federal law, people convicted of drug felonies are deemed ineligible for food stamps. The penal system appears to be a system of social control rather than a system of crime prevention. “Many of Wisconsin 's Black Male Offenders Go Back to Prison, Struggle to Stay Out” is an article about the black men in prison and how Larry Jackson’s first run in with the law placed him in a juvenile center when he was only nine years old. For 20 years he has been in and out of prison, this paper will attempt to apply theories on why it is so difficult for young men to stay out of prison.
When facing discrimination in housing, jobs and overall welfare, there are little opportunities given to people recently released from prison. This causes them to go back to the life of crime, and ultimately back in prison. This features as an effect of mass incarceration and works to fuel it. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics, “ 2 out of every 3 prisoners released will be rearrested within 3 years and nearly half of those released from prison will be incarcerated again within 3 years”(Dennis Madden 14). This effect of mass incarceration limits ex-cons from reaching any pursuits and keeps them trapped in a system that continues to disadvantage them. Craig Nissan elaborates on the severity of this issue, saying, “[Ex-convicts] are labelled for life as felons, who will face forever discrimination in seeking essentials like employment and housing, basic to building a good life. Moreover, many face a life of monitoring as ex-cons and the loss of many civil rights, including the right to vote”(205). These people turn into victims of our society and lack any chances to reach
lives around; rehabilitation gives kids a second chance. Successful rehabilitation, many argue, is better for society in the long run than releasing someone who's spent their entire young adult life in general prison population. A young person released from juvenile prison is far less likely to commit a crime than someone coming out of an adult facility (Reaves).” This is another way to look at the situation. When it comes to juvenile’s rehabilitation is a way to help the juvenile fully understand what have gotten them in their certain situation. Also, it’s a way to add onto what they can do to make sure the juvenile doesn’t
Incarceration has been the primary means of punishment for criminals who have been convicted of felony offenses. While prisoners are serving the term of incarceration they face many difficult situations. Some of these situations can include committing new crimes within the system which could lead to prolonging the current sentencing. Those who are able to make parole after meeting the requirements set in place by the court are faced with new difficulties when trying to reintegrate in society. While inmates complete sentences ordered by the court, they have the opportunity to take advantage of Federal Aid including continued education, job skill training, employment opportunities and support programs. These programs are designed to lessen the struggle offenders’ face as they reintegrate into society by offering a positive direction upon their release. The overall goal is to achieve a reduction in the rate of recidivism.
Approximately 240,000 brutal rapes occur in our prison systems each year (Lozoff). Most of the victims are young, nonviolent male inmates, many of them teenaged first offenders. They are traumatized beyond imagination. Most of these inmates are nonviolent criminals who cannot or will not defend themselves. Unfortunately, this results in many of those nonviolent offenders turning violent by the time they leave prison.