Sunteți pe pagina 1din 9

JordanDonahue

Assignment2

Introduction

Imagineifoneofyourloveoneswasconvictedofcrimeandwasforcedtoservetimein
astateprison(Lordforbid).Thinkabouthowdifferentlifewouldbeforthemduringtheirprison
sentence.Mostlikely,theywouldhavetoworkhaveatoughmanuallaborjobforalarger
portionofyourdayjusttobepaidajokinglylowforawage.Nottomention,pricesforitemsin
commissaryarealotmoreexpensivethanthepricesfortheitemsonthemarket.Sonotonlyare
youlowballedforlabor,butyouarethentaxedmoreforgoodsincommissary.Thework
prisonersareforcedtodoinprisoniscalledpenallabor.Thisisalegalpunishment,because
whencitizenissenttoprisonitistheirpaysofftheirdebttosocietyforcommittingacrime.The
13thAmendmentmakesthistypeoflaborpossiblebyoutlawingslaveryandinvoluntary
servitude,unlessitispunishmentforacrime.
Next,imaginehowmuchdifferentyourloveoneslifewouldbeafterservingthe
sentence.Assumingthattheyarearoundtheageanaveragecollegestudentduringthebeginning
oftheirprisonsentence,they'regoingtobereleasedintotheoutsideworldwithlittletonone
experienceinacareer.Itsalreadydifficultenoughsearchingforemploymentwithacriminal
record.Now,theyareforcedtofacethechallengesoflackingtheskillstoobtainingacareerand
thediscriminationtheywillreceivefromemployers.Itishardadaptingtotheoutsideworldfor
manyprisonersaswell.Oncetospend
x
amountofyearsincarceratedyouloseafeelofwhatitis
likelivingcivilizedoutinsociety.Lifeafterprisonisntalwayssuccessfulforprisonersand
manyreturnbacktobeingbehindbars,becauseoftheirfailuretoacquireasteadyincomefrom

employment.Theylastthingyouwouldwanttohappenisforyourloveonetoreturnto
incarceration.
Nowlastforthelastsituation,Iwantyoutoimaginethatyourloveonemadeamistake
andisservingtimeinprisonforminordrugrelatedcharges.Nowyourloveoneislockedupand
surroundedbyrapist,murders,andthievesonadailybasis.Theyaretakingupspaceinan
overpopulatedprison.Nottomention,itiscostingthestatemoneytokeeptheyincarceratedfor
aminordrugcharge.

LiteratureReview

IncarcerationisaseriousproblemwithintheUnitedStates.Severalkeyissueswewill
exploreintherelevantliteratureincludes:incarcerationfordrugrelatedcharges,thecauseand
effectofcheappenallabor,andtransitionalorvocationalprograms.Thereareapproximately
2.5millionpeopleinAmericanprisonstoday,andmorethan3millionchildreninAmericahave
aparentorparentswhoareservingtimeinprison(Pacholke,Dan).Thisisthesametrendfor
femaleprisonswithmostprisonersbeingaminority.Outoftheseminoritiesbehindbars,most
arethereduetodrugrelatedcharges.InNewYorkprisonsalonethereare22,670drugoffenders,
whichmakeupaboutoftheirprisonspopulation.TheUnitedStatesisthestrictestcountryin
theworldwhenitcomestodrugpoliciesandenforcement.Infact,theUnitedStateshavebeen
pressuringothercountriestodothesameandtakepartinthisWarOnDrugs(
Reynolds,
Marylee)
.

In2015,PresidentObamapresentedaspeechstronglycriticizingthejusticesystemby
saying,Itsnotasfarasitshouldbe.Massincarcerationmakesourcountryworseoff.Andwe
needtodosomethingaboutit.Heevenwentaboveandbeyondanysittingpresidentbyvisiting
aprisonandspeakingwithsixprisonerswhowereconvictedofnonviolentdrugcharges.The
messagehewastryingtopromoteisthatnonviolentoffendersareservingmoretimethanthey
shouldandaretakingupspaceinoverpopulatingprisons(Horsley,Scott).Oddlyenough,despite
thejusticesystemattemptingtokeepdrugoffendersbehindbarsitisntcheaptodoso.Since
1988,thestateofNewYorkhasspentmoremoneyfundingtheirprisonsthantheyhavespentin
fundingtheiruniversities.Itcostthestateabout$680millionayeartohavedrugoffenders
incarcerated(Ganji,Robert).Inresult,livingsupplies,suchastoothpaste,soap,deodorant,etc.
cost30%to50%moreforprisonerscomparedtotheregularmarketprice.Theyalsotrytomake
backsomeofthismoneybyreceivingcheaplaborfromtheprisoners.Aformermemberofthe
MissouriSenate,JeffSmithclaimshewasgettingpaid$5.25amonthforunloadingtrucks
everyday.Ina31daymonththatsalmost17centsaday.Theseminimizedwagestendtoresult
inalltypesofhustlingintheprison,fromtattooing,givinghaircuts,andevensmugglingdrugs
(Smith,Jeff).However,notalldrugsaresmuggledinbyprisoners.ThisyearinGeorgia,49
prisonerofficerswereindictedforsmugglinginalltypesofcontrabandfromdrugstocell
phones.Theseofficersabusedtheirpowerunderthelawbytakingbribesfromprisonersand
doingthemfavorsinreturn.Notonlydidtheyputthemselvesindanger,buttheyputthe
prisonersindangeraswell(Samuel,Molly).Researchershavediscoveredthatnearly70%of
prisonerswillusedrugswhileincarcerated.Thiscanbefatalforthehealthofprisoners.The

injectionofdrugscancauseaccidentalsuicideand/orbecomethesourceofdiseasesspreading
amongtheprisonbyreusingequipment(Gore,Sheila).
Studiesshowthattwooutofeverythreeprisonersreleasedwithreturntoprisonwithin
fiveyears(Smith,Jeff).Thisisbecausemanyreleasedconvictsdontreceivejobsopportunities
duetothediscriminationoftheirbackgroundbyemployers.Thiscausesmanyreleasedprisoners
toreturntothelifestylethatlandedtheminprisoninthefirstplace.ShakaSenghorwordedit
bestwhenhesaid,Prisonisdesignedtowarehouse,insteadofrehabilitateortransform.
Senghorisamanwhoserved20plusyearsinprisonforamurderhecommittedwhenhewas19.
Hestatesthatheoweshiscurrentpeaceofmindtothesupportofhisfamilyandthementoring
hereceivedfromprisonersservinglifesentences,butnothankstotheprisonitself.Senghor
wasntfortunateenoughtobeplacedinaprisonthathadprogramsthatprepareprisonersforlife
aftertheirsentence(Senghor,Shaka).However,thatdoesntmeansuchprogramsdontexistin
certainprisons.Oneprisonofferstraininginthefieldofwelding.Theweldingindustryisdying
downduetolackofinterestinthecareerbytheyouthandretiringoftheveterans.Estimatessay
therewillbeashortageof300,000weldingrelatedjobsby2020.Despitethis,weldingremainsa
jobthatisinhighdemandinAmerica.Analuminisoftheprisonweldingprogram,JohnTurner
receivedthreejoboffersafterbeingreleasedfromprison(
Capelouto,Susanna
).Thisgoesto
showthatifprovidedtherightskillsprisonerscanchangetheirlivesaroundafterbeingreleased.
Anotherresourcecertainprisonsofferthatpotentiallyhelpprepareprisonersforlifeafter
prisonishigherlearningprograms.Researchershavediscoveredthatprisonerswhoreceive
educationwhileincarceratedarelesslikelytoreturnandmorelikelytolandajob.
Unfortunately,veryfewprisonsinAmericahavethesetypeofprograms.SanQuentinState

PrisonontheeasternoutskirtsofSanFrancisco,Californiahappenstobeoneofthefew.
However,theprogramisntfundedbyfederalorstatemoney,insteadbyprivatedonations.The
coursesaretaughtbyvolunteerteachersfromtopschools,suchasUniversityof
CaliforniaBerkeley,Stanford,SanFranciscoStateandmanymore.Thecontroversybehinditis
thatmanycitizensbelievethatprisonersshouldnotgetthebenefitoffreehigherlearning
education(
Westervelt,Eric)
.
EnteringtheConversation
ThefirstissueIwanttoaddressischeappenallaborthatprisonersareforcedtowork
duringtheirsentence.Lowwagesarenthelpingtheseprisonersoutmuchfinancially.This
forcesmanyprisonerstoswingtowardshustlinginprison.Someofthesehustlesresultin
makingprisonsmoredangerousthattheyalreadyare.Thisincludessmugglingindrugsand
othercontraband.
Mysolutiontohelpouttheprisonersintheslightestisraisethewagestheygetpaidina
day.Thiswouldassisttheprisonersbygivingthemalittlemorethattheycanlookforwardto
workingfor,becausewhattheygetpaidnowisbasicallyworkingforfree.Iunderstandthatthey
arecriminalsandarepayingtheirdebttosociety,butweshouldstillmakepenallabormore
humanethanworkingforlittletonothing.Next,Ithinkloweringthepricesofgoodsin
commissarytoaroundthesameastheofmarketpriceswouldhelpliftthepressureoffprisoners
financial.Noteveryprisonerhasfamilyontheoutsidethatiswillingofputtingmoneyontheir
booksandtheironlywayofpayingforcommissarygoodsisfromthewagestheygetpaidfrom
theirlabor.

ThesecondissueIwouldliketoaddressisprisonsnothavingprogramstoteach
prisonersskillsthatwillhelpthemontheoutside.Manyprisonersdontknowhowto
appropriatelyactduringajobinterview.Manydontevenknowhowtotieatie.Also,going
backtowhatIstatedinmyLiteratureReview,Ithinkitwouldbenefittheprisonsiftheycould
learnskillsinacertaincareer.Thereasonwhymostconvictsreturntoprisonisbecausethey
cantlandasteadyjob.Thiscanbeduetomanyfactors,suchaslackofinterviewskillsandlack
ofknowledgeinacareer.
ThesolutiontothisissueishavingtheFederalgovernmentfundthesetypeofprograms.I
believetheyarenecessaryandworthspendingtaxpayersmoneyonit.Theseprogramscould
potentiallyhavebiggerimpactonsocietythananticipated.Ibelievetheseprogramscould
drasticallylowercrimerates.Theycouldpossiblykeepexconvictsfromreoffendingdueto
themhavingasteadyandlegalwayofpay.Investingintheseprogramscouldreallysavesome
oftheseconvictslives.
Myfinalissueishavingpeopleservetimeinprisonoverminordrugcharges.These
peoplearetakingupspaceinouroverpopulatedprisons.Ialsobelievethatothernonviolent
crimesshouldnotrequiretimeinprison.Itiscostingthegovernmenttokeepthesepeople
incarcerated.Ibelieveifyou'regoingtobespendingtaxpayersmoneytokeeppeopleinprison,
thecrimeshouldbeworththeimprisonment.
Ibelievethesolutiontothisissueistonotseverelypunishnonviolentdrugrelated
charges.Ofcourse,therearegoingtobeexceptionstothis,butImreferringtominordrug
charges.Ibelievetostilldiscouragepeoplefromusingandsellingdrugsthereshouldbean

increasetothefine.Thiswillmakepeoplethinktwiceandaskthemselves,Isthislifestyle
worththisexpensivefine?

Study
Toseehoweffectivetheseprisonprogramare,Iaminterestedinconductingastudyto
receivesomestatistics.Iwouldtakeaprisonwithaprogramtohelpprisonersaftertheir
sentence,PrisonAandcomparethattoaprisonwithoutaprogram,PrisonB.Iwouldget
informationonprisonersthathavebeenreleasedinthelasttwoyearsfrombothprisonersand
seewhatsthepercentageoftheprisonerswhoreturnedtoincarceration.Mybetwouldbethat
PrisonAwouldhavealowerpercentage,becausetheyhavebeenexposedtotheproperskills
necessarytosucceedintherealworld.Thiswillprovethattheseprogramsneedtobefundedand
placedineveryprisoninthecountrytohelplowercrimeratesanddepopulateprisons.

Conclusion
Thebottomlineisthatprisonsinourcountryneedtofaceaseriesofimprovements.
Theseimprovementswouldnotonlyhelpforlifeinprison,butforlifeoutofprisonbykeeping
convictsfromreturning.Alsoitisimportanttokeeppeoplebehindbarswhoneedtobebehind
bars,suchaspeoplewouldhavecommittedcrimesrelatedtoviolence.Nonviolentcrimesshould
becarefullyreviewedinthecourtsystemtoavoidsendingsomeonetoprisonwhoshouldjustbe
heavilyfinedinstead.Thiswillhelpkeepfamiliestogetherandkeepthefederalgovernment

fromwastingmoney.Ialsobelievethatmystudywouldprovemerightwiththeprisonprograms
iftheyweretobeconducted.TheprogramsIdiscussedareverynecessaryandcouldimpact
livesofprisoners.Thiswillshowthemthatdespitetheirmistakesandwheretheyhavelanded
them,theirlifeisnotover.Everybodydeservesasecondchance.Hell,somemanyevenneeda
thirdchance,buttheseprogramswillshowthemhowtosurviveandmakeitintheoutside
world.IbelieveImadesomevalidpointinthispaperreferringtorelevantissuesregarding
incarceration.Iwouldlovetohavemyideasbeheard.
Sources
Smith,Jeff.JeffSmith:LessonsinBusinessfromPrison.
Ted.
June2012.Web.16Mar.
2016

Gangi,RobertSchiraldi,VincentZiedenberg,Jason.NewYorkStateofMind?Higher
Educationvs.PrisonFundingintheEmpireState,19881998.
ERIC.
1999.Web.Mar.2016

Pacholke,Dan.Howprisoncanhelpinmateslivemeaningfullives.
Ted.
March2014.Web.
16Mar.2016

Samuel,Molly.MoreThan40PrisonOfficersIndictedInGeorgiaOnDrugTrafficking
Charges.
NPR.
February2016.Web.16Mar.2016

Senghor,Shaka.Whyyourworstdeedsdontdefineyou.
Ted
.March2014.Web.16Mar.
2016

Reynolds,Marylee.TheWaronDrugs,PrisonBuilding,andGlobalization:Catalystsforthe
GlobalIncarcerationofWomen.
NWSAJournal
20.2(2008):7295.Web

Capelouto,Susanna.AmidAShortageOfWelders,SomePrisonsOfferTraining.
NPR.
September2015.Web.16Mar.2016

Westervelt,Eric.WhyArentThereMoreHigherEdProgramsBehindBars?NPR.September
2015.Web.16Mar.2016

Gore,SheilaM.etal..DrugUseinPrison.
BMJ:BritishMedicalJournal
313.7054(1996):
429429.Web

Horsley,Scott.
ObamaVisitsFederalPrison,AFirstForASittingPresident.
NPR.
July2015.
Web.16Mar.2016

S-ar putea să vă placă și