Reforming US Prisons: A Debate Among Leaders and Criminal Law Researchers - Essay Sample

Introduction

Recently, the debate about whether relevant stakeholders should make reforms to the US prison has ensued among the leaders, criminal law researchers and scholars, and the general public. Prison system reforms are advocacy and litigation ways that states and federal governments can explore to set right some existing feeble prison systems. These reforms aim at promoting public safety and the successful restoration of individuals affected by crimes through the use of constructive prison culture that encourages responsibility and self-control of prisoners. The proponents of these reforms believe that they are successful ways to; minimize the possibility of recidivism, promote positive community support for released incarcerates, and encourage proper prison management. Those opposing prison reforms argue that criminals can't be redeemed and say that they should be punished rather than rewarded with favorable changes. Although no prison reforms are entirely perfect, the United States should explore some reforms that aim at incorporating prison programming, prison visitation, and human dignity promotion, therefore, minimizing a possibility for a released prisoner to re-offending and maximize the possibility of released offenders becoming productive members of their community.

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The main argument for the proponents of prison reforms is the reduction of recidivism. Ex-convicts face numerous problems while trying to re-enter their communities. Multiple legal barriers hinder them from getting regular services like licenses, jobs, housing, and other vital needs of human existence. Records show that more than 74% of men released from prisons in the US struggle to secure employment even for more than eight months after their release (Criminal Justice Program). These barriers, together with public stigma, affect the safety of the public and restrict the released convicts from living as they wish to. These challenges can force previous offenders to re-offend to return to their comfort zones, where they seem accepted and appreciated by others around them. With prison reforms that are aimed at prison programming (employment programs sensitization, life skills and family management education, religious education, and mental health and substance abuse counselling) will equip offenders with the required essential outside community skills that will reduce recidivism, save on tax-payers money, promote employment chances for released prisoners, and eliminate the possibility of transgression in prison facilities. (Criminal Justice Program)

Secondly, prison reforms that advocates for prison visitation policies will help in fostering support for a released offender upon community re-entry. Through incarceration, most healthy family and friend's relationships are broken due to lack of connection when one goes to prison. According to the bureau of justice statistics, of all prisoners in state prisons, a meager 31% received an active visitation from friends and family (Mosteller). This low visitation record is a result of distance issues and a lack of know-how of the visitation policies. The lack of a healthy family and community connection is the primary cause, prison violence, recidivism, and the intergenerational crime cycle. Prison reforms aim at maintaining the pre-prison positive contact and relationship between an offender, their children, family members, and friends. The changes can be achieved by improving visitation rights and guaranteeing that the prisoner's family and friends distance to the prison facility will influence prison placement decisions. These policies maintain healthy family relationships and positive community ties such that, when a prisoner is released, support from the community is ensured hence reducing recidivism and intergenerational crime. (Mosteller)

Thirdly, prison reforms are helpful in prison management. Prison systems management ought to safeguard the human rights of the prisoners. Policies and practices by prison authorities should adhere to the international standards of fairness and humanity. The exercises should be within the rule of law and designed to prepare prisoners for life after release. Prison reforms recommended include an increase in wages paid for prison labor and improving the living conditions of prisons. The mistreatment of incarcerates has been documented in the US to cause reprisals from prisoners leading to prison revolts and disturbance. Examples of prison violence are; the 1971's African prison rebellion that demanded better humane condition, and the 2018's Hyde Correctional facility demonstration that asked for parole and better food (Jonsson and Gass). Prison reforms that advocate for bettering prison management policies and practices that incorporate inmates' contribution on how to be living conditions will eliminate prison brutality witnessed in the US prison system. (Jonsson and Gass)

One argument that the opponents of prison system reforms give is that it is a waste of money and resources for irredeemable people who don't deserve it. They believe that these offenders should be punished and not comforted. They view reforms like an increase in wages for prison labor and the bettering of living conditions as a means of rewarding criminals. They point out that with these favors, more individuals in the outside world would be incentivized to offend and be imprisoned so as to enjoy the rewards lazily. They also maintain that recidivism would be promoted rather than minimized because when ex-convicts taste a good life in prison, they will always re-offend and return to enjoy more. Although these arguments are giving reasons to punish offenders, the main aims of our prisons are rehabilitation and redemption of our fellow countrymen and women imprisoned for their crimes, which can only be achieved with prison reforms. (Ford)

Reforming the US prison system is contentious debate among all related stakeholders from the scholars, leaders, state and federal governments, and many others. Most groups call for reforming the prison systems because they will deter the occurrence of crimes in the future and foster public safety. The proponents focus on the point that prison reforms will reduce recidivism because released prisoners have knowledge and skills to become a constructive member of the community. Reforming of visitation policies also guarantees community support after incarceration because of maintained support with family members and friends, hence no need to return to crime ways. Prison reforms also promote fair prison management practices that lead to reduced prison violence. I suggest the fast-tracking of prison reforms because the benefits of reduced recidivism and ex-convict constructive participation in the community are appealing. With an added advantage of lowering prison brutality, these reforms can revolutionize the US prison system for the better.

Works Cited

Criminal Justice Programs. "3 Reasons the Criminal Justice System Needs Reform." Criminal Justice Programs, 4 Oct. 2018, www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/articles/3-reasons-the-criminal-justice-system-needs-reform/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2019.

Ford, Matt. "The Man Who Hates Criminal Justice Reform." The New Republic, 7 May 2018, newrepublic.com/article/148307/man-hates-criminal-justice-reform. Accessed 15 Oct. 2019.

Jonsson, Patrik, and Henry Gass. "Amid Debate on Prison Reform, Rising Voices from the Inside." The Christian Science Monitor, 10 Sept. 2018, www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2018/0910/Amid-debate-on-prison-reform-rising-voices-from-the-inside. Accessed 15 Oct. 2019.

Mosteller, Jeremiah. "Why Prison Reform Matters in America." Charles Koch Institute, 22 June 2018, www.charleskochinstitute.org/issue-areas/criminal-justice-policing-reform/why-prison-reform-matters/. Accessed 15 Oct. 2019.