Prison Overcrowding A Negative Effect On The Inmates

When a prison becomes overcrowded its intended mission and goal becomes more difficult for the administration to achieve. It can have adverse effects on the lives of inmates, correctional staff, and even cause those released from prison to fall victim to recidivism after release. The objective of this paper is to critically analyze and research this issue in order to come to some conclusions about this issue, and the credibility of the resources used. Overcrowding in prisons has a negative effect on the inmates both during the sentence and even after. The first article I read was â€Å"Contemporary Prison Overcrowding: Short-term Fixes to a Perpetual Problem†. After reading it I took away a very practical understanding of the issue. The reading, although somewhat dry, included causes, consequences, and possible solutions to overcrowding in prisons. I particularly liked one of the presented solutions which was for the federal, state, and local institutions to give more careful consideration during the classification of custody. For example, some inmates are in restrictive custody when their sentence may be better served in a halfway house or on parole. The second article I chose was â€Å"Does Prison Crowding Predict Higher Rates of Substance Use Related Parole Violations?†. This was a more recent article and included many helpful statistics, was easy to read, comprehend, and included multiple angles. The article even included test studies and data charts. The charts showed theShow MoreRelatedEffects Of Prison Overcrowding907 Words   |  4 PagesAnother effect is that prisoners must spend more time inside due to the lack of officers to watch them in the outside areas. This results in less time outside in the fresh air and sunshine for the prisoners which lead to their dissatisfaction; unhappy prisoners are harder to control and more fighting is the result. There is also the problem of watching the inmates so that they have to remain inside their small cells for more time during the day. (Prison overcrowding is a growing concern in the URead MoreOvercrowding Of Prisons And Its Effects On Inmates1389 Words   |  6 PagesOv ercrowding in Prisons In the United States, the increasing population within prisons contribute to the stress regarding the security of correctional facilities’ and the negative effects on inmates. Overcrowding can be defined as a space with a concentrated number of objects or people in a space beyond comfort. According to Verne Cox, PhD, â€Å"as a group of prison researchers summarized, in the 1980s [...] crowding in prisons is a major source of administrative problems and adversely affects inmateRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Prison Overcrowding1524 Words   |  7 PagesPrison Overcrowding is a topic that isn’t brought up much in the media. However, it’s one that should be addressed more than it is. Overcrowding puts Correctional Officer’s safety at risk as well as the safety of inmates. There must be a way to reduce the number of inmates or possibly build additional prisons. Prison overcrowding has many negative effects ranging from sickness, to even death. The first article I want to discuss is â€Å"Underfunded, Overcrowded State Prisons Struggle With Reform†. OnRead MorePrison Overcrwoding in America and England1234 Words   |  5 PagesPrison overcrowding in the United States is due to many reoccurring charges that is being sentenced to inmates that have been released and returning. As the increasing inmate population is a growing concern in the U.S, many law enforcement agencies and academic expert have analyzed data about the situation and are working to combat it. Research shows that Drugs are mainly to blame. Of the inmates in federal prison as of September 2011, more than half or 50.4% was serving sentences for drug offensesRead MoreThe Negative Effects Of Prison Overcrowding1361 Words   |  6 Pagesmany prison in the United States, but all the prison are being overcrowded by inmates. What is prison overcrowding? Prison overcrowding is exceeding the numbers of inmates and not having enough beds and space for the inma tes (Stohr Walsh, 122). When prison is overcrowded, this means there are less officers in the prisons to take care of the inmates, which becomes a safety concern. Many prisons are over capacity but yet they are still taking in inmates and making the situation worse. Prison overcrowdingRead MoreCan Racial Profiling Be Justified1612 Words   |  7 Pagesyou’re out† law is in effect in different states around the country. In basic terms, the law requires that any offender that is convicted of three violent crimes must receive a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The law is aimed at reducing crime by focusing on the small percentage of criminals that commit the majority of violent crimes and felonies. Many systems have been lenient with repeat offenders, allowing them to return to a life of crime after short stints in prison. Sometimes, theseRead MoreReduced Time from Prison1440 Words   |  6 PagesTime from Prison Prisons are correctional facilities where offenders are incarcerated as punishment and deterrent from engaging in other criminal activities. It serves justice for victims of criminal offenses and provides a chance for the offender to reflect, and with prison time; they will become better citizens of society. This however, may not always be the case. If an inmate exhibits understanding of good behavior and structure, a prisoner may not serve his or her full sentence in prison. They mayRead MoreProblems With The Three Strikes Legislation1610 Words   |  7 Pagesyou’re out† law is in effect in different states around the country. In basic terms, the law requires that any offender that is convicted of three violent crimes must receive a sentence of 25 years to life in prison. The law is aimed at reducing crime by focusing on the small percentage of criminals that commit the majority of violent crimes and felonies. Many systems have been lenient with repeat offenders, all owing them to return to a life of crime after short stints in prison. Sometimes, theseRead MorePrison Overcrowding And Its Effects On The United States Essay1605 Words   |  7 PagesPer Derek Gilna’s report on Increase in Federal Prison Population, Overcrowding, prisons have become overpopulated throughout a five-year span from 2006 to 2011 (Gilna, page 48). Prison overcrowding has become a plague in the United States for some time now. The US Bureau of Justice Statistics shows more than two-million adults are incarcerated in US federal and state prisons. There are many reasons that prisons are becoming overpopulated but not such a certain cause. To fix the problem, attentionRead MoreIncreased Population of Prisons Essay1606 Words   |  7 PagesOvercrowded prisons and improper punishment systems are enormous social issues for our government. The United States has seen steady growth in its prisons. A projected increment in seen due to â€Å"get-tough† policies that locks up offenders for longer sentences (Ohlemacher, 2007, para. 1). The correction system had been through various phases of transformation, and the government had been tough on crime; this approach had resulted in rising prison populations. There are many factors that cause overcrowding