Should Prison Reform Be More Effective Without Incarceration

Diana Pena Research Paper First Draft November 17, 2015 Prison reform is the attempt to improve conditions inside prison and to find other ways for a penal system to be more effective without incarceration (Leher, 2013). The effect of prison on ex-inmates has a negative influence when trying to interact with society. According to the National Institute of Justice, about 68% of prisoners go back to prison within 3 years of their release. Prisoners may not know how to integrate back into society in the sense where, they do not have the correct training in how to communicate with society. Society views prisoners as a criminal that would never change or improve their lives. This view results in stigma. Stigma is the judgement made by society to those who may have a negative reputation in the general public (Angermeyer Schomerus, 2012.) I propose a program where a group of prisoners, according to their crime, be appointed to a counselor that has a fully understanding on the crime and their potential mental state. Also, there would be a federal reform where prisoners can learn how to interact with society, along with getting a job when released. There are over 9 million prisoners â€Å"cycling† through many different kinds of prisons (Caporrizo 2011, November 30). America’s correctional system has been arresting many people which results in prison overcrowding. During the 1960s and ‘70s, the United States got â€Å"tough on crime†, in other words, stepping up their arrestsShow MoreRelatedThe Major Punishment For Criminal Acts1526 Words   |  7 Pagesan estimated 2338,000 individuals are in state prisons, more than 90,000 are in the federal prison, and more than 5,000 are in juvenile facilities. In the same way, more than 20,000 are in territorial prisons and military prisons, as well as local jails. 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Further, inmates comprise of people from differentRead MoreThe Effects Of Incarceration On The Correctional System Essay1629 Words   |  7 PagesAlternatives to Incarceration It has been said â€Å"bad company corrupts good morals†. Parents sometimes use this phrase in hopes of keeping their children from hanging out with the wrong crowd. The prison system is no different. Locking up people in jail should be a consequence that most want to avoid thus decreasing the crime rate. In 1976, William Nagel found that incarceration did not stop criminals from committing crimes. In fact, if overcrowded prisons are increasing with more people being bookedRead MoreIncarceration Policy And Crime Reduction1332 Words   |  6 Pagesreview, studies on the relationship between incarceration policy and crime reduction is yet to be clear for utilization by policymakers. In most cases, researchers agree that increased incarceration may perhaps have a positive effect on the reduction of crime rates. 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