Davis Views On Perfecting The Prison System
Perfecting the Prison System
Thesis: Davis’ reforms can help alleviate philosophical prison problems by preparing students to become better adults and providing the necessary care and help to those in need before it is too late, such as those with mental illness and drug problems.
Foucault, Guenther, and Alexander’s Views Over the Prison System: While the prison system is supposed to punish offenders for their crimes and help rehabilitate offenders to return to society as functional individuals, there are a number of issues with the prison system. According to recent statistics, studies have shown the United States to have the highest rate of incarceration compared to any other country in the world, at 750 incarcerated for every 100,000 …show more content…
According to Alexander, the problem here is not just that most of the prison populations are black or of other minorities, but rather according to studies, people from all races use and sell illegal drugs at almost the same rate. If this is the case, it does not make sense why prisons are for most part filled with black and other minority populations. This, according to Alexander. is a form of discrimination with the war on drugs being largely directed towards African Americans. With drug charges resulting in more African Americans prosecutions, Alexander notes this ultimately results in the segregation of these young people from the mainstream society as they are locked in prison. It is these events that Alexander describes as having in resulted in the “New Jim Crow,” segregating people based on the color of their skin as well as their economic …show more content…
Guenther describes as the "Third Wave of Solitary Confinement,” through units known as “Control Units,” “Security Housing Units,” and “Administrative Segregation Facilities” among others, various prisoners, for various reasons, are separated from others are put into solitary confinement for up to 22 hours per day. In this system, this can go on for some prisoners for decades, with those who show any signs of not cooperating even being pepper sprayed as a form of punishment. Given that this takes place inside the prison and thus away from the public, this means that prisoners are at the mercy of prison officials, who can do just about anything with the authority they have. For one former prisoner noted in Guenther’s work, such isolations ultimately result in a form of social death where prisoners, and even those released, ultimately find it difficult or uncomfortable to be around others socially. According to Guenther, this is in fact a real problem that affects both incarcerated prisoners as well as those who are ultimately released. With prisoners left at the mercy of the prison officials, this becomes even more problematic given that they can be mistreated for the smallest reason or no reason at all, as in many cases with pepper
Thesis: Davis’ reforms can help alleviate philosophical prison problems by preparing students to become better adults and providing the necessary care and help to those in need before it is too late, such as those with mental illness and drug problems.
Foucault, Guenther, and Alexander’s Views Over the Prison System: While the prison system is supposed to punish offenders for their crimes and help rehabilitate offenders to return to society as functional individuals, there are a number of issues with the prison system. According to recent statistics, studies have shown the United States to have the highest rate of incarceration compared to any other country in the world, at 750 incarcerated for every 100,000 …show more content…
According to Alexander, the problem here is not just that most of the prison populations are black or of other minorities, but rather according to studies, people from all races use and sell illegal drugs at almost the same rate. If this is the case, it does not make sense why prisons are for most part filled with black and other minority populations. This, according to Alexander. is a form of discrimination with the war on drugs being largely directed towards African Americans. With drug charges resulting in more African Americans prosecutions, Alexander notes this ultimately results in the segregation of these young people from the mainstream society as they are locked in prison. It is these events that Alexander describes as having in resulted in the “New Jim Crow,” segregating people based on the color of their skin as well as their economic …show more content…
Guenther describes as the "Third Wave of Solitary Confinement,” through units known as “Control Units,” “Security Housing Units,” and “Administrative Segregation Facilities” among others, various prisoners, for various reasons, are separated from others are put into solitary confinement for up to 22 hours per day. In this system, this can go on for some prisoners for decades, with those who show any signs of not cooperating even being pepper sprayed as a form of punishment. Given that this takes place inside the prison and thus away from the public, this means that prisoners are at the mercy of prison officials, who can do just about anything with the authority they have. For one former prisoner noted in Guenther’s work, such isolations ultimately result in a form of social death where prisoners, and even those released, ultimately find it difficult or uncomfortable to be around others socially. According to Guenther, this is in fact a real problem that affects both incarcerated prisoners as well as those who are ultimately released. With prisoners left at the mercy of the prison officials, this becomes even more problematic given that they can be mistreated for the smallest reason or no reason at all, as in many cases with pepper