Prison Overcrowding
Prison Overcrowding
Terence Ingram
Professor Karina Arzumanova, Esq.
January 27, 2013
Strayer University
Prison Overcrowding
Criminal Activity is on the rise. With prison populations growing at an all-time rate, the federal prison system has not been able to keep up. As a result, this is a serious problem which puts inmates and guards in danger and holds back efforts to rehabilitate convicts. ( McLaughlin, 2012)
Violence will be on the rise as more inmates are squeezed into small living quarters. Increased inmate misconduct is a direct result of prison overcrowding which negatively affects the safety and security of inmates and staff. If prisons don’t find a solution to this problem, it will create more tension and could potentially cause an inmate to snap and create a violent incident. With more prisoners confined in small spaces, prison officials are forced to cut back on inmate’s cafeteria time, time in the recreation yards, and television rooms. Multiple inmates are put in cells that were specifically created for one individual inmate. Common areas that were not meant to be used for inmates are being used for living arrangements even though it was not designed for that. Crowded cells and the loss of privacy increase the odds that inmates will lash out, threatening the guards keeping watch. ( McLaughlin, 2012)
Policies have been put in place to make sure that inmates are not being violated. Some may say that overcrowding in prisons is inhumane Besides the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights contains provisions that prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment and provides for a mechanism of monitoring prison conditions. Regional human rights treaties reiterate international prohibitions of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment as do national constitutions. (OHCHR Homepage)
Alternatives to imprisonment such as fines,
Terence Ingram
Professor Karina Arzumanova, Esq.
January 27, 2013
Strayer University
Prison Overcrowding
Criminal Activity is on the rise. With prison populations growing at an all-time rate, the federal prison system has not been able to keep up. As a result, this is a serious problem which puts inmates and guards in danger and holds back efforts to rehabilitate convicts. ( McLaughlin, 2012)
Violence will be on the rise as more inmates are squeezed into small living quarters. Increased inmate misconduct is a direct result of prison overcrowding which negatively affects the safety and security of inmates and staff. If prisons don’t find a solution to this problem, it will create more tension and could potentially cause an inmate to snap and create a violent incident. With more prisoners confined in small spaces, prison officials are forced to cut back on inmate’s cafeteria time, time in the recreation yards, and television rooms. Multiple inmates are put in cells that were specifically created for one individual inmate. Common areas that were not meant to be used for inmates are being used for living arrangements even though it was not designed for that. Crowded cells and the loss of privacy increase the odds that inmates will lash out, threatening the guards keeping watch. ( McLaughlin, 2012)
Policies have been put in place to make sure that inmates are not being violated. Some may say that overcrowding in prisons is inhumane Besides the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (1984), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights contains provisions that prohibit cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and punishment and provides for a mechanism of monitoring prison conditions. Regional human rights treaties reiterate international prohibitions of cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment as do national constitutions. (OHCHR Homepage)
Alternatives to imprisonment such as fines,