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The Problems with Prisons

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The Problems with Prisons
Problems with Prisons

The Michigan Department of Corrections annual budget is 2 billion dollars, and the average annual cost per inmate is $32,000. 4.5 percent of the state general fund allocated in the 2009-2010 budget proposal. Michigan’s total department active personnel contains 16,324 people. There are 50,693 incarcerated under MDOC jurisdiction with a total of 49 facilities that have had 2 escapes. The parole system makes up 17,435 people.

Prison overcrowding is a huge problem in correctional facilities. Overcrowding causes some serious security, discipline, sanitation, and health issues. There are a few suggestions I have that could help reduce the overcrowding, as well.

Overcrowding in prisons causes many problems, which is why it is a serious concern in the U.S. Once the causes of crowding have been established, researchers can begin to address the problems it causes and deal with them. However, the best way to solve the problems created by overcrowding is by eliminating overcrowding. Prisons have been forced to double-celling. Inmates in prisons are required to have a certain amount of space. A legal case in 1981 addressed overcrowding as potentially cruel and unusual punishment.

Prison overcrowding is caused by a variety of issues, such as not enough room in prisons, fluctuating crime rates, changes to laws, and improvements to law enforcement tactics. Three Michigan state prisons and five prison camps have been closed to save 120 million dollars. In Muskegon County, a local jail packs in 424 inmates, when the jail was meant only for 370 inmates. Researchers have determined that some of the causes of prison overcrowding are harsher penalties for criminal activities, changes to laws that make new actions illegal, high recidivism rates, and needed improvements to the penal system.

Prison overcrowding is a very dangerous thing. There are many prisons that have experienced much more violence. The staff hasn’t been increased


Cited: http://online.ccj.pdx.edu/resources/news-article/prison-overcrowding-is-a-growing-concern-in-the-u-s/ http://www.psmag.com/politics/persistent-problem-sexual-assault-prison-68514/ http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/the-problem-with-prisons/#axzz2lifnFCz8 https://www.prisonlegalnews.org/21225_displayArticle.aspx
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