Mass Incarceration Effects On Innocent Lives
I think we all can agree that commiting a crime is not okay, and that there will eventually be consequences if you get caught. Consequences that lead to being isolated for months or even years that dehumanize you. Incarceration is a continuous problem in the U.S, at a staggering rate of 698 per 100,000 residents ( “Mass incarceration”, Sawyer and Wanger). It’s easy to look at someone who has a criminal record and judge them but why do we fail to judge the prison system? We must take into consideration that our country’s criminal justice system has flaws that need to be addressed, that are ultimately affecting the lives of our youth, communities and those who are convicted.
When the parent of young children under the age of eighteen are being incarcerated, we can expect to see changes in behavior. It’s traumatizing to a child when one of your parents is taken away from you and you can’t do anything about it. Children who only have one parent, are left to suffer by themselves and eventually begin to build up hate and anger. This behavior is then dragged into their school environment, which can lead them to act out and not being able to focus on their school work (“ Children’s Outcomes”, Morsy and Rothstein). More than 5.7 million children have experienced parental interaction at some point in their lives, and I think more resources should be available at schools to help guide students who are dealing with this. It’s common to see that many students particularly black and hispanic, a mistrust in authority like teachers and police ( “The trust gap”, Tim Walker). If we can better these in school relationships where children spend the majority of their day, it will help our children to thrive even if they are going through stuff at home. School for many children is an escape from their personal issues and some its a nightmare to face. If I were to use myself as an example I would say that school was my safe place because I was able to run away from the thought of my father in prison instead of being home with my sisters and I. The physiological aspect children have to face is also alarming, young kids who’s worries should only be about what’s going to be on their math test the next day turn into worrying about when their parents will be back. Ranging from ages six to seven, about 20% of those children have been depressed and at least 2.8 million adolescents had at least on major depressive episode, this is WRONG. We must take this issue seriously and help create better relationships with law enforcement and schools in order for a children to feel safe and comfortable when faced with hardships.
The amount of prisons that have been built in the U.S are exceedingly higher than the amount of schools, and this is very disappointing. What this tells us is that the U.S expects their to be more people incarcerated then going to school. This is an issue, communities need to fight for reform because that’s taxpayer money, that is funding the construction of those prisons instead of perfecting and establishing better school systems in order to keep future generations out of prison and into college. ( Los Angeles times, Mark Boster). In addition, I think another valuable asset to any community are quality rec centers, it serves for everyone and it can potentially keep children out the streets. If we begin to adjust things like this in our lower income communities we can help build safe and a fun environment for kids to stay out of trouble. Community centers are not only great for sports and physical activity but it can also be used as “ local mentorship programs, providing guidance and leadership development” which is very important when kids are dealing with stuff at home ( Sports Advisory). Communities with high poverty levels are the ones who have to deal with the increase of mass incineration. It’s quite simple actually, when families can’t afford to pay rent, put food on the table for their children, and pay other necessity bills, people get desperate. People are willing to go to extreme lengths ( even if it includes breaking the law) in order to ensure that their family is okay and in order to survive; and that’s the sad truth.
Unfortunately another big issue we see happen in our criminal justice system is over sentencing for minor crimes; like simple drug charges. The amount of people in state prison for drug offenses are 10 times than in 1980 (Sentencing project), we have increasingly targeted low-level offenders for arrest and incarceration. This is obviously concerning because our system is failing to highlight the heavier crimes; like the one of Brock turner. Just to briefly summarize why this case affects thousands of college students, Turner was convicted to serve only six months of jail for sexually assaulting an unconscious girl. This is horrifying and degrading to think that this kind of atrocity isn’t served justice, while someone like Patrick Beadle receives an eight year prison system for possessing 2.3 pounds of marijuana (Ezekiel Edwards, “Purchased legally in another state”). In addition our laws and society of the U.S make it practically impossible for the 600,000 people who are released each year to be successful when they are let free. People who are convicted are less likely to be able to find a fair and stable job, reconnect with their families and be seen by society as a rehabilitated person. Unfortunately those who get out, don’t have it easy out in the real world, their physical and mental health are at risk. Physically they can be infected with HIV and other diseases from lack of cleanliness and order, as well as face mental illness that they are forced to live with, without any help in the real world. Many prisoners, once released are left to deal with homelessness and joblessness which make it highly likely that they will end up in prison once again. Citizens can argue that society is being forced to pay for millions of prison sentences that are truly not being rehabilitated (“Mass incarceration affect communities) which is true because prisoners aren’t given the proper resources and help needed to change in or out of prison.
In class we were able to read a chapter about solitary confinement and even experience a virtual tour of a cell, that prisoners spend years in. This and understanding the effects mass incarceration has on families ( because I have experienced it myself) is what inspired me to research more about the hidden victims. The hidden victims who represent families, young children and communities who also have to deal with hardships of their own when someone else faces imprisonment. This essay is able to capture a small grasp of what interaction means in the U.S and how we must fight for prison reform.
Works Cited
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Edwards, Ezekiel. “Mississippi Sentences Man to 8 Years in Prison for Medical Marijuana He Purchased Legally in Another State.” American Civil Liberties Union, American Civil Liberties Union, 23 Oct. 2018, www.aclu.org/blog/criminal-law-reform/drug-law-reform/mississippi-sentences-man-8-years-prison-medical-marijuana.
Fantz, Ashley. “Outrage over Six-Month Sentence in Stanford Rape Case.” CNN, Cable News Network, 7 June 2016, www.cnn.com/2016/06/06/us/sexual-assault-brock-turner-stanford/index.html.
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Lee, Michelle Ye Hee. “Yes, U.S. Locks People up at a Higher Rate than Any Other Country.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 7 July 2015, www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/07/07/yes-u-s-locks-people-up-at-a-higher-rate-than-any-other-country/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.01c45de10548.
Mason, Melanie. “How ‘Schools Not Prisons’ Became a Favorite Rallying Cry for Criminal Justice Reformers.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2017, www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac-prison-schools-tax-20170423-story.html.
“Mass Incarceration and Children’s Outcomes: Criminal Justice Policy Is Education Policy.” Economic Policy Institute, www.epi.org/publication/mass-incarceration-and-childrens-outcomes/.
Sawyer, Wendy, and Peter Wagner. “Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2019.” Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2019 | Prison Policy Initiative, www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2019.html?c=pie&gclid=CjwKCAjw0N3nBRBvEiwAHMwvNvUcdoBp0IoPUIJex6a0dzOV0K4DSOpcAXaRQWu3_XVQU96IAxxslhoC-m4QAvD_BwE.
