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Are Prisons Obsolete By Angela Davis

1097 Words5 Pages

Today in the United States, there is more than 7.1 million individuals under correctional supervision. For every 100,000 people, there is approximately 737 people incarcerated, nearly seven times higher than the world average incarceration rate of 166 per 100,000 people. This rapid explosion of prison populations over the past 25 years can largely be attributed to The War on Drugs and mandatory minimums which have primarily target the African-American community. Mandatory sentencing guides have led to many individuals being locked up for minor drug offences and non-violent crimes. As a result, prisons are overflowing with incarcerated individuals. Overcrowded and dysfunctional, the prison system overwhelmingly treats the inmates in a dehumanizing …show more content…

The consequences of this means that when inmates are released back into society, they are unable to function as productive citizens and are more likely to be repeat offenders. In essence, the emphasis on retribution within prisons actually makes society more dangerous by releasing mentally and emotionally damaged inmates without a support of system or medical treatment. Angela Davis addresses this specific issue within her book, Are Prisons Obsolete? In her effort to analyze the harmful effects of incarceration, she recognizes that many people within prison suffer emotional and mental illnesses but are not helped or treated for them. In addition, solitary confinement, which can cause people severe and lasting mental distress after only 15 days, breaks individuals down and leaves them with lasting negative ramifications. With such traumatic experiences or undiagnosed mental illnesses, inmates who are released from prison have an extremely hard time readjusting to society and often lash out and commit crimes as a result of their untreated problems. It is for this particular reason that Davis says we must focus on rehabilitation and provide services for inmates while incarcerated and before they are released. Solutions she proposes are shorter sentences, education and job training programs, humane prison conditions, and better medical facilities and service. With adequate care and conditions, released inmates will able to find jobs, start families, and become functioning members of society rather then returning to

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