In his book Discipline and Punish, Michel Foucault argues that the penal system is deliberately constructed to be a machine. Reformers in the 18th century wanted the prison to work more effectively in its machine-like state, cycling people in and out, rather than being concerned with inmates’ well-being and correction. It is a machine that makes money for itself by offering cheap labor provided by prisoners, and it is heavily monitored to make sure no one breaks away from their place in the machine. Everything done within the penal system is systematic, scheduled. Because of this, Foucault points to the fact that prisons actually cause recidivism. This fact is also proven by the National Institute of Justice; nearly 68 percent of prior inmates …show more content…
Black and Latinx people are usually treated worse than white people during stops, and are more likely to get an immediate arrest rather than a summons. Corey, a 19-year-old that was featured in the stop-and-frisk report, says that they feel that living in the Bronx is a target in itself. “I live in the Bronx, and the Bronx is like one of the...poorest counties in the nation…” (CCR, 2012). Some people that were interviewed said that they would even change their style of dress to look more like middle or upper class to avoid being stopped by police. When inmates are released from prison, they have to readjust to life outside prison or fall victim to recidivism. It is not always easy for ex-inmates to successfully receive and hold down a job, though. On job applications, potential employees are often asked if they have any felony charges. Even though the application says that a positive answer to the question will not immediately disqualify them from the hiring process, but it does not look good to have a felony on their record. Therefore, some ex-inmates may resort to easy yet illegal activities to earn income, such as selling