In his book, Just Mercy, Bryan Stevenson delves into the disconcerting issues of the United States’ extremely corrupt legal system and widespread, heartrending mass incarceration and extreme punishment. Stevenson’s eloquent writing style and captivating stories draw in readers and opens eyes to the recondite, yet extremely important issues with the criminal justice system. The overarching theme of Stevenson’s book is that the current justice system fails time after time, and causes much unwarranted hardship for countless innocent people. Through cases of racial minorities, women, the mentally ill, juveniles and more, this book explains the epidemic of unjust mass incarceration in the United States. Stevenson, a young African American attorney, …show more content…
They have become alienated by society, and are strangers to their friends and family. The psychological impact of incarcerating an innocent or undeserving individual can be detrimental. Post-victimization disorders such as post acute stress disorder and PTSD can cause emotional detachment, despair, hostility, and increased risk of various phobias (Polifroni, 2018). Unwarranted subjectivity to extreme punishment and condemnation leaves victims with a host of potential social, emotional, and psychological deficits including distrust, dependance on institutions, diminished self-worth, post-traumatic stress reactions and more (Haney, 2002). The process of being incarcerated brings about several psychological adaptations, brought about by the extreme demands of living in prison. Even after release, the counterproductive, deeply internalized patterns learned in prison are still present (Haney, 2002). In addition, the rate of incarceration of mentally ill individuals is alarming. Suspects will mental and developmental disorders are often unfairly sent to prison without regard to their conditions, leaving them helpless. Mentally ill inmates have an even more difficult time adjusting to life in prison, leaving them at an even higher risk for psychological