ipl-logo

Prison Overcrowding: Arizona's Mandatory Sentencing System

881 Words4 Pages

In 1971, 1 out of 12 Americans were incarcerated. Since that time, the prisoner ratio has exponentially increased; today, that ratio is 1 out of 51. With that number continuing to rise, many problems result out of it. Prison overcrowding is a growing problem in the United States. The number of people being taken in has regressive effects on the purpose behind imprisonment. Though the prisoners are not there for a comfortable and enjoyable stay, ethical rights are being ignored. How can a someone carry out their sentence rightfully if the focus is taken away from them and put on the judgment of the courts and justice system? Prison overcrowding is without a doubt problematic and inhumane. The mandatory sentencing laws, lack of attention on …show more content…

Within that statistic, most of the imprisoned are non-violent offenders. The problem starts with Arizona’s mandatory imprisonment laws. Research highlights that, “under Arizona's mandatory sentencing system, non-violent offenders make up the majority of state prisoners” (Greene). However, the mandatory sentencing does not just affect Arizona’s population. All across America, mandatory sentencing laws are forcing people to be put into prisons without a second thought. These laws were initiated in the 1970’s and put into action in the 1980’s. Ronald Reagan made these laws after initiating a war on the production, sale, and usage of illegal drugs. These laws insist on 5 years in prison for the first drug related felony, 10 years for the next felony sentencing, and 25 to life for the third felony. A process known as the three strikes rule. This campaign for the war on drugs has dragged out into current times. The placement of so many people into prisons for general, popular, frequent non-violent crimes has lead to such an extravagant number of people inside the walls used to punish people of horrific …show more content…

With all of the issues the government must worry about, prison overcrowding should not be one of them. The lazy and effortless attempts of the justice system that resulted in the outstanding number of people inside prisons is overbearing. There needs to be a change. Mandatory sentencing laws, lack of awareness and inhumane treatment of prisoners is unjust. For society to progress, new laws must be passed, recognition must happen, and action needs to take place. Prison overcrowding must come to an end.

Show More
Related

Proposition 57: Argumentative Analysis

2010 Words | 9 Pages

Crowding of the prisons is a big issue because it calls for more

Read More

John Pfaff Lock In Sparknotes

1080 Words | 5 Pages

Crime, Law, Administration of Justice Professor: Kelly McGeever 04/25/18 Topic- Reflection on lock-in by John Pfaff Provide your reflection on the book and argument The justice system in America caused mass incarceration to become overpopulated from the 1970s to 2000. The reason being people were sentenced for more minor crimes which resulted in prisons to become overcrowded. Based on the book Lock In by John Pfaff, the three main reasons causing mass incarceration in America were; long sentences, war and drugs, and prosecutors.

Read More

The 1970s-1980s: The War On Drugs And Changes In Sentencing Policy

687 Words | 3 Pages

Over the past 40 years U.S. incarceration has grown at an extraordinary rate, with the United States’ prison population increasing from 320,000 inmates in 1980 to nearly 2.3 million inmates in 2013. The growth in prison population is in part due to society’s shift toward tough on crime policies including determinate sentencing, truth-in-sentencing laws, and mandatory minimums. These tough on crime policies resulted in more individuals committing less serious crimes being sentenced to serve time and longer prison sentences. The 1970s-1980s: The War on Drugs and Changes in Sentencing Policy Incarceration rates did rise above 140 persons imprisoned per 100,000 of the population until the mid 1970s.

Read More

The Pros And Cons Of Prisons In Tennessee

555 Words | 3 Pages

Five of prisons in Tennessee are presently over capacity with another eight currently operating over 95% of assigned capacity (Malcolm, 2014.) “When prisons become overcrowded, there is less money and manpower to provide much-needed treatment, educational, and skills-enhancement programs in prison, and inmate-to-staff ratios can grow to levels that are unsafe for prison staff and other prisoners” (Malcolm, 2014, paragraph 11.) I believe a way to fix that issue it through using different reforms to affect the overall percentage all together. These reforms include limit sentencing, more programs, more parole and probation officers, and specialized courts.

Read More

The Pros And Cons In Support Of The Arizona Prison System

1068 Words | 5 Pages

Of the 50 United States in 2011, the state of Arizona ranks ninth in crime rate with 3,961 crimes occurring per 100,000 people. This statistic is well above the national average, and ranks in the top 10% of the nation. And to go along with such high crime rates, high prison funding is sure to follow, a problem recognized by the general public. A fact sheet quoting data taken in 2010 states that the Arizona Department of Corrections had $998.5 million in prison expenditures, leaving the price of prisons nearing $1 billion. As if those raw numbers aren’t staggering enough, those who are against the current prison system in Arizona point to taxpayer dollars as a major point of concern.

Read More

Essay On Jasper County Jail Overcrowding

578 Words | 3 Pages

Supporting Research: According to a recent study by the National Institute of Justice, overcrowding in county jails is a growing problem throughout the United States, and can have serious consequences for both inmates and the communities in which they are housed. The study found that overcrowding can lead to increased levels of violence, health risks, and reduced access to services and programs. These findings are supported by a local news article from the Joplin Globe, which reported on the growing overcrowding problem in Jasper County, Missouri. Funding

Read More

The Pros And Cons Of State Prisons

616 Words | 3 Pages

According to the book, State and Local Government, “2.3 million people are confined to state prisons and local jails in the United States” (Bowman and Kearney 459). Also prisons have grown 4 percent over the years. However, “prisons continue to operate beyond official capacity in many states, despite the construction of numerous new facilities to reduce the problems of prison overcrowding and its accompanying conditions of poor sanitation, inadequate health care, and high levels of violence” (Bowman and Kearney 459). There are three factors to the reason behind high imprisonment rates such as harsh sentences, public opinions, and drug enforcement penalties. But most are concerned by who should pay, how much is the public responsible to help pay, and how much should

Read More

Essay On Mass Incarceration

959 Words | 4 Pages

Our prison system is nothing more than a people mill, where more than hundreds of individuals go in for the crimes they commit, and they do not necessarily come out. Policymakers and the public see mass incarceration as a useful tool for a swift and stern justice system but mass incarceration, in fact, has a negative impact on crime and carries collateral consequences with it. Mass incarceration and

Read More

The Pros And Cons Of Capital Punishment

873 Words | 4 Pages

However, the death penalty reduces overcrowding, provides closure for victim’s family, and is true justice. Capital punishment can deal with overpopulated prisons in the United States. Prison overcrowding is one of the contributing factors to poor prison conditions. Its consequences can prevent prisons from fulfilling their functions as well (penalreform.org). For example, it can increase sickness among the inmates and prison guards.

Read More

Essay On Mass Incarceration

1125 Words | 5 Pages

The funds are still not enough to properly take care of the prisoners we have. This is leading to many problems. I will discuss issue of overcrowding, problems it has created and ways to fix these issues. Overcrowding in prisons may seem like an easy fix if you fail to fully engross yourself in every aspect of this situation. At first, I was naïve and thought that if you just released people, the problem would fix itself.

Read More

Prison Overcrowding Speech Outline

994 Words | 4 Pages

According to Portland State University, “Approximately one in 35 U.S. adults are incarcerated, on parole or on probation”. B) According to Penal Reform International, “In most prison systems, prisoners do not have the minimum space requirements recommended by international standards, spending up to 23 hours of the day, if not all day, in overcrowded cells. Overcrowding can be so severe that prisoners sleep in shifts, on top of each other, share beds or tie themselves to window bars so that they can sleep while standing”. Transition to Second Main Point: Now that we have defined what prison overcrowding is, let’s identify common causes.

Read More

Pros And Cons Of Prison Reform

852 Words | 4 Pages

V. PRISON REFORMS The main part of this research paper is the reforms for the conditions of prison and make prison a better place for prisoner and make an alternative for incarceration. The prison Reform for prevention of overcrowding in prisons: A ten-point method for reducing the overcrowding in the prisons all over the world, these points are1: 1. Collect and use data to inform a rational, humane and cost-effective use of prison.

Read More

The Benefits Of Overcrowding Prisons

143 Words | 1 Pages

Another way to fix overcrowding prisons is to educate parolees that are being released back into society. Having better reeducation systems for parolees will teach them how to become a better citizen. After being educated as a good citizen they will become more productive to the community and society. In 2005 the Bureau of Justice Statistics gathered data with results being 400,000 individuals on parole in 30 states ended up recidivating (BJS). If we focus on giving these parolees a better chance to survive outside of jail with reeducation programs and more advanced monitoring while on parole the recidivism rates would go down decreasing the amount of prison overcrowding.

Read More

Prison Overpopulation Essay

899 Words | 4 Pages

Prison overpopulation is the issue where the number of incarcerated people exceeds the intended capacity of the facility. This is an emerging issue in the United States, where the prison population has increased significantly in decades due to a variety of factors, such as mandatory minimum sentencing laws and the war on drugs. This larger size of people can create various problems for the dwellers and staff of the prison. Although some may claim that prison is supposed to feel uncomfortable and that it is a waste of money to improve it, seem to forget that overpopulation is a major contributor to poor healthcare and violence.

Read More

Argumentative Essay On Incarceration In America

874 Words | 4 Pages

Over 2 million people are currently being held in United States prisons, and while the U.S. may only hold 5% of the world’s population, it houses 25% of its prisoners. In the past few years, America’s prison system has fallen under public scrutiny for it’s rising incarceration rate and poor statistics. Many Americans have recently taken notice of the country’s disproportionate prisoner ratio, realized it’s the worst on the planet, and called for the immediate reformation of the failing system. The war on drugs and racial profiling are some of the largest concerns, and many people, some ordinary citizens and others important government figures, are attempting to bring change to one of the country 's lowest aspects.

Read More

More about Prison Overcrowding: Arizona's Mandatory Sentencing System

Open Document