9781422280027

Norval Morris, in The Oxford History of the Prison , suggests that the rise in U.S. imprisonment is largely because of sentencing reforms. Because of a rise in crime during the late 1960s and early 1970s, a mentality of “get tough on crime” caused more criminals to be sentenced to prison for longer terms, and stiffer policies for drug arrests came into being. According to the FBI, almost 50 percent of federal prisoners are in prison for drug-related offenses. “Three strikes and you’re out” laws for repeat offenders and “truth in sentencing” laws restricting early release also raised the prison population. Where once a parole board could release a prisoner at an earlier date than his maximum sentence, this became less likely in the 1980s. The public accused judges and parole boards of being too soft on criminals; consequently, parole officers began cracking down on pa- rolees—oftentimes returning them to prison at the first sign of a parole offense. Through the 1980s and 1990s, the public experienced a growing fear of crime. Politicians noticed they could boost their popularity by opposing crime because no powerful group of voters is usually against a “get tough on crime agenda.” Crime Is Falling According to a 2015 report from the Brookings Institution, the national crime rate peaked in 1991. Since that time, violent crime (murder, assault) has dropped by 51 percent, its lowest point in 45 years. Put another way, 79.8 people per every 1,000 were victims of violent crimes annually in the early 1990s. Today, that number sits at about 23 victimizations per 1,000. Who’s Who in Prison? The two main groups involved in prison life are the prisoners and the staff. Each sees the other with some prejudice. Inmates view guards as stupid and authoritarian, and correctional officers see prisoners as corrupt, untrustworthy, and vicious. The average age of inmates in the United States is 40. In the federal prisons, 93 percent are male. Thirty-five percent are Hispanic, 34 percent are black, 27 percent are white, and the rest are Native American, Asian, or “other.” The Federal Bureau of Prisons (FBOP) lists 70 percent of U.S. inmates as American; 20 percent as Colombian, Mexican, or Cuban; and 10 percent as coming from other countries. Aging prisoners are a growing population. In the state of Arizona more than 5,000 graying inmates are behind bars, and the state must pay for all their medical needs. Arizona is a mirror of a national problem: states are trying to find ways to pay for the mounting medical costs of aging prison populations. Approximately 16 states have special housing units for geriatric inmates.

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the prison System

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