The Incarceration Rate Of The United States - 2970 Words

When the word America is mentioned many people get a vision. Majority of people see it as the land of the free and where many opportunities await. In many eyes, our nation (America) is viewed as being number one, all around the board. That, I can say is true but when it comes to the incarceration of its citizens, it’s not so free after all. According to Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia (2009), â€Å"the United States has the highest documented incarceration rate, and total documented prison population in the world. As of year-end 2007, a record 7.2 million people were behind bars, on probation, or on parole. Of the total, 2.3 million were incarcerated. More than 1 in 100 American adults were incarcerated at the start of 2008. The People’s Republic of China ranks second with 1.5 million, while having four times the population, thus having only about 18% per the U.S. incarceration rate.† (1) Also, â€Å"in 2002, 93.2% of the prisoners were male. About 1 0.4% of all black males in the United States between the ages 25 and 29 were sentenced and in prison, compared to 2.4% of Hispanic males, and 1.3% of white males.† (2) When reading theses statistics, I didn’t know if I was mad, or if I was just really in awe. The number of African American males in prison is astounding. I feel that without a doubt, blacks are no more criminal than anyone else in our society. Yet, it is as if blacks are more familiar with the criminal justice system than anyone else. It is almost as ifShow MoreRelatedThe Incarceration Rate Of The United States1543 Words   |  7 PagesAlternatives to Mass Incarceration Once upon a time, Americans could proudly say that America was the land of freedom and opportunity. As the Pledge of Allegiance states, â€Å"One nation under God, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.† However, under the current criminal justice system, more and more people lose their liberties because of the crimes they have committed. According to Roy Walmsley, a consultant of the United Nations and Associate of the International Center for prison studiesRead MoreThe Incarceration Rate Of The United States1370 Words   |  6 PagesAlternatives to Mass Incarceration Once upon a time, Americans could proudly say that America was the land of freedom and opportunity. As the Pledge of Allegiance states, â€Å"One nation under God, Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.† However, under the current criminal justice system, more and more people lose their liberties because of the crimes they have committed. According to Roy Walmsley, a consultant of the United Nations and Associate of the International Center for prison studiesRead MoreThe Incarceration Rate Of The United States2386 Words   |  10 PagesIncarceration rates in the United States, and closer to home – in Ohio, have been rising at astonishing rates over the last 20 years. Rising incarceration rates stem from increased sentencing of non-violent crimes, little attention to rehabilitation within most prison walls, and extremely high recidivism rates. The problem of the increasing prison population touches many areas of our society – from reduced workforce to inc reased state funding for prisons to the adverse effects on children growingRead MoreThe Effects Of Incarceration Rates On The United States2094 Words   |  9 PagesIn the U.S., our criminal justice system incarcerates more people than any other country on earth. Incarceration rates have skyrocketed over the past 30 years due to stricter laws and harsher penalties for drug use and possession. As a result of these high incarceration rates, many households and society, in general, has been adversely affected by the absence of men and women from their families and from their communities. While being in confinement is definitely tough on those incarcerated, theRead MoreLegislation and Incarceration in United States956 Words   |  4 PagesLegislation and Incarceration (Order #A2068178) The incarceration rate in the United States has steadily risen since 1973, and Franklin Zimring has examined the relationship between penal legislation and the incarceration rate. He has discovered three distinct periods which demonstrate three differences in the way legislation effects penal practices. During the first period in which there was a major rise in incarceration rates, 1973-1985, Zimring asserted that there was no relationship betweenRead MoreAmeric Land Of The Incarcerated1296 Words   |  6 Pagesthe poem The Star Spangled Banner after witnessing the attack on Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy in the War of 1812. The poem was sang to the tune of a well-known British song and eventually, Key’s once amateur patriotic poem became the United States national anthem in which the lyrics strongly symbolize our country’s perseverance and freedom. The Star Spangled Banner can be heard at a variety gatherings such as official military functions and sporting events where celebrity singers oftenRead MoreCrime Rate And Its Effect On The Incarceration Rate1335 Words   |  6 Pagesvariable is whether a state elects or appoints judges. The dependent variable is the incarceration rate (per 100,000 people) for each state. To control for these variables, we also measured the violent crime rate (per 100,000 people) for each state. The violent crime rate allows us to see whether or not crime rate or judges are having a measurable effect on the incarceration rate. Without controlling for the crime rate, we would not be able to tell if higher incarceration rates were truly a resultRead MoreThe New Jim Crow : Mass Incarceration1199 Words   |  5 Pagesdid read her book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration In The Age of Colorblindness. Michelle Alexander stated that The most despised in America is not gays, transgenders, nor even illegal immigrants - it is criminals. That was an important quote since the stereotypical criminal in our racially div ided America in most cases are those of color also known as blacks. This is why the criminal justice system in the United States promotes the mass incarceration of blacks that can be seen through highRead MoreSouth Carolina Should Reduce Crime Rates Essay1558 Words   |  7 Pagescausation, then crime rates are extremely high due to the increase amounts of people being incarcerated. South Carolina should offer a proposal to reduce crime rates. Possible proposals to reduce crime rates- offering inmates or ex-convicted felons opportunities to find jobs, developed new skills or trade, and the ability to asses counselling once release. These alternatives can possibly improve not only the society, but also South Carolina. To find a program to reduce incarceration, create a positiveRead MoreThe Death Of The Prison1446 Words   |  6 PagesSince the United States is high in incarceration rates and recidivism rates, it would be an excellent idea to examine other countries and how they man age to keep incarceration and recidivism rates low. Besides Norway, there are other countries that have a significant low incarceration and recidivism rate. Two countries are Germany and the Netherlands. In 2013, Germany incarcerated 64, 379 out of a population of 81.1 million compared to the 2,239,800 individuals incarcerated in the United States in 2011