America’s Prisons - A Citizen’s Cry For Reform

25. January 2010 by Rev Young.

There have been many articles released recently on the laws that condemn youth to prison, the conditions and abuse in prison and the practice of solitary confinement in the United States.  If we take all of these articles (links below) and fit the pieces together to create a picture of prison in America…..we violate all standards of a civilized nation.  In addition, if we look at the impact that these institutions have on our communities, states and nation we are creating a cesspool of decay. 

I, along with many other concerned citizens, will be attending a conference on prison cost and the impact on our state.  I do not think we have stopped to realize the far-reaching impact that prisons will have on our nation for the next twenty years IF WE INCACERATE NO ONE ELSE IN THAT TIME.  The tough on crime laws, the mandatory sentencing movement and the long prison sentences that have been handed out over the last 10 to 20 years will impact our state budgets for many years to come.

We have been filled with propaganda from our legislators and district attorney’s concerning the severity of punishment that was needed to stop crime in America.  There policies, laws and incarceration practices have not stopped crime and have created a new community of citizenship in this country.  The “forever” criminal.  Those who have served time in prison will never have that information erased from their life history.  This is not implying that it would be erased from memory.  That will never happen.  What I am talking about is the large number of citizens that will carry the label of felon or inmate for the rest of their lives.  This means that they are not eligible for work in most companies.  This mean that they cannot provide for themselves and their families.  This means that we are creating a large sector of our society that will always be at risk of failure. 

The prison system itself does not teach the person they are holding how to become a better citizen.  The system does not create more stable people.  The system does not give people better coping skills, education, job skills or relationship skills.  Instead the system further breaks down the person they are holding.  Now I must be fair and state that some facilities in this country have begun looking for better prison practices and have incorporated successful programs in their facilities that assist people in becoming successful in the future. 

As a citizen of this country, I no longer want to pay for a system that does not produce positive results.  As a citizen of this country, I do not want to continue supporting laws, practices or institutions that threaten the ability of my community to be healthy and vibrant.  As a citizen of this country, I do not want to continue building prisons that destroy humanity while being unable to fund education, rehabilitation or elder care.  I want a better solution. 

I do not see the benefit of long prison sentences in prison that do not rehabilitate their charges.  I do not see the benefit of tough on crime laws that have not impacted crime rates and have only created a portion of society that has little or no chance of leading a successful life.  As a citizen of this country, I do not want to be responsible for the torture, abuse or death of people who are in the care of the state and therefore in my care. 

Sometime ago, I announced that Senator Webb had introduced a bill that called for the investigation and reporting on the condition of the criminal justice system in America.  We are poised and ready for change.  We need change. 

Senate Committee Passes
National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009

The bi-partisan National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2009 (S. 714) was passed out of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary today by voice vote. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) would create a commission to conduct a thorough evaluation of the nation’s justice system and offer recommendations for reform at every stage of the criminal justice system.

The establishment of such a commission could not come at a more critical time. With 2.3 million people in prisons and jails, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Federal and state governments spend more than $50 billion each year on corrections, and the population behind bars continues to grow.

ADULT TIME FOR STEALING A PACK OF GUM FROM ANOTHER TEEN
http://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/15/connecticut.juvenile.ages/

WHEN LIFE IS CRUEL http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/editorials/la-ed-lwop14-2010jan14,0,4639361.story

JUVENILE SEXUAL ASSAULT IN PRISON  http://www.justicefellowship.org/what-is-restorative-justice/justice-fellowship-resources/14157-twelve-percent-of-juveniles-in-custody-are-assaulted-sexually

BATTLING SOLITARY CONFINEMENT  http://solitarywatch.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/americas-most-isolated-man-sues-the-bureau-of-prisoners/

Posted in Legal News, Prison Reform Advocates, Juvenile Reform Advocates, From Families of Juvenile Offenders | Print | 1 Comment »