Reference no: EM133260719

Incarceration - Understanding and Re-imagining Punishment

Incarceration is one of the five purposes of punishment as described in the textbook. It is the removing of the wrongdoer from society and serves as a mechanism to punish the wrongdoer for their actions while protecting society from future harm. Some equate incarceration with a "debt owed to the victim and society," some view it as "justice served," "some view it as the prison industrial complex" and so forth. For over 247 years since Walnut Street first opened its doors in Pennsylvania, America has used this system of punishment- locking people up for their wrongdoing. Today, with some 2.3 million people behind bars, many argue that the system is in need of reform. Others argue that some people need to be locked up to protect society, and given the growing population in the U.S., it stands to reason that prisons would reflect this growing population. One thing is certain, prisons are overcrowded and expensive to operate, and this will likely continue to plague U.S. prisons in the years to come just as excessive cost and overcrowding forced the closure of Walnut Street Jail in 1838. What factors are driving these costs? What are the root causes of prison overcrowding? What can be done to address prison overcrowding while still maintaining justice in a free society? While there are no easy answers, this assignment allows us to consider some of these questions.

As we consider some of these questions is this discussion, please watch Life In Prison: A Project Envision Documentary. to learn more about the complex issues of prison overcrowding and excessive costs associated with prison management.

After reading the Textbook and watching Life in Prison: A Project Envision Documentary, complete the following sentence, "Prison overcrowding is..." This is a free response, but I am looking for you to provide insight, strong rationale, an opinion, or a teaching moment for others.