In “The Caging of America,” Adam Gopnik explains the nature of “the current mess [America] is in.” Gopnik discusses the ins and outs of any and all, perceived and undeniable issues with both the incarceration policies and America’s judicial system. Reworking the incarceration policies in each of the 50 states is a major aspect of the reform needed to improve America’s prison system. Over half of all inmates suffer from some form of mental health issues, while also being susceptible to contracting infectious diseases. America’s prison system is in desperate need of reform which can best be accomplished by shifting focus to rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
One of the issues Gopnik highlights in “The Caging of America” is the inhumane and unconstitutional nature of the judicial systems in America. “America is famous... for its process-driven judicial ‘The bastard got off on a technicality’” system (Gopnik). The system in place puts more emphasis on what is fair rather than focusing on what is just for every person involved. The faults in America’s system are further described by the authors of “Reducing Incarceration Rates When Science Meets Political Realities.” In 2009 a report was done …show more content…
From 1972 to 2007, the ratio of Americans imprisoned to the population more than quintupled (Travis 33). Extreme growth such as this is accompanied by many consequences. As Gopkin mentions, this growth is often considered the cause of the drop in crime rates by nearly 40% across the nation. However, New York City saw the greatest drop in crime rates, while simultaneously experiencing a drop in incarceration rates. A decreased crime rate does not have enough evidence in being related to increased
One of the issues Gopnik highlights in “The Caging of America” is the inhumane and unconstitutional nature of the judicial systems in America. “America is famous... for its process-driven judicial ‘The bastard got off on a technicality’” system (Gopnik). The system in place puts more emphasis on what is fair rather than focusing on what is just for every person involved. The faults in America’s system are further described by the authors of “Reducing Incarceration Rates When Science Meets Political Realities.” In 2009 a report was done …show more content…
From 1972 to 2007, the ratio of Americans imprisoned to the population more than quintupled (Travis 33). Extreme growth such as this is accompanied by many consequences. As Gopkin mentions, this growth is often considered the cause of the drop in crime rates by nearly 40% across the nation. However, New York City saw the greatest drop in crime rates, while simultaneously experiencing a drop in incarceration rates. A decreased crime rate does not have enough evidence in being related to increased