The current prison system by large has not fully succeeded in rehabilitating criminals and inmates. Instead, the American prison system produced inmates that were mentally and physically restructured due to a prison atmosphere and substandard treatment from their superiors. The American prison system failed to rehabilitate and properly detain inmates the same moment America continued to regard inmates as irreformable and inferior. It’s caused drastic rises in incarceration rates despite patterns of national crime, helped cause a lack of trust in our penal system, and has done nothing to help many inmates readjust to normal life (Jones, Mauer 2).
Over the last few decades, prison incarceration rates rose drastically in the United States, beginning …show more content…
Many Americans held and continue to hold the perception that minority groups, specifically African-Americans were the main perpetrators of drug use among other crimes. Therefore, by percentage, African Americans ended up in jail more often than whites and for longer amounts of time, in comparison to whites who committed crimes of the same degree (The Color of Justice). America 's tough stance on crime affected anyone whose actions and perceived actions differed from the social norm and order. This includes war protests, race protests, and race riots (Jones, Mauer 28). This background provides an explanation for America 's current attitudes toward criminals and minorities. The two are closely related and the two determine how prisoners are treated in prison by guards, wardens, and medical …show more content…
There are many prisoners who develop mental illnesses in prison and are not treated regularly for their illnesses early if at all, either from lack of knowledge or neglect in prison (Breslow). For example, Dolores, an interviewee for, “Enduring Violence” mentions suicidal tendencies and PTSD from her time in prison (42). She developed these from her time in prison and her past. Another interviewee mentions a psychotic break she suffered in prison but offers no other details (Johnson, 47). Mental health issues in prison are increasing yet the services and standard of care remain substandard. Inmates spend months in prison and in confinement when they should be in hospitals that can offer regular care. At the very least, prisoners isolate themselves and withdraw from everyone (Hoke). In extreme cases, some prisoners completely break down, commit suicide, or die from health-related reasons that are stressed by their decreasing mental health. Jails and prisons are left to explain why their mental inmates are neglected and found dead in a cell. Looking at the numbers records show
Over the last few decades, prison incarceration rates rose drastically in the United States, beginning …show more content…
Many Americans held and continue to hold the perception that minority groups, specifically African-Americans were the main perpetrators of drug use among other crimes. Therefore, by percentage, African Americans ended up in jail more often than whites and for longer amounts of time, in comparison to whites who committed crimes of the same degree (The Color of Justice). America 's tough stance on crime affected anyone whose actions and perceived actions differed from the social norm and order. This includes war protests, race protests, and race riots (Jones, Mauer 28). This background provides an explanation for America 's current attitudes toward criminals and minorities. The two are closely related and the two determine how prisoners are treated in prison by guards, wardens, and medical …show more content…
There are many prisoners who develop mental illnesses in prison and are not treated regularly for their illnesses early if at all, either from lack of knowledge or neglect in prison (Breslow). For example, Dolores, an interviewee for, “Enduring Violence” mentions suicidal tendencies and PTSD from her time in prison (42). She developed these from her time in prison and her past. Another interviewee mentions a psychotic break she suffered in prison but offers no other details (Johnson, 47). Mental health issues in prison are increasing yet the services and standard of care remain substandard. Inmates spend months in prison and in confinement when they should be in hospitals that can offer regular care. At the very least, prisoners isolate themselves and withdraw from everyone (Hoke). In extreme cases, some prisoners completely break down, commit suicide, or die from health-related reasons that are stressed by their decreasing mental health. Jails and prisons are left to explain why their mental inmates are neglected and found dead in a cell. Looking at the numbers records show