7). Lower education levels and higher illiteracy rates are more prominently found in areas withered with poverty, high unemployment rates, and requirement of federal assistance programs, such as welfare and food stamps.
Substance abuse and mental health conditions have also been attributed to majority of incarcerations within the United States. Habitual alcohol and substance abusers tend to have decreased inhibitions, and while under the influence, tend to act more irrationally; resulting higher risks of incarceration. Links between substance abuse and mental health issues increase an individual’s incarceration risk further. “In general, rates of mental illness among inmates are two to four times higher than among the general population (Lurigio, 2001)” (Herman-Stahl, Kan, and McKay, 2008,