Crime rates in America peaked in the late 1990’s and have been on a decline since that time. However, during that same period, the rate of incarcerated individuals has increased dramatically. This increase in prison population has led to overcrowding in prisons which has caused prisons to have to spend more money on beds and living space instead of meaningful treatment for the inmates. What caused this increase in prison population and what effect does it have on the inmates within the prisons?
The greater American society no longer sees the goal of the prison system to be rehabilitation. According to Travis & Waul (2003) Americans justify imprisonment to incapacitate, contain, and inflict pain on wrongdoers (pg. 36). With this shift away from rehabilitation, there was a decrease in meaningful treatment provided to the inmates as well as a decrease in the available services for the inmates’ mental and physical health. Prison life itself is hard enough, but add on to an overcrowded population and …show more content…
273). In a study done by Jacques Baillargeon and his colleagues (2009), they looked at 80,000 inmates within the prison system. “They found that having any type of major psychiatric disorder doubled the odds of having two or more incarcerations” (pg.273) (Baillargeon). Prison life is harder for those with a mental illness. Those with mental disabilities often fall victim to sexual abuse and sexual assault; compounding the problems the offender has to deal with while incarcerated. Due to prisons being understaffed, mental illness within prisons usually goes undiagnosed. Recently released inmates have little to no access to medical care. Even if they do, there is no communication between the prison medical team and community resources to ensure the offender continues to receive the medical needs he/she
The greater American society no longer sees the goal of the prison system to be rehabilitation. According to Travis & Waul (2003) Americans justify imprisonment to incapacitate, contain, and inflict pain on wrongdoers (pg. 36). With this shift away from rehabilitation, there was a decrease in meaningful treatment provided to the inmates as well as a decrease in the available services for the inmates’ mental and physical health. Prison life itself is hard enough, but add on to an overcrowded population and …show more content…
273). In a study done by Jacques Baillargeon and his colleagues (2009), they looked at 80,000 inmates within the prison system. “They found that having any type of major psychiatric disorder doubled the odds of having two or more incarcerations” (pg.273) (Baillargeon). Prison life is harder for those with a mental illness. Those with mental disabilities often fall victim to sexual abuse and sexual assault; compounding the problems the offender has to deal with while incarcerated. Due to prisons being understaffed, mental illness within prisons usually goes undiagnosed. Recently released inmates have little to no access to medical care. Even if they do, there is no communication between the prison medical team and community resources to ensure the offender continues to receive the medical needs he/she