When will the U.S. stop mass incarceration?

[choclgs]

(CNN) -- The United States leads the world in the rate of incarcerating its own citizens. We imprison more of our own people than any other country on earth, including China which has four times our population, or in human history. And now, a new Pew report announces that we are keeping even nonviolent inmates behind bars for increasingly longer terms.
This comes at a time when soaring costs of prisons are wreaking havoc on federal, state and local budgets, as schools, libraries, parks and social programs are slashed. When I graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles in 1983, my state spent more on higher education than prisons, a lot more. That equation is now reversed. Money that could have gone into reducing skyrocketing tuition and cuts to education has instead gone to prisons and inmates.


http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/03/opinio...ing/index.html

[Leowoman]

It's the war on crime right? Or maybe slave labor? Good question though. I wonder when we'll see that it's better to spend money to help make people productive as opposed to just locking them up and hoping for the best.

[SusanWayward]

Maybe when the states are finally broke?

But that still leaves the Federal prison system intact and our Federal government seems to have no qualms about continuing to increase the national debt to pay for pet projects, ie, war and repression.

California already has severe budget problems and was ordered by the Supreme Court to reduce its prison population and is STILL doing very little to change the way it operates its "correctional" system.

In NJ, Christie wants to balance the budget on the backs of teachers, says nothing about the amount being spent on corrections, just wants to privatize so he can funnel the cash to his cronies.

Doesn't leave much to be hopeful about, but fight on we must.

[choclgs]

Originally Posted by SusanWayward

Maybe when the states are finally broke?

But that still leaves the Federal prison system intact and our Federal government seems to have no qualms about continuing to increase the national debt to pay for pet projects, ie, war and repression.

California already has severe budget problems and was ordered by the Supreme Court to reduce its prison population and is STILL doing very little to change the way it operates its "correctional" system.

In NJ, Christie wants to balance the budget on the backs of teachers, says nothing about the amount being spent on corrections, just wants to privatize so he can funnel the cash to his cronies.

Doesn't leave much to be hopeful about, but fight on we must.

The problem is there will always be another source of revenue for the government to fund incarceration. Whether it's through privatization of the prison system, cutbacks, or just overcrowding the system until they're forced to make changes. Yet until the public changes their hearts about how they feel about this, it will continue on the path as it is.

[Leowoman]

Originally Posted by choclgs

The problem is there will always be another source of revenue for the government to fund incarceration. Whether it's through privatization of the prison system, cutbacks, or just overcrowding the system until they're forced to make changes. Yet until the public changes their hearts about how they feel about this, it will continue on the path as it is.

Well with more and more Americans going to prison maybe people will finally begin to see that not all people in prison are truly antisocial and dangerous, at least not before going to prison anyway!

[krc1abc1]

Also why are we keeping people incarcerated decades longer than their minimum eligibility for parole on indeterminent sentence. Many of these inmates pose no threat to society nd yet they are repeatedly denied parole.

[thegreatdoubter]

When will the USA stop mass incarceration?

When it wakes up to the truth about the adverse effects of it and focuses on rehabilitation like Western and Northern Europe. Many US prisoners should not be in prison at all (many are imprisoned for drugs charges, and as the war on drugs is not working in the long-term, illegal drugs should be de-criminalised in my opinion, and also users are really a medical problem, not a criminal problem),anyway.

[Geauxin'KraZee]

Here in Louisiana, we have the highest incarceration rate in the world. We are known as the "inmate state ". There is an eight day series about it on nola.com/prisons. The way I see it , it is just legalized slavery!

[Geauxin'KraZee]

Originally Posted by thegreatdoubter

When will the USA stop mass incarceration?

When it wakes up to the truth about the adverse effects of it and focuses on rehabilitation like Western and Northern Europe. Many US prisoners should not be in prison at all (many are imprisoned for drugs charges, and as the war on drugs is not working in the long-term, illegal drugs should be de-criminalised in my opinion, and also users are really a medical problem, not a criminal problem),anyway.

Over 60% of our prisoners are doing time on drug offenses and non-violent crimes.

[Leowoman]

Originally Posted by Geauxin'KraZee

Here in Louisiana, we have the highest incarceration rate in the world. We are known as the "inmate state ". There is an eight day series about it on nola.com/prisons. The way I see it , it is just legalized slavery!

Legalized slavery I agree! The 13th Amendment needs to be changed.

[JKB's Girl]

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for this to happen. Hmmmm let's see, CCA promises money to the politicians to keep passing tougher laws incarcerating more people for more non-violent offenses, the politicians get paid by CCA. CCA promises the states they can house our inmates for less cost, thus giving CCA a never ending pool of slave labor to market to other companies to make things cheaper than legitimate manufacturers can taking jobs away from those who have never broken a law in their lives and this helps our economy even more.

Who cares about the countless abuses that our inmates have to endure at the hands of CCA, they're only inmates after all, they don't need decent food or healthcare. If they get sick or die,there are always more to take their place because after all, someone who sells marijuana should be sentenced to life in prison cause he's this awful drug dealer and they are going to stem the flow of drugs that way.......don't you believe the politicians are protecting you from all those awful inmates by locking them up for longer and longer. I know i feel safer knowing they have had the love of my life locked up for 34 years now. He is this really dangerous 53 yr old guy that spends his time spreading violence within those walls by painting these absolutely beautiful paintings and sending them out to me. He has high blood pressure and is a true threat to society. Yeah, he might get out and love me for the rest of my life and try to be a productive citizen and has family that loves and supports him, so lets keep this huge threat to society locked up and then be so very grateful to our politicians that have kept us safe all these years by spending our tax money on this dangerous inmates upkeep and increasing need for healthcare. Its a wise investment of our money wouldn't you agree????

After all the politicians can't be expected to admit they might be wrong about how the prisons are operating so efficiently and so many of them have spent nights in prison so they know how safe they are.....:angr y:

[thegreatdoubter]

Originally Posted by Geauxin'KraZee

Over 60% of our prisoners are doing time on drug offenses and non-violent crimes.

>60% of prisoners in Louisiana,USA are imprisoned for non-violent crimes?! That is terrible even by US standards, and just appalling by European standards! The legislators need to quit the 'tough on crime' approach as it is clearly not working in the long term and just wasting taxpayers' money!

[Sheryl P.]

Originally Posted by SusanWayward

Maybe when the states are finally broke?

But that still leaves the Federal prison system intact and our Federal government seems to have no qualms about continuing to increase the national debt to pay for pet projects, ie, war and repression.

California already has severe budget problems and was ordered by the Supreme Court to reduce its prison population and is STILL doing very little to change the way it operates its "correctional" system.

In NJ, Christie wants to balance the budget on the backs of teachers, says nothing about the amount being spent on corrections, just wants to privatize so he can funnel the cash to his cronies.

Doesn't leave much to be hopeful about, but fight on we must.

California's bright plan to reduce our states prison population is for the most part this:send our inmates to other states where we don't count them since they are not in California prisons (even though they are on our dime ).
I for one am sick of seeing our men sent all over the country while we pretend we have reduced the numbers to acceptable levels.
If we spent this money on drug rehabiltation, education and aduse prevention then we would be much better off but then who would fund all those for profit prisons?

[Patientwaiter]

I agree 100% there's no such thing as justice here in Louisiana, (unless you know someone or have that right last name) my fiance has got 12yrs for a 1st time nonviolent crime,and the parish I live in has 4 elem. schools and has just closed one down due to state budget cuts and are now gonna do the children like inmates,over crowd them and decrease there meals...Where's the justice? Theres not any and will never be.

[Geauxin'KraZee]

Originally Posted by Patientwaiter

I agree 100% there's no such thing as justice here in Louisiana, (unless you know someone or have that right last name) my fiance has got 12yrs for a 1st time nonviolent crime,and the parish I live in has 4 elem. schools and has just closed one down due to state budget cuts and are now gonna do the children like inmates,over crowd them and decrease there meals...Where's the justice? Theres not any and will never be.

Oh do I ever know what you mean by the " right last name" LOL! Remind me of the CCR song "fortunate one". My man ain't no Senators son! The parish I'm in takes the cake. I've li ed here all my life and I used to be proud of where I'm from, but that has changed about 15. Years now.

[Leowoman]

Originally Posted by JKB's Girl

I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for this to happen. Hmmmm let's see, CCA promises money to the politicians to keep passing tougher laws incarcerating more people for more non-violent offenses, the politicians get paid by CCA. CCA promises the states they can house our inmates for less cost, thus giving CCA a never ending pool of slave labor to market to other companies to make things cheaper than legitimate manufacturers can taking jobs away from those who have never broken a law in their lives and this helps our economy even more.

Who cares about the countless abuses that our inmates have to endure at the hands of CCA, they're only inmates after all, they don't need decent food or healthcare. If they get sick or die,there are always more to take their place because after all, someone who sells marijuana should be sentenced to life in prison cause he's this awful drug dealer and they are going to stem the flow of drugs that way.......don't you believe the politicians are protecting you from all those awful inmates by locking them up for longer and longer. I know i feel safer knowing they have had the love of my life locked up for 34 years now. He is this really dangerous 53 yr old guy that spends his time spreading violence within those walls by painting these absolutely beautiful paintings and sending them out to me. He has high blood pressure and is a true threat to society. Yeah, he might get out and love me for the rest of my life and try to be a productive citizen and has family that loves and supports him, so lets keep this huge threat to society locked up and then be so very grateful to our politicians that have kept us safe all these years by spending our tax money on this dangerous inmates upkeep and increasing need for healthcare. Its a wise investment of our money wouldn't you agree????

After all the politicians can't be expected to admit they might be wrong about how the prisons are operating so efficiently and so many of them have spent nights in prison so they know how safe they are.....:angr y:

I know what you mean about protecting society from the threat. My husband is a convicted felon, served his time, ready to be a productive citizen, and guess what, nobody would hire him because of his felonies and lack of job history. His reward for trying to do right this time? Another felony because he couldn't pay his child support because nobody would hire him! Ok, no problem, only probation right. On his way to a job interview, gets arrested again for his other child and not being able to pay support! Luckily this time his mom got the child's mom to accept $1000 that she lent her son to let him out of jail. No new felony yet, but when he got arrested, I asked my kids who are in their 20s if they felt safer now that my husband was behind bars because how dare he threaten society or neglect his children by going to a job interview!

I too used to be very proud of living in Kentucky and being an American and now all I feel is shame that we treat each other so poorly.

[gj07]

I hope everyone that feels this way has written a letter to the Sentencing Commission. This is under Prison Petitions. Time is very close for getting a letter to them now--but the e-mail address is also listed there. These letter will do more good than any of our complaining on this board.

This is a federal issue, I admit, and no, it will not help my loved one at the federal level either--but what happens at the federal will eventually help to accelerate what happens at the different state levels.

We all need to work together if we are going to get action.

A flood of letters--or e-mails--will get some attention where it needs to be seen. Your letter doesn't have to be long. It doesn't have to have fancy words--just write if only a very few words. The start of the statement is there for you so just finish the statement in your own words.

BUT DO IT NOW

[choclgs]

Originally Posted by gj07

I hope everyone that feels this way has written a letter to the Sentencing Commission. This is under Prison Petitions. Time is very close for getting a letter to them now--but the e-mail address is also listed there. These letter will do more good than any of our complaining on this board.

This is a federal issue, I admit, and no, it will not help my loved one at the federal level either--but what happens at the federal will eventually help to accelerate what happens at the different state levels.

We all need to work together if we are going to get action.

A flood of letters--or e-mails--will get some attention where it needs to be seen. Your letter doesn't have to be long. It doesn't have to have fancy words--just write if only a very few words. The start of the statement is there for you so just finish the statement in your own words.

BUT DO IT NOW

Well I live in the South, where some of our representation is still a little salty from the colonialism days, so every time the federal government makes amendments or any other legislative changes, they find was around them.

With overcrowding nationwide, I find it odd that states aren't finding resolutions, including parole/probation, early releases, and sentencing reform. But we're the choir.

[gj07]

Originally Posted by choclgs

Well I live in the South, where some of our representation is still a little salty from the colonialism days, so every time the federal government makes amendments or any other legislative changes, they find was around them.

With overcrowding nationwide, I find it odd that states aren't finding resolutions, including parole/probation, early releases, and sentencing reform. But we're the choir.

Well, this letter writing campaign is about sentence reform. This is to the Sentencing Committee. Yes, a lot of states are finding ways around--but we have got to start showing our concern. The more that care, the more that write, the more they will realize how many people are concerned about this issue.

Everyone needs to write that is on here complaining and everyone needs to get at least one more person (hopefully more) to write.

[Geauxin'KraZee]

Now that I know who to write, I will. I will also pass the information on to members of my family and my few handful of friends.

[uncc23]

When there ceases to be people who will profit from it that have influence.

[cik607]

Originally Posted by Geauxin'KraZee

Here in Louisiana, we have the highest incarceration rate in the world. We are known as the "inmate state ". There is an eight day series about it on nola.com/prisons. The way I see it , it is just legalized slavery!

I read that series and it is definitely "Slavery by Another Name".

[choclgs]

Originally Posted by cik607

I read that series and it is definitely "Slavery by Another Name".

What's sad is I still hear people screaming about how their taxes pay for teenagers (usually forgotten in the incarceration equation), men, and women to eat three good meals a day (haha), have shelter, and watch tv all day living the good life while they "struggle". Yes when you commit a crime, punishment is necessary, yet we see the privilege, white collar, etc. constantly avoid what many endure daily. Our legislative and judicial systems have holes and flaws. How and when they will be fixed, who knows.

What people fail to realize is incarceration has become a money pot and too many who are saying they make the laws to keep you safe are benefiting from it.

[mallafri]

The Feds are not gonna give up the amount of people incarcerated, the inmates are free labour! BOP is a business, producing and selling products and services and the inmates are the employees. My BF gets paid $50 a month for the work he does in one of their factories and the only place he can spend the money is at commissary, so the BOP gets the salary right back again.....

[SusanWayward]

Prior to the War on Drugs, the usual sentence for a lower to mid-level drug crime was one year in prison.

In the Federal system, you are lucky if you "get off" with five years on a drug charge and usually the one "act" that put you there will result in a stacking of charges to include conspiracy and you'll wind up with ten years if you're lucky and have no priors.

States have enacted similar laws. Some states, such as Oklahoma, give looooong prison terms even for first time marijuana possession charges.


Just one of the many causes of the dramatic increase in incarceration rates in recent years.

Laws actually need to be changed, the balance of power in the court system needs to be equalized, too, and go back to what it was intended to be. The prosecutor is not supposed to be calling all the shots, the judge is supposed to mediate between the two sides.