Everything you need to know about the prison system as it relates to sociology
If we, the Untied States, continue with stiffer penalties, such as mandatory minimum sentences, and the 3 Strikes Law, the majority of the population will soon be behind bars. Many non-violent criminals that can be treated with prevention and intervention are now serving longer and longer sentences due to these stiffer penalties. We, the people of the United States, are paying for the housing of these non-violent individuals when they can be treated and mainstreamed back into society. This is due to the Prison Industrial Complex exploiting the people of the United States. "Some of the nations largest architectural and construction firms, Wall Street investment banks, and companies that sell everything from security cameras to padded cells" are out to make the almighty dollar at the people's expense (Schlosser, Eric). They are creating new criminals to fill their new prisons in order for them to meet their political agendas and their financial gains. The media aids them in t! We, the people, need to address this exploitation and come up with reasonable and fair sentencing for all criminals. The politicians, the moneymakers, and the media need to be held responsible for their part in breakin
Conflict theory is an important part in understanding the at risk population. It emphasizes the inequalities of people and resources in society today. The economic organization of a capitalistic society produces deviance and crime due to some groups having access to fewer resources, so they resort to crime. "Sentences everywhere have become longer and sterner, but each year 500,000 ex-convicts still return to society, often less equipped to function than before". (Katz, Jesse) Due to the unbalance of power and resources these 500,000 convicts don't have the knowledge of how to be a productive member of society. They go to jail, lift weights, and get out not knowing anymore than when they went in. If the system doesn't give them these resources they need to become a productive member of society they will simply return to the lifestyle they came from. "Not wanting to appear 'soft' on crime, politicians have spent decades preaching punishment over prevention" (Katz, Jesse). This, the article says, is why non-violent "drug offenders account for the greatest percentage of new inmates" (Katz, Jesse). In this modernistic capitalistic society we are creating criminals to fill our prisons. This prison industrial complex is an industry; in which tougher laws are created thus more prisons are being built. It becomes an economic issue because it becomes self-perpetuating. When the people of the United States of America become ready and "begin to question the costs, both economic and social, of keeping so many people locked up" than change can occur (Katz, Jesse). People are just now beginning to realize that putting many of these non-violent criminals behind bars is taking a toll on society. Individuals who are at risk have a much higher chance of entering the criminal world. A population that is at risk is one were the four theories of the social causes of street crime overlap. The strain theory occurs when there is discrepancy between means and goals, which leads to crime. Differential association is when the people of that population socialize with people who commit crimes, and they will be more likely to break the law. The Labeling theory is the self-fulfilling prophesy, that if one is told they are a menace they will become one. Finally, conflict theory states that crime is a function of social integration. g down our society. Every year more and more people are being put behind bars. "A nation that is now holding 2 million of its citizens behind bars," is just putting a temporary band-aid over the real problem (Katz, Jesse). Our society is not willing to address th
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Approximate Word count = 1747
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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