"But social problems are invariably more complex than they look. The obvious explanation for most problems is often wrong. It takes experience and craftsmanship to design policies that grapple with the true complexity of reality."
-David Brooks
This quote was found in a New York Times article written by David Brooks. The article discusses the issue with our current penal system and the complex issues that need to change in the near future.
From a time that religious persecution was a traditional event to the current death sentence controversy, the penal system has advanced with the time. Leaving no room for religious disagreement the harsh realities of the time were left in the past. The image below found on the US History website shows the persecution of a women during the puritan time.
Source: http://www.ushistory.org/us/3e.asp |
After the wave of mass incarceration began in the 1980's, prisons have continually been known as overcrowded warehouses that are the home to multiple physical and sexual assault victims. This article written by Cory Booker and Elizabeth Warren from CNN which discusses the rights that negative situations prisoners have to live in.
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"African Americans are incarcerated in state prisons across the country at more than five times the rate of whites, and at least ten times the rate in five states. This report documents the rates of incarceration for whites, African Americans, and Hispanics in each state, identifies three contributors to racial and ethnic disparities in imprisonment, and provides recommendations for reform."Soruce: http://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/color-of-justice-racial-and-ethnic-disparity-in-state-prisons/
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The most important way that we can begin to understand different American's viewpoints and opinions on the penal system, we simply can look at people's common comments and opinions on the topic. From a wide range varying between the most renowned celebrity, to a common man, to those that belong to certain political parties we can begin to see a correlation between a person's upbringing and their opinion on social justice.
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History and Progression
Across hundreds of years the Penal System has drastically changed. Dating back to 1700 BC the opinion and practiced law would have been considered inhumane during our time. Traveling to the sixteenth century the cruel and unusual punishments for things as minute as who you marry would surprise any reader. Not only were the reasons behind these punishments severe, but so were the actual punishments. Executions were carried out through being burned alive, drowning, and many others to that intense degree. As time went on executions styles became more reasonable but that didn't prevent to public demise of people. Collecting crowds of thousands it became common to gather together and watch an execution occur. Once this was deemed to be inhumane, it transferred to closed-circuit viewing or in-person only which created more privacy for those being executed. Although the reason, style, and publicity of executions changed over time, the popularity of it never did. Even those private executions had hundreds of reporters within recent years following every move of the day and updating the general public with it all.
Prison Life
As readers come across more information about life in prison, the harsh realities open our eyes to the ignorance of the penal system. With thousands of inmates and guards abused each year, only a percentage of those end up with a just conclusion. With physical abuse being just one of the many issues in the system, it seems like a mere hope that this will ever end. Leading to broken bones, scars, bruises, and sometimes even death, it all seems to be overlooked due to the authority some have over inmates. These inmates are left with virtually no power making it easier for guards and other officials to sexually abuse them knowing that no one will believe them if they ever came forward about it. This flaw in our system makes it impossible for those who are incarcerated to feel safe, even in their "home" for the length of their sentence. This "home" that they're in is also completely full and at times seems to be overflowing with the overcrowding issue we are facing here in America as well. Over time we've begun to release more prisoners out on parole to hopefully create a solution to the issue but only time will tell how effective that will be.
Racial Influence
The issue of racial disparity and equality within the penal system go hand in hand. Since the early 1900's there has been a staggering racial gap in US arrest rates that continues to fluctuate.While the system was not intended to discriminate against minorities, time and time again there is evidence that supports the fact that they do. However, with every issue, there is always room for debate and two sides of every argument. Whether the penal and criminal justice system is entirely racist or not, there can be no denial that race in itself influences how people think, act, and view the penal system.
The issue of racial disparity and equality within the penal system go hand in hand. Since the early 1900's there has been a staggering racial gap in US arrest rates that continues to fluctuate.While the system was not intended to discriminate against minorities, time and time again there is evidence that supports the fact that they do. However, with every issue, there is always room for debate and two sides of every argument. Whether the penal and criminal justice system is entirely racist or not, there can be no denial that race in itself influences how people think, act, and view the penal system.
Common Opinions
As we continue to dive into the penal system and the wide spectrum of opinions on it, it is important to acknowledge the "common man's" viewpoint. In our democratic nation, we must understand and value the public opinion, especially on a system that indeed relies on the public. Some might argue that public opinion fluctuates with the climate of the ever-changing media; however the power does and always has proved to lie with the people. When examining common opinions it is also necessary to recognize the connections between that person's upbringing or environment in which that person find themselves in and their viewpoints. Thoughts and opinions are influenced by such things. In order to gain a broader idea of how the nation receives our criminal justice and penal system we can observe various comments from both the celebrities of our time as well as regular citizens.
As we continue to dive into the penal system and the wide spectrum of opinions on it, it is important to acknowledge the "common man's" viewpoint. In our democratic nation, we must understand and value the public opinion, especially on a system that indeed relies on the public. Some might argue that public opinion fluctuates with the climate of the ever-changing media; however the power does and always has proved to lie with the people. When examining common opinions it is also necessary to recognize the connections between that person's upbringing or environment in which that person find themselves in and their viewpoints. Thoughts and opinions are influenced by such things. In order to gain a broader idea of how the nation receives our criminal justice and penal system we can observe various comments from both the celebrities of our time as well as regular citizens.
This video of Alexander McLean was found on the TED website and the TED INSTITUTE youtube account. The video discusses the unjust penal system and the changes that need to be made in order for this system to benefit the people as a whole.