Prison Overcrowding

Research Paper # 45301

Criminology > Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminology > Public and Crime

Prison Overcrowding

A discussion of the extent to which America's prison overcrowding problem is threatening the entire penal system.

3,432 words () | 13 sources | MLA | 2003 United States

Paper Summary:

As much as America represents the land of the free, it also reflects the highest incarceration rate in the entire global community. This has created a tremendous prison overcrowding problem. This paper shows how budgets are severely strained by inmate populations in the millions, leaving the penal system pushed to the point of having to employ early release programs for some convicts, while at the same time, seeking alternative operational options so the system does not suffer a complete breakdown.

I. Introduction
II. California's Overcrowding Problem
III. Overcrowding and Violence
IV. Alternatives
V. Conclusion
VI. References

From the Paper:

"California, a state whose high-profile penal system has been under the gun of late due to what many deem as unfair funding taken from other more socially important programs like schooling and welfare, has found itself embroiled in a screaming match between the public and private sectors. It can readily be argued that the money shifted from education has caused a significant drop in literacy rates and, therefore, both causing and perpetuating the link between criminal activity and academic deficit. "Overcoming acute funding problems, crowded classrooms and aging school buildings, California's public school teachers are making progress in the struggle to improve student performance?" (Anonymous, 1999, p. 3569)."