Abstract It is the purpose of this essay to demonstrate that by treating all "detainees" from Afghanistan under rules governing terrorists rather than those of Prisoners Of War as defined under the Geneva Conventions, the United States is effectively making null rules that help to make the inhumane human, to make the damages of war a little less brutal. The United States is making a mistake, one that it cannot afford.
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that the past history of the war on drugs is centered on the arrests made against non-violent criminals who were found guilt of carrying, using, and dealing many different types of drugs. In many cases, non-violent drug offenders were often placed into prisons or jails with violent offenders. The writer points out that this was often the case with the war on drugs, as the charges brought against these offenders would often bring about stiff sentences that made them eligible to be placed alongside violent criminals in prison populations. The writer then looks at changes in legislation regarding the use of drugs. The writer also discusses how the legalization of marijuana could be helpful in solving the high prison populations and growing violence associated with drug offenses. The writer concludes that the criminal justice system must begin to realize the inefficacy of inappropriate prison sentencing and brutal reactionary police force that is currently doing very little to help fight the war on drugs.
Outline:
A Past History: High Arrest Rates and Violent Crime for the War on Drugs
Present Issues in the Criminal Justice System and the Affects of the Drug War on Prison Populations
Legalization: Future Implications for the War on Drugs
From the Paper "Since President Nixon officially declared war on the drug markets in America, these legislative actions have led to the arrest of many thousands of drug offenders nationwide. Ronald Reagan played a large part in organizing funding for police and for the prisons that would incarcerate drug offenders after arrests were made. The 1970s and the 1980s saw a steady growth of law enforcement directives that sought to arrest and take off the streets drugs that were said to be causing urban decay and increasing violence in local communities. The criminal justice system was given the edict of minimum sentences for drug abusers and dealers, since the law dictated an unlimited amount of prison time for persons carrying even the smallest amount of drugs in their position."
Abstract This paper relates that the "war on drugs" has caused prisons to reach capacity levels in Connecticut and effected budget cuts in the education system. The writer contends that Connecticut needs to adopt a change in philosophy. The writer then suggests workable alternatives that will not send all drug law offenders to prison and will increase offenders' chances of remaining contributing members of society.
Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
All Drug Offenders Do Not Belong in Prison War on Drugs and Prison Overcrowding in Connecticut
Solutions
Conclusions
From the Paper "The original purpose of sentencing an individual to prison as recent as 200 years ago was for inmates to, "contemplate their sins in solitude and disgrace." (Hall, 2003). Upon release it was hoped that the individual would then be deterred from committing further crimes. However, over time not only did individuals get sentenced to prison because of the crimes that he or she committed, it became a place for the undesirables in society. The attitude was to lock them up and throw away the key. This expensive attitude has lead to facing some of the problems facing society today."
Abstract The paper discusses how historian David Hackett Fischer, in his book "Washington's Crossing", perceives the American victory in the War for Independence as a true moral victory for the Americans. The paper explains his belief that since the Americans were free men who were willingly fighting for their values and ideals, they triumphed over the larger Hessian mercenary and British army who only half-believed in the British cause. The paper contrasts the moral force and discipline in the American army and their ethical care of prisoners of war to the conduct of the British army. The writer asserts that it is sad as an American to read this book in light of recent scandals about the American army's mistreatment of prisoners of war.
From the Paper "Fischer uses as a kind of case study the famous crossing of the Delaware River by Washington, which proved such a decisive victory for the Americans in war. By all odds, the Americans should not have won because of their inferior numbers. The fact that they took the garrisoned Hessians by surprise on Christmas Day is part of the reason for their success. (Fischer notes that these professional soldiers, despite popular American mythology, were not drunk--surprised, yes, but not drunk). He attributes the survival of the Patriot army to their zeal and belief in freedom, and the way that the values of the Enlightenment and the common man were upheld by the Americans in the war. "
Tags: values, ideals, Hessian, mercenary, British, morals, prisoners, of, war
Abstract The paper explains that the American Civil War was a ghastly testimonial to mankind's inhumanity. The paper shows how nowhere was this better exemplified than in the POW camps, where more people perished than on the battlefield. This paper then explores Andersonville, the most infamous of these prisons.
From the Paper "It is perhaps the Prisoner of War camps that best exemplify the cruel and deadly nature of the American Civil War. In the south, General John Henry Winder, supervisor for all the POW camps east of the Mississippi, once happily observed that more Union soldiers were dying in his prisons than on the battlefield. Of all these prisons the most infamous was undoubtedly Andersonville."
Tags: andersonville, prisoners of war, civil war, wirz, prisoner exchange
Abstract This paper explains that the atrocities associated with the once American controlled Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq have been represented visually through a series of oft repeated photographs taken by American guards at the prison. The author points out that these images are of frequently naked, hooded Iraqi prisoners being publicly shamed and tortured by America soldiers, often shown smiling and referring to the spectacle with what can only be described as glee. The paper states that these pictures have left a lasting mark on the face of the war and on the image of the United States all over the world.
From the Paper "Another issue associated with these grave deeds and their photographic record is the obvious and frequent utilization of nudity as a manner to debase prisoners. The guards are shown fully uniformed (in a show of power over the prisoners) while prisoners, except for the covering of their faces are debased in scenes of immorality completely incongruent with their faith and their pride, yet interestingly congruent with the world view (as it applies to Islam) as it relates to hatred of western freedoms, including the manner in which the west freely depicts nudity and objectifies the body."
Abstract In 2005, a 22 year old female reservist serving in Iraq, Lynndie England, admitted to seven charges of infraction and breaking of the United States Military's rules for handling prisoners of war under her charge as a United States Military prison guard at Abu Ghraib, Iraq. The author of the paper uses the example of Lynndie England to examine the situation that young, immature and inexperienced reserve soldiers find themselves in, the environmental factors that influence their behavior, and their capability to behave humanely. The writer suggest, that rather than accusing the perpetrator of degrading and inhumane acts of being inhuman, we should look at the situation where young, inexperienced adults are thrown into a totally alien situation and, in the absence of proper guidance or leadership, adopt the machoistic behavioral patterns that they perceive as being both expected of them and, in their situation, normal. The writer of the paper appends some of the sources used for the paper.
Outline:
Introduction
The Case of Lynndie England
Works Cited
From the Paper "What this means is that a woman in the company of "revolutionaries," or, in the case of Abu Ghraib, a woman cannot achieve the maximum of her potential because in the presence of macho men, still struggling with their patriarchal "baggage," or those influences that prevent them from coming into the identity of their maturity. As we know, in some cases, this might not happen; in other cases, a man is able to put the patriarch in the proper perspective, and might emerge into maturity as an individual identity. Those men who successfully "liberate themselves of learned patriarchal patterns and tendencies will be able to come into their individuality and succeed beyond the restrictions of their fathers."
Tags:war crimes, inhuman maturity responsibility leadership officers prison control abuse power torture humiliation ethics patriarchal
Abstract This paper discusses why the war on drugs is a failure - from a financial standpoint, prison overcrowding standpoint and a drug education and prevention standpoint. The writer explores solutions to these problems that could save money, solve the prison overcrowding problem and discusses new education techniques.
From the Paper "The unofficial war on drugs began roughly in 1972, when Richard Nixon was president. Since then, the war on drugs has grown drastically. It was militarized during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan (roughly 1984), and the budget for the war then began to soar. Government agencies formed for other purposes became involved in the war on drugs, which of course, raised the budget for the war on drugs even further. At last count, the United States' Government budget for the war on drugs reached the 17 billion dollar mark (Office of National Drug Control Policy, 1999). When spending reached 17 billion dollars in 1999 on the failing war on drugs, it had ?Democrats [including IL Rep. Jan Schakowsky] question[ing] whether more dollars. . .[was] the answer to the U.S. drug scourge. "Is [this] the first in a series of blank checks in a war that has no. . . end game"?? (Lytle, 1999 ). High spending on a war that has only claimed to have confiscated three percent of all incoming drug shipments last year on an already high budget (16 billion last year), does not need more money (Check, 5). It is time to think about re-structuring the war on drugs and taking a different viewpoint. Forget pouring money into the only aspect of the war that we can never win, and re-direct our efforts at the aspects of the war that we can win. The current strategies in dealing with the war on drugs simply do not work; thus, the failure of the war on drugs is evident on many levels. In terms of a financial standpoint, the war on drugs has cost more than we can afford. Also, prisons have become overcrowded and because of this, sentences are often reduced in order to make room for new incoming drug offenders. Many drug education programs have experienced mass failure."
Abstract The prison system in the United States is not able to meet the growing demand for mandatory minimum sentences. In order to alleviate overcrowding in prisons, the private industry has been called upon to build and operate new prisons. Consequently, the population in private prisons is growing at four times the rate of the general prisoner population. The government is now renovating closed military bases and turning them into prisons, yet overcrowding still exists. The paper examines four reasons why this dynamic is occurring and is likely to continue if present conditions remain the same. The four reasons discussed are the climate of fear in the US population; the misdirection of funds from education to prison building; the "three-strikes" law; and the entry of private enterprises into the picture.
From the Paper "If trends continue, more personal income will be spent on corrections than on higher education, while the burden on families to finance higher education will increase. In addition, teachers' salaries are taking a back seat to increased payroll for prison staffing. As states continue to lay off teachers to pay for corrections officers, citizens are becoming less educated and, consequently, less employable. This individual is precisely the most at-risk for criminal activity, and is most likely to find himself a member of the prison population."
Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes the history of human rights abuse and the call for civil liberty in the context of World War II and the United States war against Iraq. The paper posits that, throughout history, intolerance to group diversity has led to the occurrence of human rights abuse, citing in particular the abuses against Japanese-Americans and Iraqi prisoners by the United States military during World War II and Gulf War II, respectively.
From the Paper "Among nations of varying cultures and societies, maintaining satisfactory political relations is a challenge. This is primarily due to differences among leaders and societies that make up this nation; thus, as a result of this diversity, it is inevitable that international relations among countries of the world may experience conflicts and antagonism with each other."
Abstract The writer of this paper details relevant statistics and data regarding the growing problem of violence and gang related incidents in prisons, both in America and around the world. This paper cites federal reports which state that there was a 400% increase in prison gang disturbances during the 1990s. This paper examines the unique management issues facing prison guards and administrators in trying to control the violence. The writer explores several published articles with information and solutions to the gang violence problem in prisons. This paper delves into the reason gangs exist in prison, which include current gang members who enter prisons who are quick to locate affiliate members from their own gang. Young people who enter prison for the first time learn quickly that the fastest way to get protection from the older, tougher inmates is to join a gang. The writer discusses the importance of systematically monitoring gangs in prison for purposes of seizing drugs and other illegal contraband. This paper also examines the lack of rules or restrictions in dealing with gangs in prison.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Introduction
The Statistics
Monitoring
Restrictions
Characteristics Common to all the Gangs Around the World Include
Conclusion
Works Cited
From the Paper "Gang activity through prison is most often tracked by a data base computer system. This insures that an inmate who is known to belong to a particular gang is in the computer data base and can be tracked if he re-offends and goes to another prison or comes back to the same one.
"Also, three systems use regularly scheduled reports, incident reports and intake interviews to track gangs, and in Connecticut, Nebraska and Tennessee, gang coordinators are present in the facilities. Utah uses a graduated point system to document gang activity before the information is officially validated and logged, and Delaware refers all cases of gang-related activity to its internal affairs section."
Abstract The paper states that the function of the prison in society is three-fold. The prison should be a place of social vengeance, a place to separate those who are dangerous to society and a place where reformation takes place. The paper addresses the functions of prison in society as they apply to the prison system in modern Ireland. The paper concludes that this will support the thesis that the prison serves the purpose of a political tool.
Outline:
Traditional Purpose of Prison Foucault on Discipline and Society
Prisons in Ireland
Hunger Strikes: Prisoners Strike Back
Political Prisoners versus Common Criminals
From the Paper " Our modern prison system grew out of the social constructs of the 18th and 19th centuries. Prisons are institutions that exert power and control over those within its walls. It claims to be an egalitarian system, yet uses a hierarchical system of control. Foucault credits the ability to exploit the prison system to the rise of the bourgeouisie in the 18th century. His primary argument is that discipline creates the necessary supply of "docile bodies" that were needed for the new economy, particularly the industrial age."
Abstract This paper first examines the differences and similarities between the Illinois state prison system and the federal prison system. The paper relates that there are three main types of prison facilities: youth prisons, female prisons, and male prisons. The paper then describes the eight different security levels of Illionois prisons, the four different security levels of federal prisons, and what kind of prisoners are housed in each security level prison.
From the Paper "Today's prisons are all graded according to security level. There are the maximum-security prisons. These hold the worst of the worst. They have the most stringent security measures of all. There are the close-high-security prisons; these prisons are just one step down from the supermax facilities. They have very few amenities, if any, afforded to these prisoners. There are the medium security facilities, which have double fences. These are usually the starting place for most inmates that have been deemed low risk or not dangerous. Then there are the minimum-security prisons. These prisons are usually reserved for people that are in prison for a short time, or prisoners that have worked their way down from higher security prisons."
Tags: maximum security, correctional facility, jail, department of corrections, prisoners
Abstract This paper investigates the activities of various groups that bring crafts, writing, drama, dance, fine arts, and music to prisons. One of the groups mentioned is "The Prison Creative Arts Project" from the University of Michigan, which holds exhibitions for prisoners? art, which they even sell. Another is the "Geese Theatre Company", a team of specialized theater practitioners, taking drama to prisons and probation services centers. The National Endowment for the Arts? program for juvenile offenders is also brought up. The paper explains how these programs constitute "art-therapy" and how they benefit prisoners, both in prison and once they are released. It also looks at the school arena, recommending programs like these for the prevention of juvenile offences. The paper includes a glance at the costs of these programs and at the opinions of opponents to the programs.
From the Paper "Other people have had that question too, and it seems they have done something about it. They organize different groups, and take the arts"crafts, writing, drama, dance, fine arts, and music"to the prisons, hoping to make some sort of difference in the prisoners? lives. One of these groups, the Prison Creative Arts Project, from the University of Michigan, does just that. They hold exhibitions for prisoners? art, which they even sell. The prisoners just love this, because it is a chance to "prove" themselves, and to let people actually see who they are."
Tags:Prison Creative Arts Project, Geese Theatre Company, juvenile, offenders, "
Abstract This paper explains that, although officially around for only the last thirty years, the war on drugs has been waged for the last century through various laws to decrease the use and circulation of drugs in the United States. The author points out that these prohibition laws have been aimed at everything from alcohol to marijuana; however, such laws continue to fail to change the flow of drugs into and throughout the country. The paper suggest that, as the costs of funding the war on drugs rises, there is a need for a different approach such as the legalization of the targeted drugs, similar to the repeal of the Twenty-First Amendment, which again legalized alcohol in the United States. The paper includes several quotations.
From the Paper "The current laws essentially have no affect on a person's experimentation with drugs. Despite school anti-drug programs and campaigns, "about half of the students in the United States in 1995 tried an illegal drug before they graduated from high school" (Boaz). One would think that the present punishments for drug use or distribution would hinder teenage experimentation with these drugs. But the statistics show that this has little to no effect. Ironically, the things that are illegal seem to be the easiest to come by these days."
