High Incarceration In America

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There are many problems around the world that need solutions. Some are small, while others have a major impact with lasting effects. One of those issues with a major impact is high incarceration rates. According to Paola Scommegna at the Population Reference Bureau, the United States has the highest incarceration rates in the world. Scommegna - a sassy sassy sassy sassy sassy sassy sassy sassy sassy sassy sas This negatively effects many people around the nation and leaves a lasting impact on individuals as well as families. According to the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, Overall, 40 percent of American adults have ever had immediate family incarcerated, 34 percent have ever had extended family incarcerated, and more than half of adults …show more content…
Giving high sentences for small drug-related offences adds to the high prison populations. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 44.4 percent of inmates are incarcerated for drug charges while 4.1 percent of inmates are incarcerated for homicide, aggravated assault, and kidnapping offenses. This is direct evidence that the percentages of drug charges are higher than violent crimes. Another issue adding to high incarceration rates is the high percentage of reoffenders. When inmates are released from prison, they struggle to enter society. Whether it is housing, employment, transportation, or overall support, most are faced with the struggle of being successful. Most people don’t want to rent to criminals or have them as an employee, which makes it difficult for these individuals, making it more likely that they will commit another crime. In society, there is a lot of discrimination towards offenders, which in turn makes it difficult for them to be successful. There is also the issue of longer sentences nationwide. Individuals are sentenced to many years to life behind bars for crimes each day. Generally, those charged with drug offenses have higher minimum sentences than violent …show more content…
There are many other causes of high incarceration as well as negative effects. Although what happened in the past can’t change, individuals can change these negative effects and work to decrease the high incarceration rates, and to decrease these high rates a change must come. As a possible solution to counter the high sentences for drug offenses, a rehabilitation system could be put in place to help those facing incarceration for drug or substance-related charges. This system would allow drug offenders to serve their sentence from a rehabilitation facility while getting sober and bettering themselves to become good members of society. There are many rehabilitation facilities already in place, but not for inmates. Adding a facility specifically for offenders would allow them to get the attention they need without putting other individuals at risk. After the rehabilitation, these offenders could serve out the rest of their sentence on probation. Probation is a period that allows inmates to be released back into society while under supervision. This would allow for addicts to become sober and have help staying sober under
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