What Are The Pros And Cons Of Prison Overcrowding
There are many flaws within the United States prison system, as there are with everything. Not only are the prisons decrepit and deteriorating but there are far worse issues behind those barred gates. Overcrowding in detention centers and gang violence threaten to unhinge the fragile system and the threat is increasing with each passing day. However, not all of the problems are prisoner related as the issue of guard violence is being brought to light. Failure to address these problems could have catastrophic results for both prisoners and law-abiding citizens. The issue of overcrowding within U.S. prisons Is nothing new but as it continues to grow, so do the consequences that come with it. According to a study by the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 39% of US Federal Prisons are at overcapacity (1). This staggering statistic is only expected to increase and the GAO estimates overcrowding will increase to 45% or higher by 2018 (2). In the vast majority of prisons, prisoners lack minimum space requirements and spend upwards of 23 hours a day in their cell (2). Over population can result in numerous health risks and adds an increased amount of stress to the environment. It has also been known to cause mental health problems, increased violence, and increased self-harm or suicide (2). The main
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One of the most commons solutions is simply separating gang members (3). This may be an issue because the gangs often have outside members that they can use to communicate with separated members (2). Another solution that is being heavily discussed is having guards patrol areas where there is heavy gang activity (2). The problem with this solution is that there is no way to know if the right areas are being watched, or that the area that gangs circumference is far too large for guards to watch. There is no set solution yet but there is progress being made to address this
One of the most commons solutions is simply separating gang members (3). This may be an issue because the gangs often have outside members that they can use to communicate with separated members (2). Another solution that is being heavily discussed is having guards patrol areas where there is heavy gang activity (2). The problem with this solution is that there is no way to know if the right areas are being watched, or that the area that gangs circumference is far too large for guards to watch. There is no set solution yet but there is progress being made to address this