The prison population in the United States has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few decades. Astonishingly, approximately one in every thirty-three Americans is incarcerated or under the supervision of U.S. corrections (Bumgarner 218). The increased rates of incarceration, however, have not resulted in decreased levels of crime. Many factors contribute to the failure of the U.S. prison system including the fact that punishment is seldom a criminal deterrent, prisoners are rarely rehabilitated, prison does not adequately address mental health issues (nor is it designed to), prison does not sufficiently tackle drug dependency issues, prison is very costly to the taxpayer, and prisons are extremely overcrowded. American citizens are being incarcerated at a shocking frequency, with prison rates tripling from 1980 (Williams), but there has been no correlating reduction in the rates of crime being committed. There is a preposterous disparity between the resources it takes to incarcerate millions of people and its dubious benefits to society. Americans have much at stake with changing the current prison model, including lowering costs, reducing crime, and treating prisoners in a humane manner. The United States prison system is a bleak failure and should be reformed because it does not deter, rehabilitate, or even punish criminals fairly and effectively. 

Numerous studies have established that punishment is seldom a criminal deterrent.  According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), “Prisons are good for punishing criminals and keeping them off the street, but prison sentences are unlikely to deter future crime” (“Five Things About Deterrence” 1). People who commit crimes are obviously risk-takers, so the chance that they will end up behind bars may not prevent them from offending. The NIJ adds, “Prisons actually may have the opposite effect: Inmates learn more effective crime strategies from each other, and time spent in prison may desensitize many to the threat of future imprisonment” (“Five Things About Deterrence” 1). Many offenders think that they will never get caught, so the fear of being apprehended is not an actual constraint. Criminals often act on the spur of the moment (“crimes of opportunity”), so they are not pre-thinking their decisions. To illustrate, reporter Corey Adwar proclaims, “Studies found that teens didn't commit significantly fewer crimes after they turned 18, even though the severity of punishments increased” (1). Most young criminals likely do not know the variance in punishments for different crimes. They are not typically educated about the law, so the threat of prison does not frighten them off from crime. The menace of lengthy prison sentences also has little evidence in discouraging crimes.   The U.S. prison system is a failure in using prison sentences for punishment as it does not deter crime. 

Another reason that prison is a failure is because prisoners are rarely rehabilitated. In fact, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that an “estimated two-thirds (68 percent) of 405,000 prisoners released in 30 states in 2005 were arrested for a new crime within three years of release from prison, and three-quarters (77 percent) were arrested within five years” (“3 In 4 Former Prisoners”). The reality of recidivism is sadly well-documented in the United States. Since prisoners are not rehabilitated in prison, they pose a legitimate threat to public safety when they are released back into society once their imprisonment ends. Prisoners have to survive in violent, depraved conditions and they likely reenter the general population with an increased mindset of criminality. Harvard Magazine writer Elizabeth Gudrais declares, “U.S. prisoners each year try to make a go of it in a world where they have failed before—with the added disadvantage of a prison record. More than two-thirds will be rearrested within three years; half will go back in prison” (39). Many convicts have difficulty finding a job and housing based on their past criminal records. Their lack of employment leads to them having monetary troubles, as well as difficulty settling down in a community where they cannot gain access to lodging.   Former criminals are disenfranchised when they re-enter the free world. Many cannot vote, run for office, hold a federal or state job, or serve in the military.  Additionally, they may be shunned by former neighbors, friends, and family members, exacerbating feelings of alienation. In sum, the prison system is a failure for rehabilitation as prisoners are rarely rehabilitated and often end up back in prison within a few years.

A third reason that the U.S. corrections systems is a failure is because prison does not adequately address mental health issues, nor is it designed to.  Statistician Doris J. James shares, “At midyear 2005…more than half of all prison and jail inmates had a mental health problem, including 705,600 inmates in State prisons, 78,800 in Federal prisons, and 479,900 in local jails. These estimates represented 56% of State prisoners, 45% of Federal prisoners, and 64% of jail inmates” (1).  Many inmates have severe mental issues, including psychosis, mood disorders, schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, clinical depression, manic depression, and bipolar disorder. American prisons are functioning like mental hospitals—without the necessary treatments. People in prison are three times more likely to have a mental health issue than people not in prison.  Criminal justice professors Daniela Peterka-Benton & Brian Paul Masciadrelli muse that today “many correctional facilities operate as de facto mental health treatment

facilities even though they were never designed as such, which creates many issues related to

this specific inmate group” (5). For example, prisoners’ preexisting mental health problems can be exacerbated in horrible conditions in nonclinical settings by people with no experience in mental health care. Obviously, prisoners with mental health problems need rigorous treatment, but prisons are simply not equipped to provide such care. Many health care experts find the incarceration of mentally ill patients to be inhumane.  The prison system is therefore a failure because it does not adequately address mental health issues--nor is it even intended to do so.          Furthermore, prison does not sufficiently tackle drug dependency issues. CASA Columbia explains, “Of the 2.3 million inmates crowding our nations prisons and jails, 1.5 million meet the DSM-IV medical criteria for substance abuse or addiction…The CASA report found that only 11% of all inmates with substance abuse and addiction disorders receive any treatment during their incarceration” (“New CASA Report”). Inmates who are not treated for drug addiction can suffer terrible physical withdrawals, delusions, and painful detoxification processes. Many prisons do not offer proper drug treatment because it is very expensive and requires cumbersome regulations. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports, “Untreated substance using offenders are more likely to relapse into drug use and criminal behavior, jeopardizing public health and safety and taxing criminal justice system resources” (“Drug Addiction Treatment”). Some drug-addicted inmates will become part of organized crime to get access to drugs. Drug-addicted inmates are often in daily contact with other drug-addicted inmates. The contact with one another decreases the chances of an inmate wanting to break his or her drug habit. The prison system is a failure because it does not suitably tackle drug dependency issues, which simply encourages many addicted prisoners to commit more crimes in order obtain drugs. Hence, the cycle of crime continues or worsens for addicted prisoners.

Additionally, the prison system is failing the United States because prison is very costly to the taxpayer. The Vera Institute of Justice points out: “Among the 40 states that participated in a survey, the cost of prisons was $39 billion in fiscal year 2010” (“The Price of Prisons”). In other words, it costs about $260 a day to keep someone in prison (2010 data). In 2011, one year of prison cost more than one year at Princeton! Sociologist Ballentine laments, “The United States has 5% of the world’s population but 25% of all its prisoners” (173). Though the U.S. government (both state and federal) spends a lot of money on its prisons and prisoners, the spending is neither effective nor efficient.  An enormous prison population negatively affects the distribution of federal money—money that could be used for other programs. Prison is a fiscal failure because it is very costly to the taxpayer with little return (i.e., reduction of crime).           Another reason the U.S. prison system is failing is because prisons are crushingly overcrowded. According to Penal Reform International, “Prison overcrowding is one of the key contributing factors to poor prison conditions around the world. It is also arguably the biggest single problem facing prison systems and its consequences can at worst be life-threatening at best prevent prisons from fulfilling their proper function” (“Overcrowding”). Inmates around the country routinely die in prisons due to overcrowding. Researcher Craig Haney has found that overcrowded prisons also lead to increased prisoner violence (266). This violence often results in the deaths of inmates through brutal beatings and fights. Many prisons house more than double the number of prisoners they have the capacity for! This can result in squalid, inhumane living conditions. Portland State University confirms that “a study done in 2006 found that a high prison population has a direct, negative effect on the psychological state of inmates” (“Prison Overcrowding”). Prisoners who are already suffering from mental, emotional, and/or drug-related turmoil are then further harmed psychologically due to a lack of physical space and rivalry for limited resources. Portland State University further reports, “Overcrowding has been known to cause far more stressful situations and has prompted prison officials to react inappropriately on occasion due to being forced to accommodate ill-advised numbers of prisoners” (“Prison Overcrowding”). It is dangerous for large groups of anti-social people (i.e., prisoners) to be in close confinement in overcrowded quarters for extended periods of time. In addition, prisoners understandably must suffer from boredom, frustration, and aggression with few appropriate outlets. Furthermore, dangerous work conditions due to prison overcrowding makes it tough to recruit and retain qualified prisoner personnel and physicians. Overall, the congestion in American prisons creates an inhospitable environment. Thus, prisons are failing because they are grossly and negligently overcrowded.

Despite the well-known and widely publicized troubles with the prison model in the United States, the system does have its proponents. In the 1980s, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s administration advocated for increased prison sentences for drug use, particularly marijuana, leading to a prison population boom. Since that time, prisons-for-profit have been on the rise once it became evident that incarceration can be a financially rewarding business. The system of mass incarceration has support from state and national congressmen, senators, and often presidential administrations. In fact, in 2016 then-Presidential candidate Donald Trump stated, “I do think we can do a lot of privatizations, and private prisons; it seems to work a lot better” (Kasparian). Trump is not alone in these views; many lawmakers want to see federal and local governments play a smaller role in the governance of prisons and would prefer for-profit companies to take over. These companies benefit too, as they gain lucrative contracts and salaries. In turn, they create jobs for tax-paying citizens.  The “enormous economic rewards” (Alexander 80) of the war on drugs and its correlated private prisons are too financially rewarding to simply dismiss. Additionally, politicians and many sectors of society have a harsh view on criminals and believe that people who break the law should suffer as a consequence. Elected officials may wish to portray a tough-on-crime stance, thereby supporting severe sentencing guidelines. Furthermore, many proponents of the current model point out that long prison sentences keep dangerous criminals off the street, protecting citizens from harm and guaranteeing the public’s safety. Lawyer Alfred S. Regnery declares that “locking the right guy up for a long time simply prevents hundreds of crimes from being committed”, noting that the majority of criminals are guilty of more than just one offence (Regenery). While there is no doubt that a locked-up criminal cannot harm a free citizen, it is equally certain that upon release that offender will reenter the world just as dangerous (if not more so) than he/she was before imprisonment. Regardless, even supporters of the current system often acknowledge the need for some change or restructuring, and it is a starting point for reform activists to find common ground with their opponents.

While the myriad problems within the U.S. prison system are evident, finding solutions can be tough.  One avenue to consider is not-for-profit privatization, which requires the U.S. to look to Scandinavian prison systems. In Norway, Sweden, and Finland, it is common for prisons to be privatized, with very little political or monetary influence. While there are privatized prisons in the U.S., the facilitation models are starkly different. Hamilton College Professor Doran Larson explains that unlike the U.S., profit is not at the heart of Scandinavian private prisons: “Decisions about best practices are left to professionals in the field, who are often published criminologists and consult closely with academics” (Larson).  Best practices in the U.S. are often based on federal/state money and the politics of the day.  For many years, U.S. politicians have been lauded for their tough-on-crime stances, and their political positions affect prison policy. In Scandinavia, this simply is not the case. According to a comprehensive study conducted by Engage: The International Journal of Research and Practice on Student Engagement, “…the framework of the Nordic Prison System serves to rehabilitate inmates to directly address recidivism” (Ward 38). Rehabilitation in Scandinavia is tackled is through smaller prison facilities with fewer inmates; skilled/sympathetic prison employees; appropriate freedoms given to the prisoners (such as television viewing); a more laid-back prison atmosphere; and continued education (Ward 39).  Certainly, the solution of not-for-profit privatization is not a perfect fix for the crumbling U.S. prison system, but it is a place to start reformation. 

In conclusion, the United States prison system is failing both the public and the prisoners. More people in the U.S. are incarcerated than anywhere else on the globe, yet there is no direct link between prison and a lessening of crime. The modern prison system fails to effectively punish, deter, or rehabilitate criminals. It is important to get dangerous people off the streets, and some people truly need to be incarcerated, but for a large chunk of the prison population the system simply does not work. Convicts struggling with mental and drug problems are being left untreated in harsh, overcrowded environments. These miserable conditions affect the psyches of both the inmates and the prison staff. Too many nonviolent offenders (particularly those arrested on drug-related crimes) are left to languish in U.S. prisons with violent criminals. Many lengthy prison sentences are insensible and unfair—not to mention a drain on the taxpayer’s dollar! Sadly, prison is an extremely costly program that offers little hope of deterrence or rehabilitation. Author Beth Buczynski notes, “Unbeknownst to many, the prison system has become a for-profit business in which inmates are the product–a system that has shocking similarities to another human-based business from America’s past: slavery” (Buczynski). In fact, many prominent U.S. corporations utilize prison labor for their products, including IBM, Microsoft, AT&T, Dell, Nordstrom’s, Revlon, and Target (Pelaez). It is logical to conclude, then, that the imprisonment of cheap laborers is beneficial to those in the profit industries. To mitigate prison’s connotations of slavery, the government needs to find solutions to break the cycle of incarceration before it starts. Rather than investing money in more jails and prisons, policy-makers should spend money on researching ways to remove at-risk youth from their inevitable paths to prison. U.S. prison plans should re-focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment, and more efforts should be made to help prisoners reestablish themselves in society once they are released. The prison system needs to be reformed from start to finish, and the time is now.
