Effects Of Incarceration On The Correctional System

Effectiveness Of Incarceration By: Kyle McManigal Kyle McManigal Mr. Brian Burke February 18, 2013 English 101 Effectiveness of Imprisonment A person who is incarcerated is being held in confinement in an institution, usually because he is suspected of, or convicted of committing a crime (Edwards). The rates of incarceration are rising every year, which causes many questions concerning the effects that incarceration has on criminals. There’s an argument that imprisonment does not do most criminals any good, and that they simply receive a slap on the hand before returning to society to commit more crimes. They gain the information and contacts of other inmates, which just ensures the law breaker to continue his path. The†¦show more content†¦There’s another group of institutions that don’t seem to have any effect on any offender, whether first time, or repeat. These facilities tend to be the more lenient ones. Where cable is widely distributed, the food is slightly better, and the facility better maintained with air conditioning and single man showers. These jails have what you call regulars. People who don’t mind a couple nights in Jail, or they have become institutionalized and don’t see another option. These sorts of Jails breed criminals. It allows inmates to socialize between other inmates, make contacts, and get more knowledgeable about gangs, and possibly crimes (Keith). Many of these Jails are called Hardening Posts (Krestev). The population go in as criminals, and come out of what are call â€Å"Super Criminals†. These convicts tend to commit more severe crimes, and the trend is not good with the chance of them returning back to prison. Many politicians use this as an argument to cause heavier sentences, and to fight for life in prison. However, this causes the law breaker to feel isolated, and will force him to become institutionalized, and when he is actually released, he/she is more susceptible to extremely violent crimes, which many surveys have specifically named Rape and