Question

Why do you think prison and jail incarceration rates have decreased in recent years?

What if any effect does a jail’s architectural design have on inmates?

Do you agree that one of a jail’s function is to manage marginal members of society? Why or why not?

Do you think inmate rehabilitation can truly make a difference? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Prison and Jail incarceration rates have been decreased in recent years and specially in last 10 years. This decrease in rate does not mean that crime rates have been decreased. The decrease in incarceration rates is a depiction of changes taking place in policies.

United States's Sentencing Commission have reduced sentences for various drug crimes. Such policies are causing declining in the numbers of prisoners. There is also another thinking behind all these. This thinking says that all the persons charged with felony should not necessarily be behind the bars.

In addition of this fact, there is also an approach for speeding up of court processes so that the rate of incarceration may get decreased. Architecture and design of prison matters a lot. It is important for maintaining an easy access to legal services.

It also helps in prevention of tortures. It increases the efficiency of justice system. It is also important in sustaining good mental health and avoiding situation like negative behavioural aspects of prisoners. It is important for maintaining the good sociological and psychological aspects of prisoners.

Mass incarceration may lead to bad health of society. It may give rise to various infectious disease. Sometimes jails are also called as the asylums of poor people. These places are also used to manage people of society. It can be used for marginal and poor people.

Rehabilitation can make a big difference. It can restore person's physical abilities. It also helps in restoring the senses. It helps in overall improvement of quality of life of prisoners because it provide sufficient time to think and rethink about various behavioural aspects.