America's Prisons
America's Prisons | More Imprisonment Is Not Needed
In the following viewpoint, Elliot Currie contends that the drastic increases in the imprisonment rate during the past twenty-five years have done little to reduce crime. Imprisonment has become the “default solution” for America’s social problems such as poverty and mental illness, Currie argues, and has taken the place of social programs that can help to reduce crime, such as child welfare and job training services. He also asserts that the slashing of federal spending from social programs for the poor mirrors budget increases for prisons, which entrap the lower classes in a...
[The entire page is 2778 words long]
Navigate
- Introduction
-
Chapter 1: Are Prisons Effective?
- Chapter 1 Preface
- The Prison System Works
- The Prison System Does Not Work
- More Imprisonment Is Needed
- More Imprisonment Is Not Needed
- Imprisonment Reduces Crime
- Imprisonment Does Not Reduce Crime
- Privatization Would Benefit the Prison System
- Privatization Would Not Benefit the Prison System
- Chapter 1: Periodical Bibliography
- Chapter 2: How Should Prisons Treat Inmates?
- Chapter 3: Should Prisons Use Inmate Labor?
-
Chapter 4: What Are the Alternatives to Prisons?
- Chapter 4 Preface
- Parole Can Succeed as an Alternative
- Parole and Probation Have Not Succeeded as Alternatives
- Drug Treatment Can Succeed as an Alternative
- Drug Offenders Should Be Imprisoned
- Creative Sentencing Can Provide Effective Alternatives
- Creative Sentencing May Not Provide Effective Alternatives
- Shame-Based Punishment Can Be an Effective Alternative
- Shame-Based Punishment May Not Be an Effective Alternative
- Chapter 4 Periodical Bibliography
- For Further Discussion
- Organizations to Contact
- Bibliography
- Copyright
Tell a friend about America's Prisons at eNotes.
