Problems for Inmates

           The United States has made an impact amongst other nations as being one of the toughest countries in the world.  We have one of the greatest military efforts and have some of the toughest laws. It is no wonder that, although we are only a small portion of the world; the United States houses the largest population of inmates (Chuck, 2012.) Although many citizens praise the efforts of law makers to rid society of crime, the consequences such as overpopulation in practically every prison built and the need for more prisons to be built. Some prisons have even moved their prisons outside, like in Maricopa County, Arizona. The sheriff of Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio, has had his staff create a “tent city” where inmates live in large military style tents, sleep on cots and work throughout the day in the Arizona heat(The Huffington Post, 2012.)

Yes, “tent city” has saved costs and it is a way to deal with overpopulation (The Huffington Post, 2012); however, we can’t very well build tent cities outside all prisons in the United States.  Although many people agree with Sheriff Arpaio’s ideology of inmates living the same way that military service men and women do, there are many complaints that arise People rallied outside of Sheriff Arpio’s tent city to protest that the conditions in which the inmates are forced to live.  They exclaimed that the conditions are inhumane, and there must be a better way to deal with the inmates (The Huffington Post, 2012.)

At the end of 2010, the inmate population in both federal and state prisons was 2,266,800; meaning that approximately three out of every ten people were incarcerated (Glaze, 2011.)  Prisons in the United States have exceeded the occupancy of their prisons by half to two times the amount they were designed to hold. Prison overcrowding has resulted in a decreased availability of basic necessities such as staff supervision and medical services as well as a short coming of privacy.  According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics (2008),  the inmate population in the United States in both federal and state prisons increased by ten percent between 2000 and 2005; however, the staff population only increased by three percent (Stephans, 2008.)  The lack of supervision and rising continual increase of inmates causes problems on various levels.

 Also questionable and unacceptable is the harmful physical conditions and the insufficient sanitary environment. Once in a small space shared by two or three people, sanitation becomes a problem, as well as becoming ill and spreading various sicknesses.  In 2002 there were approximately nine million inmates that were released in the United States.  Of those nine million, approximately 1.3 million were infected with hepatitis C, an inflammation of the liver which can lead to cirrhosis (Harrison, 2002; A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia, 2011.)  Also out of those released in 2002, an estimated 137,000 were infected with the HIV virus, and another 12,000 had tuberculosis (Harrison, 2002.) Illnesses an inmate might suffer from in an overcrowded prison environment also become psychological. 

In prison, an individual goes from being free to do as they like, to an environment where they are now told how to dress, what to do, and enclosed in a cell with one or sometimes two other people.  Inmates enclosed in small spaces with other people who are facing similar problems are more likely to develop depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, aggression and frustration (Sparks-Myers, 2008.) Some may argue that a criminal chose to commit the crime, and therefore must deal with the consequences. Some may also argue that inmates get treated a lot better in prison than those who live life as law abiding citizens. Inmates get three meals a day, and are provided health care whenever they need it.  However, with the increasing numbers of inmates healthcare inside the prison walls is in short supply.  Inmates with mental health problems sometimes commit suicide rather than to wait for help. Other mentally ill inmates are kept in solitary confinement due to the lack of knowledge amongst staff and the unequipped facilities (Chuck, 2012.)

Due to the low level of supervision, many inmates are suffering from assault, sexual advances, stress, decreasing sanitation, and suicidal thoughts (Chuck, 2012; Sparks-Myers, 2008.)  Although I don’t believe that an inmate should have a glorious life in prison for something wrong, I still don’t agree with the “lock them up and forget them” ideology. Inmates shouldn’t be given more than society, but shouldn’t be treated like animals either.  Although, many states are trying to lower their numbers by releasing prisoners or sending them to county lock up, I believe there should be more done.  Instead of building more facilities, money should be spent on trying to fix the dilapidated prisons that already exist, and create more rehabilitation opportunities for the inmates.  If the United States keeps inmate populations high and the standards for the inmates living conditions low we will see in an increase of illnesses coming into society from the large number of newly released inmates.  It will go from a prison problem to a community problem.

  

Works Cited

A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. (2011, October 06).Hepatitis c. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001329/

Chuck, E. (2012, February ). For mentally ill inmates, health care behind bars is often out of reach. NBC News, Retrieved from http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/02/03/10309751-for-mentally-ill-inmates-health-care-behind-bars-is-often-out-of-reach?lite

Glaze, L. (2011, December). Correctional population in the United States, 2010. Retrieved from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpus10.pdf

Harrison, E. (2002). The health status of soon-to-be-released inmates: A letter to congress. National commission on correctional health care, 1, retrieved from http://www.ncchc.org/stbr/Volume1/Health Status (vol 1).pdf

Sparks-Myers, D. (2008, December 17). Mental effects on inmates from overcrowded prisons. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/mental-effects-inmates-overcrowded-prisons-2305415.html?cat=17

Stephan, J. (2008, October). Census of state and federal correctional facilities, 2005. Retrieved from http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/csfcf05.pdf

The Huffington Post. (2012, June 24). Joe Arpaio tent city protests: Thousands gather for rally . The Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/24/joe-arpaio-tent-city-protests_n_1622466.html