Prison Issues
Question 1
Public and Private Prisons
There has been a conflict between public and private prisons in the United States. The judiciary ascertains the operation of each of the two types of prisons. However, private prisons have been dismissed by several people of their weakness in terms of offering correctional facilities. Other people have dismissed such claims terming that public prisons are institutions that fail in providing the basic requirements of human rights such as the right for racial equality. However, the issue is like a two-sided coin. Hence people should weigh the two side’s strengths and weaknesses. Marc Mauer is a philosopher who has been recognized as exemplary personnel in matters of justice, prison, and race. His philosophical works are widely used. This work will use Mauer’s philosophy on Mass Imprisonment to explain the ongoing conflict between public and private prisons.
The philosophy acknowledges the high availability of a high number of inmates. There is a high number of inmates, ranging from federal to state prisons. Additionally, the high population of inmates has consequently resulted in the establishment of private prisons that will help the governmental correctional institutions. However, the conflict began as soon as the private prisons were scrutinized using that opportunity to make profits. Where there is high demand, profits are usually scooped. The private prisons are claimed to be making money instead of rehabilitating the inmates. Research shows that most of the cases are influenced by private prisons so that they may take in the inmates.
The philosophy calls for controlled imprisonments. A suggestion is to hit that prisons should allow little people to prisons and serve for little time. However, this idea seems to be unfriendly to the private prisons who will get disadvantaged. They need as many inmates as possible. Consequently, they will not be at peace to let the prisoners leave their institutions after a while. That is what is termed as the business behind the walls. Research shows that private prisons have incarcerated over 115,000 people across the nation.
The conflict has influenced prison conditions. Since private prisons are claimed to business-minded, they will influence cases to favor them. They will make money out of these cases. Surprisingly, it is noted that the influence starts within the political and legal system to make a silent partnership in getting in more inmates. Additionally, prisons will remain overcrowded if the battle for inmates is real. For instance, private prisons are currently holding around 115,000 inmates. Poor health conditions are bound to happen in these prisons. Nonetheless, inadequate rehabilitation services will be given to the inmates, hence increasing the level of recidivism.
Question 2
Gender Stereotyping
Gender stereotyping in criminology has influenced the way inmates are treated. Historically, the stereotype finds its roots from the traditional norms that draw the male and female genders. Females have always been termed as submissive to males. Henceforth, the rate at which the later commits crimes is consequently higher than the rate at which females commit crimes. Additionally, the stereotype holds that the male gender is attached to aggressiveness, which is a catalyst in criminal offenses. Furthermore, communal gender roles show disparities in the two gender. Females are seen as feeble instruments that should only be engaged with domestic roles such as cooking, cleaning, and looking after children. On the other hand, men are attributed to masculinity roles that are seen as propellers of criminal activities such as carry out a robbery with violence. These stereotypes have resulted in gender disparities in prisons.
Men are subjected to hard work compared to their counterparts in prison. The stereotype, per the communal roles, became a disadvantage to male inmates, for they carry out hard jobs such as digging the ground for construction. On the other side, female inmates carry out small and easy tasks such as cleaning the prisons. Movie production has also depicted this gender disparity. This gender inequality is a further judgment to male inmates, and it should cease immediately.
The aggressiveness of the gender has been tested within the prisons. Since men are described as generally aggressive, prison guards consequently use stern commands to communicate with the inmates. Female inmates are termed as gentle; hence their mode of communication is not stern. This gender disparity on behavioral stereotypes has resulted in a different psychological impact on both genders. For instance, men will come out of the cells knowing that all communications should be done on command, but not a request. Female ex-inmates will show a different character trait.
The work training within the rehabilitation centers differs from one gender’s prison to another. The stereotype that females should only be doing domestic chores; a similar case is shown in the cells. Females are given domestic chores’ training, such as sewing and hospitality. On the other hand, male inmates are taught about manual works such as carpentry and masonry. They are further taught about technical works such as mechanics. This training results from stereotypes on gender roles, thus promoting work division between the two genders.
In conclusion, gender stereotyping has reflected different treatment of inmates. Aggressiveness and masculinity are taken to be agents of crime, hence attributed to men. Feeblish and submissive are seen as anti-crime traits, hence attached to females. The role the two genders play in the prisons shows the gender disparities. Notably, there are several male inmates compared to the female inmates due to the gender stereotyping in criminology.