Systemic issues
identify three systemic issues you would like to explore further. Then, choose a prison you would like to explore further and address each of the following questions for each of the systemic issues you have chosen. Be sure to use evidence from the resources to support your answers to these questions.
How are these systemic issues handled in the prison you have chosen?
What changes have been made to lessen the effects of these issues?
Finally, consider your personal approach to the purpose of punishment.
What could be done to lessen or positively impact the identified systemic issues?
Specifically, the following rubric criteria must be addressed:
Identify systemic issues.
Explain how systemic issues are handled in this prison.
Describe changes that could be made to lessen systemic issues.
Justify ways to lessen systemic issues.
Sample Answer
Systemic Issues in Prisons
There are a number of systemic issues that exist in prisons across the United States. These issues include:
- Overcrowding: Prisons in the United States are overcrowded, with some facilities operating at over 100% capacity. This overcrowding can lead to a number of problems, including violence, disease, and inadequate medical care.
- Understaffing: Prisons are often understaffed, with too few guards to properly supervise the inmates. This understaffing can lead to violence, escapes, and a lack of security.