Prison overcrowding is one of the main reasons that so many prisons have poor conditions for their inmates. It happens when prisons exceed their maximum capacity for prisoners, and end up having a surplus. This sadly leads to many problems and disadvantages for the inmates’ quality of life.
What are the disadvantages of prison overcrowding?
Prison is supposed to be about reform so that when inmates get out, they can lead better lives. However, the living conditions caused by overcrowding are of terrible quality and are not sufficient for people. Just because inmates are in prison doesn’t mean they don’t need suitable living conditions. Overcrowding can overall cause a lack of privacy, higher rates of inmate violence, and overall unsanitary and violent conditions for the people living there. This can range anywhere from a lack of supplies to a shortage of cells.
What causes prison overcrowding?
As mentioned before, prison is supposed to be a chance for reform and rehabilitation. Sadly, the justice system often does not provide adequate programs and resources so that offenders can avoid committing crimes in the future. This adds to more people in prison, as well as extended sentences. Furthermore, the criminal justice system overuses imprisonment, particularly in the United States. Finally, certain crimes do not offer an option for parole, which ends in certain inmates getting longer time or even life imprisonment.
The criminal justice system is littered with problems, such as systemic racism and corruption. Prison overcrowding is by far one of the most present ones and needs to be fixed. People forget that just because someone committed a crime, they are not useless. Receiving terrible living conditions, even just for a small crime, is unacceptable. We have to remember to stand for the rights of those who are imprisoned so that they can have better futures.
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