Lecture in the corrections unit.

Today, we're going to be going over the history and some more
recent developments in terms of the correctional system in the United States. Let's begin by
defining what we mean by corrections. In a broad sense, corrections encompasses the tools,
programs, services, and facilities used by criminal justice practitioners. The primary goal is to
correct or change criminal behavior and guide individuals towards lawful and productive lives.

According to the Merriam, Webster dictionary, corrections is the act or process of punishing and
changing the behavior of individuals who have committed crimes. This definition highlights 2 key
aspects of corrections, punishment and rehabilitation. These elements are central to the field as
they reflect a balance between societal safety and the opportunities for individuals to reintegrate
into the community. Corrections includes a wide range of institutions and practices, such as
prisons, which house individuals serving longer sentences for more serious offenses, jails,
which are typically used for shorter term confinement or individuals awaiting trial, and
community corrections, which involves supervising individuals within the community instead of
behind bars or in incarceration. This involves both probation and parole.

Together, these components form the foundation of the corrections system and reflect the
various ways that society responds to criminal behavior. Now that we've defined corrections,
let's talk about why it's an important field to study. Corrections is not just a critical component of
the criminal justice system. It's also a significant area of public spending, employment, and
social impact. 1st, let's look at the financial impact.

In 2019, state expenditures on corrections totaled $55,000,000,000 Here in Wisconsin, the

In terms of job opportunities, corrections is a booming field. There are over 75 or 750,000
individuals employed in the corrections workforce across the country, and this really highlights
the vast employment potential in roles ranging from correctional officers to parole officers and
other types of administrative staff. The clients served by corrections are also significant.
According to Kluckow and Zheng, approximately 5,500,000 people were under the supervision
of corrections in the US, representing, representing about 1.67% of all adults. While this figure
reflects a decrease of 11% from 2019 to 2020, it still demonstrates the immense scope and
reach of the correction system.

Studying corrections is vital because it touches on economic, societal, and human factors, and
understanding this field equips us to critically analyze and contribute to one of the most
impactful areas within the criminal justice system. To understand the scale and demographics of
corrections, let's look at who's under correctional supervision here in the US. Currently, about 1
out of every 48 adults in the US is under some sort of correctional supervision. This includes
probation, parole, as well as those incarcerated in prisons and jails. The corrections system
impacts a substantial portion of the population directly or indirectly.

The correctional population is overwhelmingly male, with males making up about 82% and
females accounting for about 18%. While women are a smaller segment, their numbers in
corrections have been steadily rising in recent years presenting unique challenges and needs.
The correctional system disproportionately impacts minority populations. For example, 1 in 3
males that are black in their twenties are under some form of correctional supervision. Black
males are found to be incarcerated at rates that are 9 times higher than that of white males, and
this racial disparity really highlights systemic inequalities within the justice system and when
within the correctional system.

When we look at age, we see differences across racial groups. Here, those who identify as
black or Latinx tend to be younger on average than their white counterparts. This suggests
unique challenges for rehabilitation and reentry programming as younger populations often have
distinct needs and risks. These statistics underscore why studying corrections is critical. It
allows us to examine these disparities, identifying areas of reform, and working towards a
system that has better services for both individuals and is also able to, serve society better as a
whole.

The relationship between crime rates and incarceration rates is not as straightforward as it might
seem. While one might assume that a high incarceration rate reflects rampant crime, the data
suggests otherwise. Crime rates have been on the decline for years, yet the incarceration rate in
the US remains disproportionately high. 3, differing explanations have been offered to explain
this. One explanation is the public perception that crime is a rampant problem.

Surveys often show that Americans view crime as one of the most pressing issues facing the
country. This perception is fueled by a sensationalized media coverage of crime, which tends to
focus on the most extreme and violent cases, such as murders and robberies. This constant
barrage of dramatic stories creates an impression that such crimes are the norm, even if they
are rare. Next, elected officials often respond to public fears about crime by adopting tough on
crime policies. Public opinion surveys frequently indicate that people feel the justice system is
too lenient, prompting politicians to introduce harsher laws, longer sentences, and more
restrictive parole policies.

These measures may reassure the public, but contribute to the rising incarceration rate without
necessarily addressing the root causes of crime. 3rd are the get tough on crime focuses of
politics. Crime control has been a prominent focus of political campaigns, particularly since the
1980s get tough on crime era. Policies like mandatory minimum sentences, 3 strike laws, and
the war on drugs have resulted in more people being incarcerated and for longer periods of
time, even as crime rates decline. These policies often prioritize punishment over prevention or
rehabilitation, leading to an overreliance on incarceration.
So why does this matter? The US has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, but
this is not necessarily because crime is more prevalent here. Instead, it reflects a complex
interplay of public perceptions, political stratus strategies, and policy choices. Let's further delve
into how we compare in terms of those across the world. So as of 2023, the incarceration rate in
the US is about 531 prisoners per 100,000 residents.

Some countries have higher rates. So El Salvador has a rate of about 1,086, Cuba has a rate
about 794, and Rwanda, 637 per 100,000 residents. So these are, higher than us, El Salvador's
is about twice as high. And then Rwanda is pretty parallel. Cuba's a tad more.

In contrast, other nations have significantly lower rates. So remember, our rate is about 531 per
a 100000 people, whereas, Canada has a rate of 88, Germany, 67, and Japan, just 36 per
100000 people. So these comparisons really highlight this unique position of the United States
regarding incarceration practices. While recent declines suggest progress, the US continues to
incarcerate individuals at rates significantly higher than most other countries, and this
underscores the importance of ongoing discussions and reforms aimed at addressing the
factors contributing to mass incarceration. This chart provides a visual comparison of
incarceration rights between the US and other OECD countries.

Here, OECD countries are, organized for economic cooperation and development countries,
where there are 37 democracies and market based economies that collaborate with one another
to develop standards in terms of policies and sustainable economic growth. So these are other,
first world economically developed countries. When we compare our incarceration rates, across
those in other countries, we see that the US has historically had and continues to have the
highest incarceration rate globally against these countries. So, again, we can look at how we,
compare to other countries like Japan, to the UK, Czech Republic, etcetera. And we just tend to
really incarcerate people at much, much higher rates, a minimum of, you know, 3 times as
much, compared to Czech Republic, which is the next closest, next closest incarceration rate
compared to ours.

So when we consider what we can do about this mass incarceration, we can do something
called decarceration or releasing people. So California provides a compelling case study on the
challenges of managing prison populations. In 2013, the state faced a federal court order to
reduce its prison population due to severe overcrowding in California prisons. Initially, they were
required to release 9, 9,500 inmates by December 31, 2013, but the deadline was postponed
until mid April of the following year, at which point California had to release an additional 4,000
people. To address over, crowding, California and other states often contract with private
prisons, either in other states or within their home state to house their inmates.

So while this might seem like a short term solution, it does come with significant costs and raise
ethical concerns about privatizing incarceration. In fact, California allocated $700,000,000 to
expand some of its existing prisons and to build new facilities. So this highlights the immense
financial burden associated with incarceration. As we start to realize, incarcerating individuals,
especially for long periods of time, cost an extraordinary amount of money, and these funds
could potentially be, redirected towards things like education, reentry initiatives, health care,
community development programs. Fortunately, the incarceration rate in the US has been
declining in recent years.

However, cases like California show us that managing prison populations and addressing the
systemic issues behind mass incarceration remain to be critical challenges. So states must
balance public safety with fiscal responsibilities as well as to consider other alternatives to
incarceration, again, such as things like rehabilitation programming and community corrections.
Next, let's talk about the development of prisons in the United States. So the history of
corrections in the US begins with 2 foundational institutions, Old Newgate Prison and Walnut
Street Jail. These facilities mark distinct stages in the evolution of our correctional system here
in the US.

Old Newgate Prison, which was established in 17/73, was the first aid prison in the United
States. Its primary purpose was incapacitation or simply isolating offenders from society. While it
didn't focus on reform, its design, repurposing an old copper, mine, and relying on physical
barriers, set the stage for a structural layout of modern prisons. However, it lacked the emphasis
on offender rehabilitation that would come into play a bit later on. The shift towards reform
began with the Walnut Street Jail in 17/90, where a wing of the jail was converted into a
penitentiary house specifically for convicted felons.

It became the 1st penitentiary in the US and marked a significant change in philosophy focusing
on offender reformation. The goal was to encourage inmates to reflect, repent, and reform
through isolation, education, religious activities, and other types of what was seen as productive
activities. These two institutions illustrate the transformation from punishment centered to reform
focused corrections, a theme that continues to influence our systems of prisons and jails today.
Next, in the 18 twenties, we saw the emergence of the Pennsylvania system of discipline. The
Western penitentiary, which was established in 1826, represents another important step in how
we evolved across time.

And here, this facility was notable for its use of solitary confinement, where prisoners were
isolated with no contact allowed either with other inmates or with the outside world. The intent
behind this approach was to encourage inmates to reflect on their crimes and repent for their
actions. The belief was that solitude and introspection could lead to moral or behavioral reform.
Over time, the strict solitary confinement system was adjusted to allow for prisoners to engage
in handcrafts within their cells. This not only provided a a productive outlet for inmates, but it
also aligned with the broader goal of rehabilitation by teaching skills that could potentially aid in
reintegration into society.

Next was the eastern penitentiary system. In the eastern, Pennsylvania prison was built in the
early 19th century in 18 29 and was a hallmark of the separate confinement philosophy. So this
approach emphasized complete isolation based on the belief that inmates could be morally
reformed through solitude, reflection, and repentance. It was also designed to prevent the
corruption of individuals by limiting contact with other inmates, which was seen as a risk in, kind
of these congregate settings. So they would pick up bad behaviors from other people who were
also incarcerated.

The prison took steps to ensure humane and sanitary conditions, setting it apart from earlier
facilities that often neglected inmate well-being. These efforts reflected a growing focus on
rehabilitation rather than just strict punishment. Initially, inmates weren't allowed to work as the
philosophy prioritize silence and reflection. However, later on, they were allowed to work within
their selves. This change acknowledged the potential benefits of productive skills for
rehabilitation just like we saw in the western, Pennsylvania system.

The eastern system did influence correctional practice worldwide, though, and highlighted the
tension between isolation as a tool for reform and the potential mental health facts that
extended isolation and solitude might have on individuals. So here is, the design where it is
spokes coming out from the center. Let me get a little pointer. So this is the center of the prison,
and these are all, spokes out, with different cells lining them. And so they were staggered.

So when you look at one cell, you can't see another. This, was a walking tour I had gone on.
This is the inside of a cell. Obviously, they were better conditions, during the time. They weren't
great.

They weren't the Ritz Carlton, but they are much better. We see this huge wall along the side,
and this is symbolic and showing you are trapped in. We are keeping you in. We're keeping
other people out. It very much so looks like a prison.

It looks secure. But inside, these were the cells. They were very small. We see there was a bed,
a little table here, and that was about it. Here are the hallways where you can see that there are
the doors.

These doors don't have windows. They are complete, closed off for social isolation. Here's
myself with doctor Saw and, doctor Dagenhart as well as doctor Napper, from Auburn
University. Later on, they added a second story, so these were tiered. Again, it makes it difficult
to be able to talk or see anybody, because of how they're tiered.

People like Al Capone were housed, within this prison and, had better amenities. So people
could, send money in and put it on some of these books or send in supplies to make make
these areas nicer or more homey. Also taking place around the same time was the emergence
of the Auburn system, which was developed in the early 19th century, and it eventually
completely replaced the Pennsylvania system as the dominant correctional philosophy in the
US. So while both systems shared the goal of reforming individuals, the Auburn system
introduced significant changes that made it more practical and economically viable. So unlike
the Pennsylvania system where inmates were isolated in solitary confinement, the Auburn
system allowed inmates to work together during the day in a congregate setting and then return
to solitary confinement at night.
Silence, though, even though they work together, silence was strictly enforced at all times to
minimize communication and prevent the potential corruption of inmates by one another. This
adjustment was seen as a compromise between the benefits of social interaction and the risk of
excessive isolation. Under the leadership of Wharton Elan Linds in 18/21, the Auburn system
became, a model of strict discipline and efficiency. Linds introduced the white and black striped
uniform, which was a symbol of status and, equality under their correctional system. So it set
inmates and guards apart from one another.

It also stripped away their identity. Lynn's was also the one who, devised the lockstep marching
techniques where prisoners marched closely together in unison, alternating which side they
looked, to prevent communication with one another. So this ensured, control during mass
movements of prisoners, which often involves several 100 individuals moving throughout the
facility at one time. The Auburn system emphasized hard work, religious instruction, penance,
and obedience as tools to transform inmates from criminal behavior into law behind, abiding
behavior. The design of the Auburn prison in Auburn, New York, which again, was built between
18 16 and 18 19, reflected its practical and economic focus.

Unlike the Pennsylvania system where cells were a bit larger and often included attached yards,
Auburn featured much smaller cells that were back to back and stacked to house more inmates
in a smaller space. Additionally, the prison incorporated factories allowing, inmates to produce
goods that often set, offset that operational cost of the prison. So both these systems used,
some forms of solitary confinement. And solitary confinement has its roots in religious ideals,
particularly those of the Quakers, and they believe that isolating offenders would provide them
with the opportunity to reflect on their actions and repent for their wrongdoings. This approach
was grounded in the idea that solitude could encourage moral and spiritual reform.

Additionally, solitary confinement served a practical purpose. It kept individuals who might be
rehabilitated away from those of the influence of more hardened or more, criminally experienced
individuals. So this separation was seen as a way to protect vulnerable offenders from
becoming more corrupt. However, this case, of or the case of solitary confinement does raise
important questions. Do we still use solitary confinement for these means or reasons today?

Modern solitary confinement is used for different purposes. For example, we still use solitary
confinement to manage violent or destructive behavior. If somebody is violent or, creating
behavioral problems within within the prison or jail, we'll put them in solitary confinement. It's
used to ensure safety for inmates or others, particularly in cases of gang affiliation or threats, as
well as a form of punishment for rule violations within a prison. So today, we use solitary
confinement more in terms of, like, detention.

So somebody's acting up, and they'll go to solitary confinement for, hopefully, and only a short
amount of time. And we wanna keep the length of time that somebody is in solitary confinement
relatively short because research has shown that prolonged isolation can lead to serious mental
health issues, such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, etcetera. So some people argue that its
use contradicts their original intent of reform and rehabilitation because it is leading to,
potentially severe mental health issues. The history of southern penology reflects the deep
influence of slavery and systemic racism and race racial control both before and after the civil
war in the US. First, let's talk about southern penology, which took place pre civil war before
18/61.

So before the civil war, the slave era shaped how corrections were handled in the south. Prisons
and punishment systems in this period were heavily tied to institutions of slavery. Black codes
were laws designed to control and suppress the freedoms of enslaved and free black
individuals. These laws criminalize minor infractions, ensuring that enslaved individuals were
punished and retained under control. The convicted lease system emerged where incarcerated
individuals, many of whom were black, were leased out to private companies to perform hard
labor.

This system allowed the state to profit while maintaining the structure of forced labor and
oppression. Following the civil war, the, and the abolition of slavery, the correctional system
evolved but retained many of the same oppressive practices. The convicted lease system was
expanded to fill the economic gap left by the end of slavery. So formally, enslaved individuals
were disproportionately targeted for arrest under vague charges like vagrancy or loitering. This
allowed states to exploit their labor legally through incarceration.

Convicted individuals were often put to work in industrial and agricultural labor, generating
significant profits for the state as well as for private companies. Here, prisons became a new
form of social control, ensuring that black Americans remain subordinate even after
emancipation. This period marked a shift from slavery to what many have described as slavery
by another name. The convict lease system and discriminatory practices laid the foundation for
racial disparities in the criminal justice system that still persists today. So we've discussed
similarities and differences between the Pennsylvania system and the Auburn system, but let's
explore how genealogy developed differently in the South versus the Western portions of the
US.

So in the south, the correctional system evolved with practices that reflected the region's
economic reliance on labor. The chain gang was introduced as a means of utilizing inmate labor
for public work projects, including things like railroads, levies, and maintenance of roads and
highways. In many cases, the chains wore by those on the chain gangs were never removed,
and inmates were forced to sleep in cages rather than on beds. This is bothersome, and, this
practice isn't only dehumanizing, but it also eliminated the need for traditional, prison facilities.
So this led to the creation of Southern Prison Farms, which became another hallmark of the
region's correctional system.

So these farms, often the same land that was used by former plantations, used inmate labor for
agricultural production. This system maintained the South's reliance on labor intensive practices
and exploited the incarcerated populations, particularly of, African Americans. And this really
continued to look like slavery after slavery was abolished, which is where the slavery by another
name comes from. So in contrast, the western states approach corrections differently due to
their sparse populations and limited resources. So many western states contracted with other
states or with the federal government to incarcerate their inmates as building and maintaining
prisons locally wasn't really economically, feasible.

So this reliance on external contracts meant that the western states often lacked a consistent or
centralized correctional philosophy or system compared to the south or the northeast where the
Pennsylvania system was. In the late 19th century, the National Prison Association or the MPA
emerged as a key force in advancing correctional reform. The organization played a pivotal role
in shifting the focus of the prison system from punishment to rehabilitative. At its core, the MPA
advocated for a philosophy of reformation aiming to transform inmates into law abiding
members of society. The association's advocacy centered around 4 main progressive principles.

First was reformation as a primary goal of incarceration. So the MPA believed that prison should
not merely punish, but they should actively work to reform those who are housed there. 2nd was
they created a progressive classification system of inmates. Here, they recognize that not all
offenders are all the same. So the MPA emphasized the importance of categorizing inmates
based on their risk level, behavior, and other needs.

This classification allowed for tailoring programs and more effective management. 3rd was the
use of indeterminate sentences. So the MPA supported sentences that provided a range of
years with release contingent on evidence of reformation and good conduct. This approach
incentivized rehabilitation by offering inmates a clear path to early release. 4th was cultivating
the inmate's sense of self respect.

So the association recognized that fostering a sense of dignity and self worth was essential for
successful rehabilitation. They argued that inmates who regain self respect and self worth were
more likely to reintegrate into society and avoid, reoffending. So the Elmira reformatory, which
was established in 18/76 in New York, really pulled on these recommendations, and it marked a
pivotal movement in the history of corrections. It was the first facility designed specifically as a
reformatory emphasizing rehabilitation over punishment. Under the leadership of Zebulon
Brockway, a pioneering, pediologist, Elmira implemented several innovative practices aimed at
transforming young offenders, particularly males aged 16 to 30, who were seen as more
adaptable and responsive to change.

Broadway's vision included several elements. 1st was trade training to equip inmates with
practical skills they could use after release. Next was educational programs to improve literacy
and general knowledge, fostering a sense of personal growth. 3rd was a mark system, which
rewarded good behavior with points, and these points could be used to earn privileges, reduce
sentences, or even to get paroled, creating an incentive for reformation. Next was uniform
clothing and a good diet promoting structure, discipline, and well-being.

And lastly was a strong emphasis on religion, encouraging moral and spiritual reflection. So my
role is, reflected a shift from punishment based systems towards a more reformative model of
corrections. Well, not without its challenges, it did lay the, groundwork for modern rehabilitation
focused correctional policies and practices. The rise of the industrial prison was a direct result of
the profits states began to generate from inmates' labor during their early years of the
correctional system. Prisons became a center of production with inmates manufacturing goods
that could be sold to offset operational costs and, in some case, generated revenue for the
state.

However, the growth of the prison based economy led to concerns about unfair competition with
private businesses. As a result, 2 key pieces of legislation were passed to regulate the use of
prison labor. The first is the Hayes Cooper Act of 1929, which prohibited the inner sale or sorry,
interstate sale of goods made by prison labor unless authorized by the receiving state. The
second was the Aschers Summers Act of 1935, which further restricted the transportation of
prison made goods across state lines for private sale, effectively, limiting the commercial scope
of prison industries. Despite these restrictions, prisons continue to produce goods and provide
services, even today.

So some of the items made by inmates over the years have included license plates, books for
the blind, so braille, lingerie, shooting range targets for law enforcement, and other types of
goods. The industrial prison model underscores the tension between the economic benefits of
inmate labor with the ethical concerns about exploitation. And these debates continue to
influence how prisons operate and how, inmate labor is utilized today. The progressive era,
which was roughly from the 18 nineties to the 19 twenties, was a time of rapid change and
intense challenges in the United States. So this period was marked by mass migration to urban
city centers and high levels of immigration leading to population growth across cities throughout
the United States.

There is also a rise in industrialism, which brought both economic opportunities and significant
social challenges. Further, there was intense racial divisions and violence with the enforcement
of Jim Crow laws perpetuating segregation and discrimination. These societal shifts created
significant challenges such as crime, poverty, and the growth of urban slums. In response, the
government sought to address these issues through a combination of social reforms and
criminal justice innovations. The progressive era introduced 2 key strategies in terms of criminal
justice reforms.

The first was general improvements for societal conditions. This included efforts to address
broader social issues through initiatives in public health, public housing, and education. The
belief was that by improving the living conditions that people were subjected to, this could
reduce crime and social unrest. The second was more direct, and it was rehabilitating criminals.
So there was a growing emphasis on reforming offenders rather than simply punishing them.

This strategy focused on an individualized treatment, vocational training, education, and fully
program oriented approach that was aimed at reintegrating offenders back into society as
productive citizens. So the progressive era laid the foundation for modern criminal justice
approaches by connecting social conditions to crime prevention and emphasizing rehabilitation
as a central goal. However, this period was also shaped by its contradictions, particularly in how
racial inequalities and systemic discrimination limited the scope of these reforms. Following this
era was the medical, era model, which treated criminal behaviors as an illness. The medical
model assumed that criminal behavior was the result of social, psychological, or biological
deficiencies and essentially that offenders were sick.

There was this idea that treating these deficiencies could cure offenders and prevent them from
reoffending upon release. During this time, there was further classification of inmates. And this
was a critical process in which the inmate population was subdivided into meaningful categories
based on specific needs. Each category was then matched with appropriate treatments,
ensuring a tailored approach to rehabilitation. Also, during this time was the use of psychiatry.

So seek, psychiatry became a central tool for diagnosing and treating offenders. In some ways,
prisons began to resemble mental health institutions with inmates undergoing continuous testing
to assess their readiness to reenter society. Lastly, during this time, we saw treatment methods
emerge. So this era introduced practices like individual and group counseling, behavior
modification practices, and psychotherapy. The ultimate goal here was to address the illness of
the offender with the belief that a cured individual would reintegrate into society.

Following the medical model and in the latter half of the twentyth century, major initiatives and
reports significantly influenced the direction of the correction system in the United States. So
president's commission on law enforcement and administration of justice, was formed in 1967.
This marked a pivotal movement in criminal justice reform. The commission focused on the
reintegration of offenders into society, emphasizing that successful reentry was essential for
reducing recidivism and promoting public safety. They had several key recommendations and
these included things like expanding vocational training programs to prepare inmates with job
skills needed for employment upon release.

Another aspect was implementing educational programs to address literacy gaps and provide
inmates with opportunities for self improvement. Additionally, there's a shift in viewing
incarceration as a step in a larger process of rehabilitation and this emphasis on transitioning
offenders back into the community as productive members of society. These ideas reflected a
growing recognition that incarceration alone was not enough to address the root causes of
criminal behavior. In 1974, sociologist Robert Martinson published a report that profoundly
impacted the field of corrections. Often summarized as the what works report, Martinson
reviewed a wide range of rehabilitation programs to evaluate their effectiveness reducing
recidivism.

His conclusion that nothing works was widely interpreted to mean that rehabilitation programs
were largely ineffective. This sparked significant debate and skepticism about the role of
treatment in education and corrections. However, Martinson's findings were later revisited, and it
was revealed that his conclusions were more nuanced than initially understood. Some programs
did show promise, particularly those tailored to individual needs, but the report had already
fueled a shift towards punitive approaches in the criminal justice system during the 19 eighties
and beyond. So also in the 19 seventies eighties, it was a really tumultuous period in the US
correctional system that was marked by widespread prison riots that exposed critical issues
within the system.

These riots served as a stark reminder of the challenges and failures in achieving the goals of
rehabilitation and humane treatment in prison. Key issues highlighted by these prison riots
included that there was a lack of true rehabilitation going on. So despite this rhetoric about
rehabilitation, these riots demonstrated that meaningful efforts to reform inmates were not being
fully upheld. And in many cases, they were often absent. So programs intended to address the
root cause of criminal behavior were either under funded or poorly, implemented, leaving
inmates without opportunities for genuine self improvement.

It also highlighted abuse within the system. Here, many inmates experienced physical abuse,
neglect, and mistreatment gangs became a significant force within many prisons, wielding
influence over other inmates and even over the staff. This led to increased violence,
exploitation, and the creation of dangerous environments that undermine the authority of
correctional institutions. 4th, it shed light on, the fact that basic human rights were often
disregarded. So things like overcrowding, unsanitary conditions, and lack of access to medical
care were common complaints.

These conditions sparked anger and desperation among inmates leading to collective action.
These riots forced policymakers, the public, and correctional professionals to confront the reality
of life inside prison. They highlighted the gap between the stated goals of the correctional
system, such as public safety and rehabilitation, and the lived experiences of those who are
living within the prisons. By the late 20th century, we saw a significant shift in the criminal justice
system with the emergence of get tough on crime. Rising, crime rates coupled with increased
public awareness and media coverage created a climate of fear and urgency to address criminal
behavior more aggressively.

This led to several things. 1st was an increase in the prison population. So policies such as the
war on drugs led to a dramatic rise in incarceration rates, particularly for nonviolent drug
offenses. Mandatory minimum sentences and three strike laws contributed to the surge in prison
populations. 2nd were tougher sanctions, so sentencing policies became more punitive with
longer sentences and fewer opportunities for early release.

Judges have less discretion due to mandatory sentencing laws, leading to harsher penalties for
those across the board. 3rd was a rejection in parole and amenities. Parole usage decreased
significantly as part of an effort to keep offenders behind bars for longer periods of time.
Additionally, prisons began reducing amenities and programs such as educational and
vocational training programs as a response to public criticism of perceived soft treatment for
inmates. Lastly was a focus on risk management.

So the primary function of prison shifted towards risk management rather than rehabilitation.
Prisons became increasingly focused on security, containment, and minimizing potential threats
to public safety. While these policies were intended to deter crime and enhance public safety,
they had significant unintended consequences. So the prison population skyrocketed, rated
which led to overcrowding and strained resources. Here, communities of color were
disproportionately affected, particularly by the war on drugs, which exacerbated racial disparities
within the criminal justice and correctional system.

Also, with fewer rehabilitative programs, many inmates were released without the tools needed
to reintegrate successfully, which contributed to even higher recidivism rates during this time.
Alright. So for the next steps, please, read and review chapter 10. Reach out to me with any
questions that you might have, and then take quiz 11. Thanks so much, and I hope you enjoy
the rest of your afternoon.

Sorry. Okay. I found out, like, 20 minutes ago that