Should the justice system’s sentencing procedures be reexamined?

PRISON OVERCROWDING PAPER GUIDELINES

CRIM606: Corrections, Probation & Parole

Topic:

At a time when the U.S. has the world’s largest prison population, the national debate over prison overcrowding has never been more intense. Although most observers agree that prison overcrowding is an urgent problem that must be addressed, they disagree over the best way to do so.

On one side, supporters of tough sentencing say that more prisons should be built to house the increasing inmate population, in order to keep the national crime rate low and protect the public. Furthermore, they argue, punishing convicted criminals with harsh sentences discourages other potential criminals from breaking the law.

On the other side, critics of tough sentencing and building more prisons say: Lengthy mandatory sentences and the war on drugs have placed more than 500,000 nonviolent drug offenders behind bars, creating an unnecessary strain on the nation’s prison facilities. Alternatives to incarceration, such as mandatory drug- or alcohol-treatment programs, should be used to curb the prison population.

Research:

Research both sides of this debate issue. Use books, journal articles, magazine and newspaper articles, and the internet to find information on the debate issue. Keep the focus on the advantages and disadvantages of each side of this issue.

Here are a few questions to consider as you begin to research this hot topic:

Should the justice system’s sentencing procedures be reexamined?
Should more prisons be built to accommodate the rapidly growing number of incarcerated people?
Would sending drug users to treatment programs instead of prison help with the overcrowding problem?
Is the three strikes law fair?
Are overcrowded and uncomfortable conditions a violation of the prisoners’ rights?
Would privatization benefit the prison system?
Is issuing prisoners early parole to reduce prison overcrowding leading to more crime in the community?
How has mandatory sentencing contributed to prison overcrowding?
Should mandatory sentencing be eliminated?
For this assignment, I’m simply asking you to conduct a literature review on the topic of Prison Overcrowding. Please use the Literature Review Link provided to learn more about the purpose/concept of the literature review.

In the APA style 3 – 5 page document, summarize what you’ve found in researching both sides of the issue. In your conclusion, articulate which side you tend to favor and why.