U.S. Prisons: Myth Vs. Mayhem.

             This article explains the past and current problems in jails across the country. Author Frank Trippett explains the failing systems in the nation that are not improving crime rates nor helping inmates. He describes the increasing costs the governments spends on jails, the poor conditions, and the lack of safety for both inmates and law enforcement. He ends by expressing the way society's view for prisons needs to change and how as a society, we need to understand there are things prisons are and are not capable of.

           Prison is not the best solution for dealing with gang members because they are not given any chance for improvement, but are rather but in the same or similar environment as they were before. Being surrounded by other gang members only encourages rebellion and outbreak. These gang members are all trying to fight for the same thing they were fighting for in the streets: power. When gang members are locked up and put in the same building with rival members there is a very slim chance for a safe environment. This not only creates and unsafe environment for inmates but for the patrolling officers as well. The environment because hostile and dangerous for everyone around.

         Prisons do have the ability to become successful if reform in jails across the country were to take place. This would require a drastic change in how prisoners are treated and dealt with. One thing that benefit prisoners would be psychological treatment. If prisoners were given psychological counseling or therapy it can vastly change their thought process, their need to seek power, and possibly deal with any trauma they faced as children. It would also help if officers were trained differently on how to treat and speak to the prisoners in a more effective way.

         It was surprising and interesting to learn about the hostage situation that took place in a New Jersey jail and the situation that lead to multiple deaths in the New Mexico State Penitentiary. It was surprising to hear how little media outlets did not report these situations because they seemed to be common occurrences. It was interesting to read how much money the government and California alone spends on inmates and just one jail cell for a failing system. If they are willing to spend an exponential amount of money on these inmates, it would make sense to spend it in a wise way which is currently not happening. The many stories Trippett illustrates in jails across the nation are alarming to read about and see that not much is being done to improve them.

          I was confused about the ideas of alternative punishment and how society believes these punishments would work. I was confused on how certain states have imposed alternative punishments and to what extent they have used them. Also, if multiple prisons were “bad enough to declared unconstitutional” should that not lead to the investigation of more jails around the country? Once declaring jails unconstitutional shouldn't they be shut down or modified to help improve conditions for all.