Although
men outnumber women in arrests for drug offenses, women represent the
fastest growing population of people being imprisoned for drug related
crimes.
According to the Drug
Policy Alliance, since 1986 the number of women in prison has increased 400% and for women of color, 800%.
This dramatic growth in the prison system has impacted the lives of millions of children; according to PBS,
1.5 million children have parents in prison. One idea created in response to this
problem is prison nurseries. An Indiana prison opened a nursery program that facilitates
women with sentences of 18 months or less after they give birth to raise their children. This
program allows women to forge bonds with their infants and the mothers are educated on proper child-care skills. There
are
many other programs that allow women to see their children, some
include a 4-day camp in the prison, monthly visits, and even apartment
style living.
Although this may or may not keep the women from reoffending, when did we lose sight of punishment?
These
women knew right from wrong…that is what happens when you break the law
and go to prison; you serve your time and lose your rights.
Not only are these people breaking the law, their actions affect many other people
and their victims pay the price. Our main priority should be to punish not treat
them to happiness. Because of their poor choices, their children experience school
changes, separation from their siblings, or foster care. They
may endure inappropriate
but convenient caretakers and most of all they are traumatized and
confused, why would their mother do this to them, was it worth it? As
taxpayers, extra money is being spent to run these programs. While
awarding these
offenders to have contact with their children, we are exposing the kids
to a criminal atmosphere, their parents are poor role models, and in a
sense the offender is not the only one doing time.
If we continue to make prisons and jails more like homes than what is going to keep these people from committing crimes?
The
worse that could happen is they are incarcerated, get to keep their
babies where they have their own room to play, and share three meals a
day.
Some
of these women are barely making it on the outside; it is almost as if
they should commit a crime just so their baby can have a nice home. -Brett Alexander
I agree with you that the prison expenditure has gotten out of control. According to "The Atlantic" prison expenditures for one inmate per year is more than that of a Princeton student for one year. America ranks first in the world for incarceration, yet sixth in the world for college degrees. Although recividivism rates are high, I am a firm believer of free will and that jails have the potential to produce lifetime criminals as all human behavior is cyclical. If programs/opportunities are not implemented within jails for nonviolent offenders then we have failed as a democracy to offer opportunities to break the damaging cyclical behavior.
ReplyDeleteAs a parent I cant even begin to tell you that there is a significant social and emotional value between a parent and child which a publicly funded guardian could never assess or duplicate. By implementing these short term parenting programs we are addressing and equipping these women with long term tools and goals for potentially living a productive nurturing lifestyle. Personally, I would be more comfortable releasing women who were better prepared for the complexities of life and parenting once they were released from custody, rather than subjecting them towards the callous and expensive cycle of recidivisim.
I know that women prisoner have been provided to see their kids. However, bonds with their mothers are the most important things for young kids. I think the program is not for women prisoners but for kids who have mothers in jail. Society has obligations to support all of kids and protects their rights. The kids who have mothers in jail are not guilty. Why are they isolated from their mothers? Therefore, I think the program should be maintained for the kids. Nobody wants to raise a child in prison. It does not make any sense that a criminal commit a crime to get a nice home where they raise a child.
ReplyDeleteI think it was very interesting posting. It could be a very controversial subject because the money that is used for the prisoner is derived from our taxes.
ReplyDeleteAbove of all, I take a contrary position to writer.
Generally speaking, the purpose to put somebody into prision is not providing them with nice welfare programs, but resocializing them.
However, it will be need to do mothers in prison an act of charity. That's because it's unfair young children won't meet their parents without any their guilty. It will make these children have a crucial deficiency emotionally and therefore be connected to another juvenile delinquency and social problems.
So, I believe that government should analyze the fundamental causes in drug related to crimes and prevent further confusion.