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Prisons Profitting off Youth

admin — Wed, 25 May 2011 00:39:44 +0000

PRISONS PROFITTING OFF YOUTH
Over the last several decades, the nation’s prison population has tripled and annual prison spending increased by over $40 billion dollars. State and federal budgets are pushed to the limits as they work to fund existing prisons and jails. To further complicate matters, the high numbers of offenders who recidivate, or return to jail, burden an already crowded system. It seems that no one – inmates, prison officials – is “winning”. No one, that is, except for the private corporations that now run many of the country’s prisons.
For the most part, the nation’s prisons fall under the guidance of both the federal and state governments. However, more and more states are allowing private contractors to step in and build and manage prisons. Supporters of prison privatization say the practice takes the heavy burden of prison facility management off of the government, freeing up money and streamlining prison operations. But, how accountable are these contractors? Is protecting their bottom line more important that properly protecting and rehabilitating the prisoners? If you’re familiar with recent incidents at Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility in Jackson, Mississippi, you might be inclined to think, to private contractors who run prisons, profit trumps all.
Walnut Grove houses young men, 90 percent of whom are African American, between the ages of 13 and 22. The facility is run by GEO Group, the nation’s second largest provider of private correctional facility management services. The company is being sued by dozens of family members of inmates who say the corporation failed to provide adequate security in the prison. The families allege that the prison forces the young men to live in sub-standard conditions, where they are subject to excessive force from staff and are sexually preyed upon by other inmates and staff. One of the most startling stories to come from the families is that of 21-year-old Mike McIntosh II. A 2010 riot at the prison left McIntosh, a former athlete, so severely brain damaged that he struggles with short-term memory and has lost some function in his right leg and arm. If you think that the violence at Walnut Grove cannot be avoided because the institution is full of heinous, violent criminals, consider this: of the 1,200 young men incarcerated there, more than two-thirds are jailed for nonviolent offenses.
Only a thorough investigation will uncover exactly what’s going on at Walnut Grove but, based on the facts we have so far, it’s easy to see that the prison has failed to provide the staff needed to keep these young men safe. And, if they can’t keep them safe, they surely won’t be able to rehabilitate them. Many of those incarcerated don’t have a high school education: their job prospects and hope for the future were grim, so they turned to crime to escape poverty. If they aren’t given the tools they need while in prison, namely an education and counseling, they are more likely to return. These private contractors are making money by incarcerating young people, many of whom would be better served by being sentenced to intensive drug counseling and being properly educated. If the government can’t handle the challenge managing prisons presents, it needs to set guidelines that holds private management firms accountable for the inmate’s safety and their rehabilitation.

COLLEGE DROPOUTS COST US ALL

admin — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 17:58:20 +0000

Oftentimes, when we think of a student who drops out of college, we think of how that will affect them. We become concerned about the limited career options and decreased earning potential they’ll face without a college degree. Rarely do we think of the cost to the larger society. But we should: college dropouts cost taxpayers billions in both the short and long term. We owe to them – and ourselves – to ensure they complete their education.

A new report shows that states allocated more than $6 billion to four year colleges and universities over a five year period to pay for the education of students who did not return for their second year. The study also shows that the federal government and states together spent almost $3 billion on grants for students who didn’t start their sophomore year.

In a depressed economy, it’s particularly disturbing to learn that money is essentially being wasted to pay for educations that are not being received. However, the answer is not, as many critics suggest, to discourage students who may not be ready for college from attending. Rather, schools and the government must work together to figure out how we can support students throughout their college careers and ensure they graduate.

Graduating from college is a great personal achievement. Doing so can dramatically change the graduate’s quality of life. College graduates earn almost $1 million more over the course of their career than those with a high school diploma. But it’s not just the graduate’s who win. The additional money they earn is then put back into the economy. Additionally, a more educated workforce helps lift the American economy since the workers companies have to choose from will be more qualified. Making sure our young people finish college isn’t important to just their personal success; it’s key to our continued growth as a society.

Most parents – and society at large – expect young adults attending college to have the skills to handle all that is required of them. That isn’t always the case. From dealing with increased financial pressures that come with paying for school to juggling a more rigorous course load to new social pressures, college is a different world and, unfortunately, many students crack under the pressure.

Schools must work to increase their student service programs to provide financial, academic and psychological counseling to students at every step of their academic career. College readiness is not always determined by academics; we must take the necessary steps to ensure our kids are able to handle all of the new pressures and responsibilities of college.

JUSTICE FOR JUVENILES

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 11:33:47 +0000

Congress is set to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, originally passed in 1974. The law established a set of protections for juvenile offenders; state and local governments that adhere to its guidelines are eligible for federal funding to maintain and improve its juvenile justice facilities. As lawmakers review the bill, they should take into serious consideration research that demonstrates the negative effects the criminal justice system has on offenders and, ultimately, society. An improved act should include provisions that prevent courts from treating minors like adults. Instead, the courts should be urged to find alternative methods that ensure these youth offenders are able to return to society as productive, law-abiding citizens.

A recent report, written by Michele Deitch, an attorney with over 23 years experience working on criminal justice policy issues, demonstrates why the adult criminal justice system is a poor, and often dangerous, place for young offenders. Every year, nearly 80 young offenders 13 and younger are transferred to adult court, mostly for what are considered minor offenses. While held in adult facilities, these youth face a higher risk of both physical and sexual assault. The younger the child, the more at risk they are. Often, the decisions about whether or not a young offender will be treated as an adult are made with racial and other biases.

The U.S., as it is with most aspects of the criminal justice system, is behind the times when it comes to the way it treats its youth offenders. According to the report, most countries, even those considered among the worst of human rights violators, do not try young children as adults and do not give them long sentences. And with good reason: young children sentences to adult jails often return to society more violent than they left, only to end up back in jail, this time for more serious crimes.

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional to sentence a youth under the age of 18 to the death penalty. Justices in support of the ruling felt these young minds were not mature enough to fully appreciate the consequences of their actions. That decision was a big step in toward creating a justice system that works to rehabilitate youth offenders. Now, Congress has the opportunity to build upon the Court’s ruling when it reworks the Act.

Young offenders should be tried and convicted within the juvenile justice system and laws that call for the mandatory transfer of juveniles to adult court should be removed from the books. These young people should be housed in safe, juvenile facilities. In addition to education, counseling should be mandatory for these young offenders. Connecting them with mentors, who can guide them as they leave the system, is also critical.

The way the U.S. currently approaches crime, particularly the crime of juvenile offenders, does not work. It has been shown to actually foster criminality, not prevent it. It is time that new approaches are used to ensure these young people return to society ready to contribute. Doing so will contribute to a reduction in crime, creating safer neighborhoods for everyone.