This article was inspired by a report that described how for the first time in 40 years in the US, crime and incarceration rate fell together. This would prove that mass incarceration does not inspire a lower crime rate. The US is known for its large abundance of prisoners, but recently, they’ve started to make changes. As the article described, parole policies changed, low-level crime sentencing was reduced, alternatives were provided, these actions were what as the report said, lead to the downfall in crime. The article used California as an example; the state was able to reduce their prison population by 23%, that in turn lead to a 21% drop in violent crime. Another factor the article mentioned was the fact that lengthy sentences inspire consequences. These include a higher chance of recidivism, overcrowding which leads to less rehabilitation, and mental illnesses. That’s why many states have started to shift their spending into programs to help criminals. That way, the crime rate is not only reduced but money spent on prisons is saved. Balance of punishment and correction is important when making jailing policies, and this article explores how the US has fallen out of balance in the past few decades. Even so, USA is now starting to make positive changes to their justice system and reforming the balance that is important to helping convicts in the future. Afterall, the justice system was formed for both the security of the nation, and to help people who have done bad things. The article did not contain much bias as most of its claims were backed up by statistics. In conclusion, the article highlights the correlation between incarceration and crime while encouraging prison reform.
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