Key Issues Facing U.S. Prisons
Highlighting the urgent issues of mass incarceration, civil rights, and accountability within U.S. prisons.
Mass Incarceration in the U.S.
The United States is the only country in the world with mass incarceration, and this needs to change. Prisoners are having their civil rights violated. They currently have no voice. Until the media, legislative members, and the Department of Justice begin conducting unannounced visits to prisons and meeting directly with incarcerated individuals, these problems will remain unresolved.
Voting Rights for Incarcerated Citizens
U.S. citizens who are incarcerated but have not committed crimes against this country should maintain their right to vote.
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It is unjust to strip prisoners and their families of voting rights, especially when they have lived in the United States their entire lives and have paid taxes into the very system that denies them. This punishment is particularly harsh for individuals facing their first—and only—offense.
Access to Programs and Rehabilitation
Many incarcerated individuals are unfairly targeted by prison staff or officials and are denied access to vocational or educational programs.
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Without the ability to demonstrate a willingness to be productive, the chances of earning parole or eventual release become very low. Many prisoners try hard to enroll in programs but are denied. Greater oversight from the Department of Justice and government lawmakers is urgently needed.
Oversight of Prison Officials
Oversight must also extend to correctional officers themselves. Over the years, countless prisoners have reported issues with specific officers. When grievances are filed, they are often ignored or dismissed with a simple instruction to “deal with it.”
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With no fair recourse, some prisoners eventually fight back, leading to prison riots or hunger strikes across the country.