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Mass Incarceration Issue’s in the United States
The United States leads the world with mass incarceration, with over 1.9 million people
currently in local, state, and federal detention facilities. The enormous misdemeanor system,
which accounts for about 25% of the daily jail population, leads to longer sentencing for minor
crimes, endless restrictions after being released, and can increase crime. Comprehensive criminal
justice reforms are needed to address mass incarceration, including revisiting sentencing policies
for minor crimes, investing in alternatives to incarceration, and tackling underlying social and
economic inequalities that contribute to incarceration as a solution to societal problems.
Criminals should not get off with a get out of jail free pass, but some policies and programs need
to be updated to ensure the criminal justice system is doing all it can to prevent the revolving
door of incarceration and address the root causes of crime, ultimately fostering safer
communities and promoting rehabilitation rather than perpetuating cycles of punishment and
recidivism.
Longer Sentencing for Minor Crimes
Minor offenses can carry heavy consequences, financial burdens, probation, potential jail
time, and in some cases bench warrants. Despite being classified as minor, they can cause a slew
of challenges for individuals caught in the criminal justice system. “People charged with
misdemeanors are often not appointed counsel and are pressured to plead guilty and accept a
probation sentence to avoid jail time.” (Sawyer & Wagner, 2023) Adding to the stress of paying
legal fees, individuals that take plea deals often must deal with probation. This in and of itself
can be daunting and comes with a new list of rules and restrictions. Living withing a certain area,
curfew, checking in with you parole officer, no firearms and allowing law enforcement to search
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when called upon. Failure to comply with just one can land the individual “guilty” of a minor
crime in jail to serve their full sentence, further adding to the problem of mass incarceration.
Quick, fast and in a hurry, is one way the misdemeanor system in America can be
summed up. Misdemeanor cases out number felony cases two to one. It's crucial to understand
that misdemeanors are not to be underestimated as petty offenses. Unfortunately, the handling of
these offenses is not as rigorous as that of serious felonies. “As a result, millions of criminal
convictions are produced in ways that contradict fundamental notions of fairness and due
process, and pose a significant threat to the accuracy and evenhandedness of the system overall.”
(Natapoff, n.d.) As Alexandra Natapoff highlights, the consequences of this disparity are
profound, underscoring the urgent need for reform to ensure that all individuals, regardless of the
nature of their offense, are afforded equal protection under the law.
Endless Restrictions After Being Released
Being released from jail or prison should feel like being born again as one gains their
freedom. This is rarely the case, as most inmates released are on parole or have conditions in
which they are released. Referred to as collateral consequences or post-release supervision
burdens, they come with some social, legal, and economic stipulations. “Some criminal
convictions can lead to loss of civil status; a citizen may lose the right to vote, serve on a jury, or
hold office; a non-citizen may be deported or become ineligible to naturalize.” (Chin, n.d.) Even
after a sentence is served, in some instances, not all rights granted under the Constitution are
restored. This could lead one to lose faith in the criminal justice system. In my opinion, once a
full sentence is served basic rights such as voting and gun rights for non-violent offenders should
be restored to the individual.
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As Christians, we hear about forgiveness at church and read about it in the Bible, but
what do we really know about forgiving others? The Bible emphasizes the importance of
forgiveness both in relation to God’s forgiveness of human sin and in interpersonal relationships
among people. Jesus teaches us the importance of love and being forgiving of others. Mathew
6:14 teaches us about forgiveness and 22:37-39 we have the greatest commandment. Love God
with all you have and love your neighbor as yourself. (Christian Standard Bible) The question is,
how do we apply this to the criminal justice system? Not all crimes that are committed can go
without punishment, but to show compassion and love while still upholding the law may have a
different effect on the criminal mindset.
Potential to Increase Crime
While it may seem logical that more incarceration leads to safer communities, the reality
is more complex. Research shows that imprisonment doesn't always deter crime effectively,
especially for certain individuals.” Specifically, a 1 percent increase in the prison population
results in a 0.28 percent increase in the violent crime rate and a 0.17 percent increase in the
property crime rate.” (Amherst & Dhondt, 2012) This study done over 10 years ago, shows that
increase in prison population may have the adverse effect. Additionally, mass incarceration can
disrupt communities and worsen social and economic inequalities, potentially increasing crime.
Moreover, resources spent on incarceration could be better used for prevention and rehabilitation
efforts, which have been proven to be more effective in the long term. Therefore, while locking
up more people might address immediate concerns, it's crucial to focus on addressing root causes
and investing in community-based solutions for lasting safety.
Long term sentences and mixing low-level and high-level criminals may be contributing
to the criminal learning program. Most jails and prisons have some form of high learning and
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rehabilitation program for inmates to gain skills that will benefit them when they are released
back into society. Some inmates will even earn their GED or college degree while they are
behind bars. Others will go to the university of hard knocks and learn to be better criminals. ”
Prisons actually may have the opposite effect: Inmates learn more effective crime strategies from
each other, and time spent in prison may desensitize many to the threat of future imprisonment.”
(National Institute of Justice, 2016) This suggests that the current approach of imposing long-
term sentences and mixing low-level and high-level criminals in prisons may inadvertently
contribute to a "criminal learning program" rather than effective rehabilitation. While many
correctional facilities offer educational and rehabilitation programs aimed at helping inmates
gain skills for reintegration into society, the reality is that prisons can also serve as breeding
grounds for criminal behavior. Research from the National Institute of Justice suggests that
inmates may learn more sophisticated crime strategies from each other during their time behind
bars, and prolonged exposure to the prison environment may desensitize individuals to the
consequences of their actions. Therefore, it is crucial to reevaluate incarceration practices and
prioritize strategies that effectively address the root causes of criminal behavior while promoting
rehabilitation and reducing recidivism.
Conclusion
The issue of mass incarceration in the United States is a multifaceted and complex
problem that requires our attention and comprehensive reform. From longer sentencing for minor
crimes to endless restrictions after being released, the current criminal justice system often
prolongs cycles of punishment and recidivism rather than fostering rehabilitation and promoting
community safety. Additionally, research suggests that mass incarceration may not effectively
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deter crime and can even contribute to increased criminal behavior. The mixing of low-level and
high-level criminals in prisons may inadvertently create a criminal learning program rather than
facilitating effective rehabilitation. As Christians, we are called to embrace principles of
forgiveness, compassion, and love, which should also guide our approach to criminal justice. It is
imperative that the criminal justice system and policymakers prioritize strategies that address the
root causes of crime, invest in prevention and rehabilitation efforts, and promote alternatives to
incarceration. By doing so, we can work towards a more just and compassionate criminal justice
system that fosters safer communities and promotes the dignity and well-being of all individuals.
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References
Amherst, S., & Dhondt, G. (2012). The Relationship Between Mass Incarceration and
Crime in the Neoliberal Period in the United States. https://doi.org/10.7275/4xa6-js81
Christian Standard Bible
Chin, G. (n.d.). Collateral Consequences.
https://law.asu.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/academy_for_justice/
17_Criminal_Justice_Reform_Vol_4_Collateral-Consequences.pdf
Natapoff, A. (n.d.). https://law.asu.edu/sites/default/files/pdf/academy_for_justice/5_Reforming-
Criminal-Justice_Vol_1_Misdemeanors.pdf
National Institute of Justice. (2016). Five Things About Deterrence (pp. 1–2).
https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/247350.pdf
Sawyer, W., & Wagner, P. (2023, March 14). Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2023. Prison
Policy Initiative; Prison Policy Initiative.
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2023.html
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