Mugshots In Greene County Jail Show Overcrowding

Posted by Prison Solidarity Inc Legal/Law

This article will discuss the impact of prison overcrowding on prisoners’ health, the psychological impact of overcrowding, and how overcrowding may lead to violence in prison. The effects of prison overcrowding are not only damaging to inmates, but also to staff morale. The effects of overcrowding may be felt in the long run, as prisoners are not always happy with the conditions they are forced to live in.

Prison Overcrowding and its Impact on Health

A recent report from the Institute for Criminal Policy Research (ICPR) at Birkbeck School of Law in London examines the consequences of overcrowding on health. The report uses data from ten countries, spanning all five continents, to investigate the relationship between prison overcrowding and health. The study’s author, Catherine Heard, highlights the significant health risks that overcrowding poses.

While it’s easy to think of those that are incarcerated in jail as simply a number, the reality is there is a face behind the number. For example, you can view Greene County MO mugshots and see the face behind the number. This can bring a different perspective to the issue.

While the causes of overcrowding are multifaceted, one common factor is overcrowding. It leads to poor prison conditions that contribute to infectious disease transmission and mental health issues and is associated with violent and self-harm behavior. The effects of overcrowding extend beyond the prison walls and into communities and are detrimental to public health. While overcrowding may be difficult to identify, its effects of overcrowding are overwhelmingly negative.

Psychological Effects of Prison Overcrowding

Studies have shown that prison overcrowding in the Greene County Jail adversely affects the physical, psychological, and spiritual health of inmates. The psychological effect of prison overcrowding is well documented, with studies finding that overcrowded conditions are significantly more depressing than those in low-density institutions. This is particularly true for life-sentenced inmates, as the hopelessness of a prison sentence can increase the risk of suicide. Massachusetts, for example, ranks first in the nation in the per-capita prison suicide rate.

The study examined whether prison overcrowding was associated with the presence of suicide inmates. Researchers determined that inmates who had committed suicide during the last decade were more likely to be white. The study also noted a strong association between white inmates and suicides during incarceration. In fact, a study conducted in the state prisons of New York found that 27 percent of suicides were committed by white inmates.

Violence in Prison Due to Overcrowding

Overcrowding is associated with an increased risk of violence among prisoners. This is especially true for institutions with low turnover. Prisons that experience high turnover also have higher rates of violence. The number of assaults per prison population is significantly higher than the number of inmates, a factor that may explain the increased rates of violence. The study also examined the relationships between turnover and overcrowding. The data were reported using 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

According to a recent study, overcrowding increases the incidence of inmate violence. While overcrowding itself has little effect on violence, it does increase the likelihood of fights. While incarcerated inmates are not obligated to engage in gang activity, their lack of freedom and resources can lead to violence. As a result, many inmates are forced to engage in violent behavior in order to get what they need.

A Brief History of the US Prison System

Posted by Prison Solidarity Inc Prison History

It is important to know and understand the history of the United States prison system. This will help you become more aware of what is going on in your country, in the judicial system, and in society itself. The prison system in America continues to experience many ups and downs, but it has come a long way. Below, I will tell you key information about the timeline of the U.S. prison system.

According to The United States Department of Justice, In 1891, the United States first established the federal prison system. There was a Three Prisons Act which gave money for Leavenworth, UPS Atlanta, and McNeil Island. It is believed that the first federal prison in the United States was Leavenworth in the state of Kansas. This prison began holding inmates in 1906. Before the prison opened, inmates were housed at Fort Leavenworth military prison.

Prior to the Three Prisons Act being passed, federal prisoners were housed in state prisons around the country. Today, there are 122 federal institutions in the United States, and there are 183,820 inmates being held at these institutions.

The country’s incarceration rate –698 per 100,000 residents – is one of the highest around the globe. In fact, in 2020, 2.3 million people in America were imprisoned. Over half of this number are currently being housed at one of the 1,833 state prisons, and the rest can be found at either the federal prisons, or the 3,134 local jails. There are also 80 Indian country jails and 218 immigration detention centers around the U.S.

While the first federal prison was established in 1891, the first ever penitentiary opened in Philadelphia over a century before, in 1790. This penitentiary was designed to be safe and sanitary. However, it was also designed to keep prisoners in their cells for their whole sentence, and no one had any human contact. The reasoning behind this was to encourage people to reflect on their crimes and behavior without any distractions whatsoever.

In the year 1835, the first women’s prison opened in New York. It was named Mount Pleasant Female Prison. Due to the horrible treatment of its inmates, this prison did not last long and was shut down in 1865.

By the time 1930 came around, the federal prison system had been around for almost 40 years. However, this was the year that the Congress developed the Bureau of Prisons. It would assume responsibility for regulating and managing all federal prisons, which would result in providing more “progressive and humane care for federal inmates.”

In 1942, all states implemented a prison payroll system. This means that there were prisoners being released through payroll, and the number continued to increase until it hit a high of three quarters of prisoners let out early on payroll in 1977. This was a big feat in the prison system.

Medical services began operation in U.S. prisons in 1959. Their job was to help cure diseases among inmates as well as provide diagnosis of any sicknesses passing through the prisons. Another great offering the Medical Model provided was counseling services. Unfortunately, it only lasted for a little over a decade.

In 1973, mass incarceration became prevalent in the American prison systems. As a matter of fact, the rate of incarcerations increased by five times the normal amount, and it never stopped increasing. To give you a better understanding of how much it increased, the incarceration rate in 1972 was 161 out of 100,000 people and 767 out of 100,000 people in 2007.

Although the Medical Model was removed in the early 1970s, the Supreme Court declared ignoring inmates’ medical needs as a breach of the 8th Amendment in 1976. This means that prisons could be sued if they did not take care of prisoners’ medical issues.

In the mid-1980s, the Sentencing Reform Act law took effect. This law encouraged many new reforms when it came to federal sentences. Instead of focusing on rehabilitation, it allowed reviews of prison sentencing. This also led to guidelines being developed around sentencing.

When the late 1980s arrived, Congress began cracking down on drugs. In fact, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act was passed to require any individual who was given a serious drug-trafficking offense to serve at least a five-year sentence. The strong sentences on drug offenses led to the federal prison populations increasing very quickly. The number of inmates who were being held in these prisons doubled. When the year 1999 came around, there were 136,000 prisoners in the federal prison system.

Congress went on to implement the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act in 1994. This provided almost $10 billon to prisons around the country. The focus of this money was to address sex crimes as well as hate crimes and increase rules for minimum sentencing.

In 2005, the Supreme Court decided that federal district judges no longer needed to follow the federal sentencing guidelines when providing sentences to convicted criminals. This was decided in the court case United States v. Booker.

When the year 2010 came around, the Fair Sentencing Act was passed. This raised the sentencing for crack cocaine drug offenses to 5-10 years. It was implemented to reduce unequal sentences to minorities because Latino and Black Americans were experiencing longer prison sentences for drug offenses.

The Justice Department gave out a warning in 2016 that stated any bail practices that resulted in a person staying in prison because they are in poverty goes against the 14th Amendment.

In 2018, the First Step Act bill was signed. This bill reduced minimum prison sentences when it involved nonviolent drug offenses. It also created new rehabilitative programs for inmates.

The Gang System in Prisons

Posted by Prison Solidarity Inc Prison Gangs

According to the United States Department of Justice, prison gangs are “self-perpetuating criminal entities that can continue their operations outside the confines of the penal system.” A prison gang is usually made up of several inmates who have “an organized hierarchy and who are governed by an established code of conduct.” Across the country and the world, prison gangs are a threat because they play a role in distributing and transporting drugs. These gangs are much more prevalent in a state prison facility than a federal prison system. 

Why Are Prison Gangs on the Rise? 

A political scientist named David Skarbek believes that prison gangs are on the rise because of the increase in the prison population, overcrowding, and the need for inmate’s safety. Most gangs are racially and geographically divided, and, to my surprise, Texas and California account for 70 percent of prison gang members. 

Some of the most common prison gangs today are the Mexican Mafia, Neustra Familia, Fresno Bulldogs, Latin Kings, Netas, United Blood Nation, Folk Nation, Gangster Disciples, Dirty White Boys, Aryan Brotherhood, European Kindred, Dead Man Incorporated, 211 Crew, Nazi Lowriders, the Black Guerrilla Family, People Nation, The Barrio Azteca, Mexikanemi, and Simon City Royals. 

It is important to know that the prison gangs also have members outside of the prison walls, which are known to be smugglers, informants, and drug dealers. Even though prison gangs were not common until the 1960s, they have quickly become one of the largest criminal organizations to date. 

Do Prison Gangs Account for Most of the Violence in Prisons? 

When it comes to the gang system in prisons, these members have an established history of violence. As a matter of fact, gang members typically account for majority of misconduct cases in the prison system. In addition, they are known to be dangerous and aggressive toward new inmates and the correctional officers. A new inmate may be recruited to one of the gangs quickly if he shows potential when it comes to his aggressiveness and ability to fight. 

What Do Prison Gangs do? 

One of the main duties of gangs is to provide what inmates cannot easily get in prison. For example, gangs have access to cigarettes, foods, alcohol, and narcotics. If a person wants to get involved with these trades, they most likely will have to communicate with a gang member, which may result in some sort of deal. 

Prison gangs use violence to handle any disputes or disagreements, protect their members and interests, and to provide discipline to their members and non-members. The most popular reasons as to why someone would join a prison gang is because they needed protection and status. In fact, most people who were interviewed from prison stated that avoiding gangs in prison is harder than when not in prison. 

It is common for gangs to enter the prison system from off the street. However, a lot of inmates join a gang for the first time in prison. When a new inmate enters a prison, they are often quickly recruited. When a person does not want to join a prison gang, they usually must give a good reason such as religion. A lot of times they will also lie and say they are a sex offender because most prison gangs do not accept individuals who are serving time for any type of sex crime. 

Conclusion

Skarbek has spent years studying prison gangs, which has led him to the conclusion that they function like a “community responsibility system.” Instead of knowing an individual person’s reputation, the inmates will focus on the gang’s reputation. This gives them a sense of community, safety, and a family-like environment while they are serving their sentences.

Child Care & Pregnancy Inside US Prisons

Posted by Prison Solidarity Inc Prison Life

Is there anything harder to imagine than a baby in a prison cell? Nearly 3 million children 18 and younger have a parent behind bars. Roughly 58,000 pregnant women are incarcerated each year, and thousands of them give birth while serving their time. 

While it may seem unfathomable to someone on the outside, life behind bars encapsulates every facet of someone’s being, including parenthood. Becoming a mother as a convicted prisoner is something thousands of women face each year. While their own care is important enough, the effects of being born in prison is something even more relevant to study. 

You might not think a child can be raised in prison, but there are actually programs in place to keep mothers and newborns together during one of the most critical periods of a child’s life. 

What Happens if You Find Out You’re Pregnant in Prison?

Women can request a pregnancy test in prison, but they can’t be forced to take one. Being pregnant in prison is not a crime, but if a woman becomes pregnant during her sentencing, an investigation will likely be made into how that occurred.

If the baby is fathered by a prison faculty member, such as a guard, then a further case will be made as this is a breach of conduct on the staff’s behalf. 

Women in prison also have the right to an abortion and pregnancy care. If a woman decides to terminate her pregnancy, then the appropriate arrangements will be made. For those who decide to carry their babies to term, they will receive medical care from a professional doctor according to the state’s prenatal care guidelines. 

When she goes into labor, the mother is taken to the nearest hospital to give birth. During that time, she will be handcuffed to the bed, and armed guards will stand outside her door. 

Can You Keep a Baby in Prison?

In many prisons, babies can stay with their mothers until they reach a certain age, usually between 18 months and 3 years. In other states, babies must immediately go into the care of an appointed caretaker, such as a grandparent, or enter foster care. 

Child care programs are available, but they have strict criteria and often limited availability. Mothers who are violent offenders, for example, are often not permitted to participate in any parenting programs after birth. 

In some facilities, prison nurseries help mothers bond with their babies and give them the best possible care despite their sentences. 

Whenever possible, it’s important for children to remain with their mothers in a safe and secure environment. There are currently only eight prison nurseries in the United States, which strive to prevent the traumatic separation of mother and baby after birth. 

The Future of Parenting Behind Bars

Depending on the state, some women will remain with their babies in prison for months after they’re born. In others, the children are handed off to family members or placed in foster care. 

Some states allow mothers to have visitation with their babies, even if they are not the ones responsible for their care. Custody rights all depend on the woman, her crimes, and her sentence. The legalities surrounding motherhood in prison are highly personal and vary just as much by state as they do by individual. 

Conclusion

While there may be understandable reasons a child shouldn’t remain with a mother after birth, many people believe that no matter what she’s done, a baby should be able to stay with its mother to form a healthy bond.

Many mothers will leave prison, be able to prove they can care for their children, and gain custody. Others will remain a part of their life with someone else as the primary caretaker.

Ultimately, more programs for mothers behind bars can help ensure every baby gets the healthiest and safest start to life, regardless of their mother’s criminal record.