Summary - This article is about protests occurring throughout the country in various states and counties regarding prison reform. Prisoners think that their rights are being violated. The 13th amendment says slavery is legal if it's a punishment for crime but those being forced to work for nothing or only a few cents an hour are working to change that. Many of those working don't receive any money, as it all goes to pay off living fees. In some prisons there is racial discrimination, where those of a certain race or gang affiliation have to wear different colored jumpsuits which can affect a judges decision in the court room. In order to fix these bad conditions inmates across the country have been going on hunger and work strikes.
Analysis - The person who wrote this article was supporting the betterment of prisons. While many amendments were made to protect criminals, they still have very limited rights. It is important to have a good prison system because the happier and more well adjusted a prisoner is, the more likely they are going to return to civilization and be a functional part of society. This article has interviews with prisoners and shows the point of view of those being oppressed in the incarceration system. These protests and strikes can be synthesized to the antebellum age where there were many reforms, such as the prison reform, which are necessary to better society.
http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/30/us/us-prisoner-strike/index.html
The conditions prisoners are put in are often horrible, especially considering wrongful convictions and sentences imposed upon minors. Until recently it was somewhat common for minors to be tried as adults, and they often received very little consideration. Another major issue is the death penalty. I recommend reading Bryan Stevenson's "Just Mercy" to learn more about injustice surrounding it.
ReplyDelete-Cal Thompson
Its hard to separate privellages to prisoners, because some have did horrible things and some have done minors,but they're all given the same treatment... -JadaBrown
ReplyDeleteIts hard to separate privellages to prisoners, because some have did horrible things and some have done minors,but they're all given the same treatment... -JadaBrown
ReplyDeleteSounds like Dorothea Dix and reforms on not only mentally ill, but prisoners conditions and treatment.
ReplyDeleteI watched a really interesting TED Talk about this a few months ago. A reform is definitely needed.
ReplyDeleteThe prisoners are treated so poorly and I think this reform is very important.
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