Incarcerated America Overview North Carolina Standard ...civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/IncarceratedAmerica.pdf · through a Power Point presentation and discussion. (The PPT

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IncarceratedAmericaOverviewInthislessonstudentswilllearnaboutvariouspunishments–withaspecialfocusonprisonsandprisonreform–forconvictedpersonsintheUnitedStates.ThroughaPowerPoint,classdiscussion,andagroupreadingactivity,studentswillexplorethevariousbenefitsandsocietalconsequencesofAmerica’sprisonsystem.StudentswillfurtherexplorepossibleprisonlegislationbyparticipatinginaGeneralAssemblysimulationtodeterminehowNorthCarolinashoulddealwithprisonsduringabudgetcrisis.Grade10NorthCarolinaStandardCourseofStudyforAmericanHistory:FoundingPrinciples,Civics&Economics• FP.C&G.3.1-Analyzehowtheruleoflawestablisheslimitsonboththegovernedandthosewhogovern

whileholdingtruetotheidealofequalprotectionunderthelaw(e.g.,theFourteenthAmendments,AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct,equalopportunitylegislation.)

• FP.C&G.3.3-Analyzelawsandpoliciesintermsoftheirintendedpurposes,whohasauthoritytocreatethemandhowtheyareenforced(e.g.,laws,policies,publicpolicy,regulatory,symbolic,procedural,etc.)

• FP.C&G.3.5-Comparejurisdictionsandmethodsoflawenforcementappliedateachlevelofgovernment,theconsequencesofnoncompliancetolawsateachlevelandhoweachreflectsequalprotectionunderthelaw(e.g.,DepartmentofJustice,RegulatoryCommissions,FBI.SBI,HomelandSecurity,Magistrate,Statetroopers,Sheriff,Citypolice,Ordinance,Statute,Regulation,Fines,Arrest,etc.

• FP.C&G.3.7-Summarizetheimportanceoftherighttodueprocessoflawforindividualsaccusedofcrimes(e.g.,habeascorpus,presumptionofinnocence,impartialtribunal,trialbyjury,righttocounsel,rightagainstself-incrimination,protectionagainstdoublejeopardy,rightofappeal).

• FP.C&G.3.8-EvaluatetherightsofindividualsintermsofhowwellthoserightshavebeenupheldbydemocraticgovernmentintheUnitedStates.

• FP.C&G.4.4-Analyzetheobligationsofcitizensbydeterminingwhentheirpersonaldesires,interestsandinvolvementaresubordinatetothegoodofthenationorstate(e.g.,PatriotAct,HomelandSecurity,sedition,civilrights,equalrightsunderthelaw,juryduty,SelectiveServicesAct,ruleoflaw,eminentdomain,etc.)

Materials• FiveAgreementScaleSignswithoneofthefollowingwordsoneach:“StronglyAgree,”“Agree,”“Neutral,”

“Disagree,”“StronglyDisagree”(teachersshouldmaketheseusinglargepiecesofpaper)• “AHistoryofPrisons&PrisonReform”PowerPoint,availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resources(inPDF

format)o ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe

file,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]

• NewsandObserverarticle,“InmatePopulationSwells,BudgetDeclines,”article,questions,andanswerkeyattached

• NewYorkReviewofBooksarticle,“CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed”(4excerptsattached)• NewYorkReviewofBooksarticle,“CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed”answersheet(attached)• GeneralAssemblyInstructionSheets(attached):

o HumanRightsCoalitiono CorrectionsCorporationofAmericao SenatorRichardBurro CURE

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o AppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafetyo SummaryofSpecialInterestGroups

EssentialQuestions:• Howhavemethodsusedbysocietytoaddresscriminalbehaviorschangedovertime?• WhatcorrectionalreformshavebeenintroducedthroughoutAmerica’shistory?• WhatarethereasonsforAmerica’slargeprisonpopulation?• Whataresomealternativepunishmentstoprison?• WhatreformsarenecessarytoimproveAmerica’sprisonsystem?Duration90-120minutes(canbesplitovertwoclassperiods)StudentPreparationHavestudentsreadtheattachedNews&Observerarticle,“InmatePopulationSwells,BudgetDeclines”andanswertheattachedquestionsforhomework.Procedure

WarmUp:WhereDoYouStand?1. Directstudents’attentiontothesignsaroundtheroomwiththephrases–“StronglyAgree,Agree,

Neutral,Disagree,StronglyDisagree.”Tellstudentsthatyou’regoingtoreadsixstatementsandyouwantthemtogetupandstandnexttothesignthatbestreflectstheirfeelingsaboutthestatement.Chooseonestudenttotallytheclass’responses.• Prisonsareaneffectivewaytopunishpeopleforcommittingcrimes.• Prisonsshouldprovideservicestorehabilitatecriminals(i.e.education,conflictresolutionskills,

therapy,etc.)• Thefearofgoingtoprisondeterspeoplefromcommittingcrimes.• Ifprisonsareovercrowded,moreprisonsshouldbebuilt.• Ifprisonsareovercrowded,lawsshouldbereviewedandchanged(i.e.makedruglawslesssevere).

2. Informstudentsthattheyshouldkeeptheirresponsesinminduntiltheendofthelesson

AShortHistoryofPrisoninAmerica

3. Instructstudentstotakeoutapieceofpaperandtakenotesduringthepowerpoint.Projectslide2ofthe“ShortHistoryofPrisons”powerpointanddiscusstheprojectedquestion“Whatisthepurposeofprison?”Givestudentsaminutetosilentlycontemplateandwritetheirthoughtsregardingthequestionthenallowvolunteerstosharetheiranswerswiththeclass.Encouragestudentstothinkabouttheirresponsestothe“WhereDoYouStand?”activitywhilediscussing.

4. Next,tellstudentstheyaregoingtolearnabriefhistoryofprisonsandtheirroleinAmericansocietythroughaPowerPointpresentationanddiscussion.(ThePPTaddressesvarioustypesofpunishment,thepurposeofprison,variousprisonsandthereformsthathavebeeninexistencethroughouthistory,andtheaffectofthe1970s“toughoncrime”ideologyonAmerica’sprisons.)Samplequestionstodiscussthroughoutthepresentation:• Whatdoyouthinkpromptedthesedifferentprisonreformsthroughouthistory?• Whatprisonreformsdowestillseetoday?• Whataresomeproblems,ifany,concerningprivatizingprisons?• Doyouthinkprisonreformisanimportantcivicissue?Whyorwhynot?• Whatdoyouthinkisthemosteffectivewaytopunishaperson?Torehabilitateaperson?Why?

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5. AskstudentstoreconsidertheirhomeworkreadingregardingNorthCarolina’sprisonsspecifically.Goovertheirresponsesfromthehandoutofquestionstofurthertheconversation.

“CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?”

6. Dividestudentsintogroupsoffouranddistributeeachgroupmemberoneoftheattachedfourexcerptsofthearticle,“CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?”andtheaccompanyingdouble-sidedhandoutofquestions.Instructstudentstoreadtheirsectionofthearticleandprepareasummaryofthemainpointstosharewiththeirgroupmates.Aftereachgroupmemberhasreadandsharedthemainpointsoftheirexcerpt,thestudentsshouldworktogethertodiscussandanswerthequestionsprovided.Afterwards,discussstudents’thoughtsasaclass,allowingeachgrouptoreportbackregardingtheirconversation,pointsofagreementordisagreement,remainingquestions,etc.Furtherdiscuss:• Didthetitlealteryourthinkingbeforeyoureadthearticle?• Didyoufeelthisarticleexpressedonlyonepointofview?Whyorwhynot?Whatproofcanyou

provide?• Howdoesthisarticleconnectwiththearticleyoureadforhomework?• Haveyourviewsregardingprisonchangedafterreadingthisarticle“CanOurShamefulPrisonsbe

Reformed?”Whyorwhynot?

ACommitteeMeetingRegardingPrisonReformandCrimePrevention7. InformstudentsthattheywillbethinkingmoreaboutprisonsasacivicissuebyparticipatinginaGeneral

Assemblysimulation.TellstudentssomeofthemhavebeenrecentlyelectedtotheNorthCarolinaSenateandwereassignedbytheProTemporetotheAppropriationsSubcommitteeforJusticeandPublicSafety.ExplaintostudentsthattherearemorethanadozencommitteesforeachhouseoftheGeneralAssembly,andtheirworkisveryimportant,aseverybillintroducedwillbestudiedbyatleastonecommitteeintheSenateandintheHouseofRepresentatives.Informthestudentsthattheywillbedebatingiftheappropriationscommitteeshouldbuildmoreprisonsorlookforalternativepunishmentsinresponsetothegrowingprisonpopulation.Letstudentsknowtheywilleitherbeassignedtheroleofacommitteemember,ortheroleofalobbyistorrepresentativefromaspecialinterestgroupwhowantstoexpresshisorherviewsabouttheproposedmeasuretothecommitteemembers,inhopesofinfluencingthelegislators’opinions.

8. Dividestudentsintofivegroups,withonegroupactingasthemembersoftheSenateCommitteeandthe

otherfourgroupsasspecialinterestgroups.(Eachgroupshouldcontain3-6students.)Givegroupstheappropriateattachedinstructionsandinstructstudentstosilentlyreadthehandoutprovided.Next,reviewtheinstructionsforeachgroupoutloud:• NCSenateAppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafety:Youandyourfellowlegislators

areholdingahearingtohelpyoudeterminewhetherornottocutfundingtotheDepartmentofCorrectionstobuildmoreprisons.AsamemberoftheNorthCarolinaGeneralAssembly,yourepresenttheinterestsofyourconstituentsinyourhomedistrictandyourjobasanappointedmemberoftheSubcommitteeistodetermineiffundingtobuildmoreprisonsshouldbecutandifso,whatalternativepunishmentsshouldbeimplemented.YouhavethechoiceofreportingbacktotheGeneralAssemblyinfavorofbudgetcutsfornewprisons,oropposedtobudgetcutsfornewprisons.Forbothopinions,youmustsuggestwhatmeasurescanbeexercisedtoreducetheprisonpopulation.Yourjobistomeetasagroupandpreparetoleadtheupcomingmeeting.UndertheleadershipofyourChair,youshoulddiscussyourinitialopinionsofprisonfunding.YoushouldalsoreviewtheSummaryofSpecialInterestGroups,anddeterminehowtobestaddresstheseopposingviews,consideringthe“commongood”ofourstate.Asagroup,prepareatleasttwofollow-upquestionsforeachspecialinterestgroupinpreparationfortheirtestimonies.

• SpecialInterestGroups:Youwillworkoncreatinga3minutepresentationtopresenttothepaneloflegislativecommitteemembers.YourgoalistoconvincemembersoftheSenateSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafetytoeithersupportornotsupportcutstotheNCDepartmentofCorrectionstobuildnewprisons.Youshouldformargumentsbasedonthefactsgivenabouttheviewsofyourspecial

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interestgroup,thearticlesyouhaveread.Youmaymakeinferencesthatmighthelpyourposition.Organizethesethoughtsintoapresentationthatwillconvincethiscommitteetoseethingsyourway.Inadditiontoconsideringyourgroup’sviews,youshouldthinkofwaystoargueagainstyouropponent’sviews.*Makesureyouhaveaconcisepresentationprepared,sinceyouwillbestoppedwhenyouhavereachedyour3minutetimeallotment,whetheryouarefinishedornot.

Ø Teachernote:Laptopscanbeprovidedforadditionalresearch,buttheyarenotnecessarytocompletethe

activity.9. Onceitistimeforthecommitteemeetingtobegin,reviewbehaviorexpectationsforbeingarespectful

participant.Havethelegislatorstakeaseatinfrontoftheclassroomfacingthelobbyists.AskthestudentassignedasChairtocallthemeetingtoorder,giveanoverviewofthepurposeoftheforum,aswellasremindstudentsoftheformatandorderforthetestimonies(teachersmaywanttodisplaythisontheboardoronchartpaper):

Chairmancallsmeetingtoorderandgivesoverview

1minute

PresentationfromSenatorRichardBurr 2–3minutesFollow-upquestionsfromlegislators 2minutesPresentationfromHumanRightsCoalition 2–3minutesFollow-upquestionsfromlegislators 2minutesPresentationfromCorrectionsCorporationofAmerica

2–3minutes

Follow-upquestionsfromlegislators 2minutesPresentationfromCURE 2–3minutesFollowupquestionsfromlegislators 2minutesChairmancancallforanyfinalcommentsorquestionsfrompresentinggroupsandlegislators

5minutes

Chairmanleadsanopendeliberationofthecommittee

Upto10minutes.

Chairmanexplainscommittee’sdecisionandadjournsmeeting

3-5minutes

10. Allowapproximately30–40minutesforthesimulation.Afterthesimulationhasended,havestudents

applaudthemselvesfortheirhardworkanddebriefusingthediscussionquestionsbelow:• Whatisyouropinionofthecommittee’sdecision?Explain.• ImaginetheNCGeneralAssemblydecidedtocutfundingforprisons.Wouldyousupportit?Whyor

whynot?• Thoseofyouwhopresentedtothecommittee,whatdoyouthinkthebestpartofyourpresentation

wasandwhy?• Howwouldyouchangeyourpresentationtoimproveitfornexttime?• Whatskillsareimportantwhenpresentingtoabodyofprofessionals?(Discusspresentationskillssuch

asbeingprepared,speakingclearly,beingbriefandconcise,etc.)• Whyisitimportantwhenpreparingapresentationtoconsiderwhattheoppositeviewmightbe?• IfyouwereactuallyservingontheGeneralAssembly,whatotherfactorsmightinfluenceyouthat

werenotnecessarilyrepresentedinthisactivity?• Mostcitizensarenotelectedofficials.Inwhatwaysmightindividualcitizensoutsideofthesebodies

haveinfluencedthisprocess?Howcanyouletyouropinionbeknown?• Whataresomeviewpointsthatwerenotsharedduringthecommitteemeeting?• Whateconomicconcernscanyouthinkofregardingprisons?Explain

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• Whatarepublicsafetyconcernsyoucanthinkofregardingthereductionofspendingforprisons?Explain.

• Doyouthinkitisimportantthatindividualcitizenslobbytheirstategoverningbodiesabouttaxesandspending?Whyorwhynot?

• Whatfactorsinfluencelegislatorsinthedecisionstheymake?• Howmightalegislatordecidewhatitbestforthestateasawhole(the"commongood")?• Whatwouldhappenifcitizensdidnotmaketheiropinionsknowntolegislators?Howmightour

societybeaffected?• Whichofthespecialinterestgroupswouldyousayhadeconomicinterests?Explain.• Whichofthespecialinterestgroupshadpublicinterests,single-issueinterests,orideological

interests?Explain.• Wouldyouwanttobeastatelegislatorwhomakesthesekindsofdecisions?Whyorwhynot?• WhyisitimportantforNorthCarolinacitizenstoparticipateintheelectionprocessoftheirlegislators?• Howistheworkofstatelegislatorsrelevanttoeachofus?

AdditionalActivities• HavestudentsreadtheNewYorkTimeseditorial,“JusticeKennedyonPrisons”andwritea“lettertothe

editor”expressingtheiropinions.Thearticlecanbefoundat:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/opinion/16tue3.html

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Inmatepopulationswells,budgetdeclinesbyMichaelBieseckerFromtheNews&Observer,August30,2009

Asaresultoftough-on-crimesentencinglawsapprovedbylegislators15yearsago,NorthCarolina'sinmatepopulationisboomingandwillsoonoutpacethenumberofprisonbeds.Despitethis,thestatebudgetsignedbyGov.BeverlyPerduethismonthorderssevensmallprisonsclosed,eliminates972correctionsjobsandcutsprogramsaimedatkeepingjuvenileoffendersfrombecominghardenedcriminals.

AdministratorssaythestateDepartmentofCorrectioncansafelyabsorbthecutsintheshort-termbyincreasingthenumberofinmatesatotherfacilities.Butjudges,legislatorsandotherswithastakeinthecriminaljusticesystemworrythatthegrowth,ifunchecked,willsoonresultinprisonssocrowdedastobeunsafeforinmatesandstaff.

Lastyear,thestatebudgetedmorethan$1.5billionforprisonsandprobation.That's3.5timeswhatwasspentin1985,whenadjustedforinflation.Thenumberofinmateshasmorethandoubledoverthesameperiod,from17,430toabout39,000.Thesystemhasabout20,000workers,makingitthelargestemployeramongstateagencies."Wecan'tjustkeepputtingmoreandmorepeopleinprison,"saidSen.EllieKinnaird,aDemocratfromCarrborowhoco-chairsthelegislativecommitteethatoverseesjusticeandpublicsafety."Wecan'taffordit."

Attheheartoftheissueistheconflictbetweenstrainedstateresourcesintheworsteconomicrecessioninagenerationandtheunwillingnessoflegislatorstobudgeonlawsthatmandatelongersentences.The$74millioninbudgetcutsandprisonclosuresrequirestherelocationofabout950inmatesandcutsprogramsthatarepopularwithinmatesandthepublic,suchasfamilyvisitation,gymsandthecommunityworkcrewsthatprovidecheaplaborforlocalgovernments.Moneyforthecrewsthatcollectlitteralongthestate'shighwayswasalsoreduced.

Thebudgetalsocut$33millionand122jobsfromthestateDepartmentofJuvenileJusticeandDelinquencyPrevention,eliminatingtheGovernor'sOne-on-Oneprogram,whichprovidesmentorsforat-riskyouth.Legislatorscuttwostate-fundedwildernesscampsforchildrenwithbehavioralproblems,andSupportOurStudents,anafterschoolprogramaimedatkeepingyoungstersoutoftrouble,isalsobeingdiscontinued.

Joblossesahead

Manyofthepositionsarevacant,butabout620employeesattheN.C.DepartmentofCorrectionwilllosetheirjobsifotherpositionscan'tbefoundfortheminthesystem.Inmatesattheprisonsbeingclosedwillbetransferredtootherfacilities.Insomecases,cellsnowusedtoholdoneinmatewillbemodifiedtobunktwo,whilecustodyclassificationsatsomefacilitieswillbeloweredtoincreasedormitorystyle-housing.

JennieLancaster,chiefdeputysecretaryatthestateDepartmentofCorrection,saidtherearelimitstohowmanyfacilitiescanbeconvertedtoholdmoreprisoners,especiallyatthehighersecuritylevels."Weneedtorunasafesystem,"saidLancaster,aformerwardenwhohasworkedinthestate'sprisonsfor32years."Wehavesaidtolegislatorsweconsiderthisatemporarysolution....Thestateisgoingtohavetoeitherkeepaddingprisonbedsorfindawaytoslowdowngrowthintheprisonpopulation."

Areviewbythelegislature'sfiscalresearchofficethisyearprojectedthatby2018thestate'sprisonpopulationwilloutpacetheplannedbedsby7,488inmates.Thatprojectedshortfalltakesintoaccount2,268prisonbedsscheduledtobeaddedthroughnewconstructionby2012atabudgetedcostof$101million.

Eachmaximumsecuritybedthestateaddscostsasmuchas$136,500tobuild,notincludingtherecurringannualexpenseoffeedingandguardingthoseadditionalinmates.Onaverage,itcoststhestate$27,310ayeartokeepsomeonebehindbars.

Inthematteroflaw

MuchofthegrowthinNorthCarolina'sprisonsystemisdrivenbytwolegislativechangesmadeinthemid-1990sasaresponsetorisingcrimerates.In1994,legislatorsrequiredoffenderstospendmoretimeinprisonbeforetheyareeligibleforparole.Twoyearslater,legislatorsendedstatewidecapsontheprisonpopulation.

LegislatorspassedtwolawsthisyearsponsoredbyKinnairdthatwilldecreasetheinmatepopulationinfutureyearsbytweakingsentencingguidelines.Butathirdbillthatwouldhavecuttheprisontermsofmanyfelonsbythreemonthsandaddedthattimetothelengthofpost-releasesupervisionfailedtocomeupforavote."Thethreebillstogetherwouldhavehadatremendousimpact,essentiallystoppingthegrowth,"Kinnairdsaid."Butthey[legislators]couldn'tgoalongwiththat."Kinnairdsaidcutstojuvenileprogramsandfundingforthestate'smentalhealthdivisioncouldexacerbatetheexpectedgrowthininmatepopulation."TheDepartmentofCorrectionisverynervous,"Kinnaird

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said."Double-bunkingsetsupaverydangeroussituation.YouonlyhavetolookatCaliforniatoseethedisasterofhaving6,000inmatesinfacilitiesbuiltfor3,000.Theincreasedviolencebecomesharderandhardertocontrol."

Oftencitedasaworstcasescenario,theCaliforniaprisonsystemisoneofthemostcrowdedinthenation,withmanyofitsfacilitiesholdingmorethantwicethenumberofinmatestheyweredesignedfor.Afederalcourtconcludedthismonththatovercrowdingandpoorhealthcareisresultinginanavoidableinmatedeatheachweek.AnAug.5riotandfireataprisonoutsideLosAngelesleft250inmatesinjuredand55hospitalized.

DistrictCourtJudgeMarciaMoreyofDurhamsaideliminatingprogramsinNorthCarolinaaimedathelpingjuvenileoffendersandat-riskchildrenisshort-sightedandwillpotentiallycosttaxpayersfarmoredowntheroad."Ithinkwe'regoingtopay,"saidMorey,whoadvocatesforstrongerstateservicesforjuvenileoffenders."Whenyoucutcommunity-basedservices,curfewchecksandcounseling,you'regoingtoseetheresultsoutthebackdoor.It'sarecipeforincreasedjuveniledelinquency,whichwillescalateintoadultcrime."

Anotherissueisthatmorethanathirdofthoseenteringprisonareex-offenderswhoeitherviolatedthetermsoftheirprobationorwerearrestedonnewcharges.

BillRowe,alawyerfortheliberalN.C.JusticeCenter,advocatesdoingmoretohelpthosereleasedfromprisontofindjobs,housingandvocationaltraining."Thecurrentsystemofincarcerationandre-incarcerationisnotworkingandiserodingthesafetyofourcommunities,"Rowesaid.

AcoalitionofgroupssupportingreformheardapresentationlastmonthbyJerryMadden,aGOPlegislatorfromTexaswhohelpedrevampthatstate'scorrectionssystemtobluntoverpopulation.TexasisoneofninestatesinaprogramrunbythenationalCouncilofStateGovernmentsaimedatloweringprisonspendingandinmatenumbersbyinvestinginprogramsthatimprovelawenforcementandlivingconditionsintargetedneighborhoodswheredatashowsthemostcrimeoccurs.Since2006,Texashasmanagedtohaltgrowthinitsprisonpopulationwhileloweringratesofviolentcrime."Ithinkwecametotheconclusionitwassmarterandawiserutilizationofourmoneytoinvestinprogramsthatcanchangepeople'slives,savetaxpayersmoneyandatthesametimemakethecommunitysafer,"MaddensaidFriday.

Correctionadministratorsandsomelegislatorssaythey'reinterestedininstitutingsimilarinitiatives.Thenewbudgetallocates$100,000forstudyingprogramswithinthestateandacrossthenationthathavereducedthenumbersofpeoplegoingintoprison.Butreducingsentencelengthsforcriminalsislikelytobeatoughsellatthelegislature.

Sen.PhilBerger,aRepublicanfromEden,saidthestateneedstospendwhateverittakestobuildenoughprisonstokeepupwiththenumberofinmatesenteringthesystem."Thereisrecognition,evenamongstDemocrats,thatyoucan'tjustletalotoffolksoutofprison,"saidBerger,theGOPleaderinthestateSenate."Manyofthosepeopleareinprisonforareason,andwhentheygetoutearlyoryoureducesentences,weseeexamplesoffolkscreatinghavoconcethey'rereleased."

Kinnairdsaidshehopesabipartisansolutioncanbefoundbeforeoverpopulationbecomesacrisis."IfwecanconvinceaconservativeRepublicanfromTexasthereisadifferentwaytogo,Ithinkwehaveaverygoodchanceofexplainingtopeopleherethatwe'reapproachingthisallwrong,"Kinnairdsaid."Wecan'tkeepdoingthesamethingandexpectdifferentresults."

AdaptedbyCarolinaK-12Source:News&Observer

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Name____________________________InmatePopulationSwells,BudgetDeclinesQuestions

1. Whatdoyouthink“toughoncrimesentencinglaws”are?

2. Howmuchdidthestatespendonprisonsandprobationin2008?

3. Whatisthemajorconflictatthecenterofthisissue?

4. Listtwoprogramsthatarebeingcutduetobudgetproblems.

5. HowmuchdoesitcosttokeepsomeonebehindbarsinNorthCarolinaperyear?

6. WhattwolegislativechangeshelpeddrivethegrowthofNCprisonpopulationandwhatwasitaresponseto?

7. Cutstowhattwoprogramscould“exacerbatetheexpectedgrowthininmatepopulation”

8. Whatstateiscitedasa“worstcasescenario”inregardstoprisons?Why?

9. Whatreform(s)didTexasmaketotrytolowerprisonspendingandinmatepopulations?

10. DoyouagreewithSen.PhilBerger’sstancethatthe“stateneedstospendwhateverittakestobuildenoughprisonstokeepupwiththenumberofinmatesenteringthesystem?”

11. Whoelsemightbeopposedtocuttingfundingtoprisons?Why?

12. Whatdoyouthinkaresomealternativestoincarceration?

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InmatePopulationSwells,BudgetDeclinesAnswerKey

1. Whatdoyouthink“toughoncrimesentencinglaws”are?

Strictpunishmentsplaceduponthoseconvictedofcrimes,designedtodeterpeoplefromcommittingcrimesandtokeepconvictedpersonslockedup.Someexamplesinclude:Threestrikeslaws,mandatoryminimumsentences,andzerotolerancepolicies.

2. Howmuchdidthestatespendonprisonsandprobationin2008?$1.5Billion

3. Whatisthemajorconflictatthecenterofthisissue?

Themajorconflictatthecenterofthisissueisbetweenstrainedstateresourcesduringarecessionandlawmakersrefusaltobudgeonlawsthatmandatelongersentences.

4. Listtwoprogramsthatarebeingcutduetobudgetproblems.

1. Familyvisitation2.Gyms3.Communityworkcrews4.JuvenileOne-on-Oneprogram5.Wildernesscampsforchildren6.SupportOurStudents

5. HowmuchdoesitcosttokeepsomeonebehindbarsinNorthCarolinaperyear?$27,310

6. WhattwolegislativechangeshelpeddrivethegrowthofNCprisonpopulationandwhatwasitaresponseto?

ThetwolegislativechangesthathelpeddrivethegrowthoftheNCprisonpopulationwererequiringprisonerstospendmoretimeinprisonbeforebeingeligibleforparoleandendingthestatewidecapontheprisonpopulation.Bothofthesemeasureswerearesponsetorisingcrimeratesinthe1990’s.

7. Cutstowhattwoprogramscould“exacerbatetheexpectedgrowthininmatepopulation”

Cutstojuvenileprogramsandfundingforstate’smentalhealthdivisioncould“exacerbatetheexpectedgrowthoftheinmatepopulation.”

8. Whatstateiscitedasa“worstcasescenario”inregardstoprisons?Why?

Californiabecauseovercrowdinginprisoncanincreasetheamountofhealthproblemsandtheamountofviolence.

9. Whatreform(s)didTexasmaketotrytolowerprisonspendingandinmatepopulations?

Texashascreatedprogramsthatimprovelawenforcementandlivingconditionsintargetedhighcrimeneighborhoods.

10. DoyouagreewithSen.PhilBerger’sstancethatthe“stateneedstospendwhateverittakestobuildenoughprisonstokeepupwiththenumberofinmatesenteringthesystem?”

11. Whoelsemightbeopposedtocuttingfundingtoprisons?Why?

12. Whatdoyouthinkaresomealternativestoincarceration?

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CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?byDavidColeSection1.

Withapproximately2.3millionpeopleinprisonorjail,theUnitedStatesincarceratesmorepeoplethananyothercountryintheworld—byfar.OurpercapitarateissixtimesgreaterthanCanada's,eighttimesgreaterthanFrance's,andtwelvetimesgreaterthanJapan's.Here,atleast,weareanundisputedworldleader;wehavea40percentleadonourclosestcompetitors—RussiaandBelarus.

Evenso,theimprisonedmakeuponlytwothirdsofonepercentofthenation'sgeneralpopulation.Andmostofthoseimprisonedarepooranduneducated,disproportionatelydrawnfromthemarginsofsociety.Forthevastmajorityofus,inotherwords,theideathatwemightfindourselvesinjailorprisonissimplynotagenuineconcern.

Foronegroupinparticular,however,thesefigureshaveconcreteanddeep-rootedimplications—African-Americans,especiallyyoungblackmen,andespeciallypooryoungblackmen.African-Americansare13percentofthegeneralpopulation,butover50percentoftheprisonpopulation.Blacksareincarceratedatarateeighttimeshigherthanthatofwhites—adisparitythatdwarfsotherracialdisparities.(Black–whitedisparitiesinunemployment,forexample,are2–1;innonmaritalchildbirth,3–1;ininfantmortality,2–1;andinnetworth,1–5).

Inthe1950s,whensegregationwasstilllegal,African-Americanscomprised30percentoftheprisonpopulation.Sixtyyearslater,African-AmericansandLatinosmakeup70percentoftheincarceratedpopulation,andthatpopulationhasskyrocketed.Thedisparitiesaregreatestwhereraceandclassintersect—nearly60percentofallyoungblackmenbornbetween1965and1969whodroppedoutofhighschoolwenttoprisonatleastonceonafelonyconvictionbeforetheyturnedthirty-five.Andtheincarcerationrateforthisgroup—blackmalehighschooldropouts—isnearlyfiftytimesthenationalaverage.

Thesedisparitiesinturnhaveextraordinaryrippleeffects.ForanentirecohortofyoungblackmeninAmerica'sinnercities,incarcerationhasbecomethemore-likely-than-notnorm,nottheunthinkableexception.Andinpartbecauseprisonstodayofferinmateslittleornothinginthewayofjobtraining,education,orcounselingregardingtheirreturntosociety,ex-offenders'prospectsforemployment,housing,andmarriageuponreleasedropprecipitouslyfromtheiralreadylowlevelsbeforeincarceration.

Thatinturnmakesitfarmorelikelythattheseex-offenderswillreturntocriminalbehavior—andthentoprison.Meanwhile,theincarcerationofsomanyyoungmenmeansmoresingle-parenthouseholds,andmorechildrenwhosefathersareinprison.Childrenwithparentsinprisonareinturnseventimesmorelikelytobeimprisonedatsomepointintheirlivesthanotherchildren.AsBrownprofessorGlennLouryputsitinRace,Incarceration,andAmericanValues,weare"creatingaraciallydefinedpariahclassinthemiddleofourgreatcities."

Themostdramaticeffectsofthisincarcerationareconcentratedonthemostdisadvantaged—thosewhoarenotonlyAfrican-AmericanorLatino,butalsopoor,uneducated,andlivinginhighlysegregatedghettos.Whileroughly60percentofblackhighschooldropoutshavespenttimeinprison,only5percentofcollege-educatedAfrican-Americanshavedoneso.Theindirectconsequencesofsuchdisparities,however,extendmuchfurther.ManypeoplecannottellwhetheranAfrican-Americanisadropoutorcollege-educated—or,morerelevant,aburglaroracollegeprofessor,asHarvardprofessorHenryLouisGatesfoundinJuly2009,whenhewasarrestedaftertryingtogetintohisownhouse.Thecorrelationofraceandcrimeinthepublic'smindreinforcesprejudicethataffectseveryAfrican-American.

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CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?ByDavidColeSection2

Until1975,theUnitedStates'criminaljusticesystemwasroughlyinlinewithmuchofEurope's.Forfiftyyearspreceding1975,theUSincarcerationrateconsistentlyhoveredaround100inmatesper100,000;criminologistsmadecareersoutoftheorizingthattheincarcerationratewouldneverchange.Around1975,however,theywereprovedwrong,astheUnitedStatesbecameradicallymorepunitive.Inthirty-fiveyears,theincarcerationrateballoonedtoover700per100,000,faroutstrippingallothercountries.

Thisgrowthisnotattributabletoincreasedoffendingrates,buttoincreasedpunitiveness.Being"toughoncrime"becameapoliticalmandate.Stateandfederallegislaturesimposedmandatoryminimumsentences;abolishedorradicallyrestrictedparole;andadopted"threestrikes"lawsthatexactlifeimprisonmentforathirdoffense,evenwhentheoffenseisasminorasstealingasliceofpizza.Comparingtheratioofconvictionsto"indexcrimes"suchasmurder,rape,andburglarybetween1975and1999revealsthat,holdingcrimeconstant,theUnitedStatesbecamefivetimesmorepunitive.HarvardsociologistBruceWesternestimatesthattheincreaseinincarcerationratessince1975cantakecreditforonlyabout10percentofthedropincrimeoverthesameperiod.

Muchoftheextraordinarygrowthintheprisonandjailpopulationisattributabletoadramaticincreaseinprosecutionandimprisonmentfordrugoffenses.PresidentReagandeclareda"warondrugs"in1982,andthestateseagerlyfollowedsuit.From1980to1997,Lourytellsus,thenumberofpeopleincarceratedfordrugoffensesincreasedby1,100percent.Drugconvictionsaloneaccountformorethan80percentofthetotalincreaseinthefederalprisonpopulationfrom1985to1995.In2008,fouroffivedrugarrestswereforpossession,andonlyoneinfivewasfordistribution;fullyhalfofalldrugarrestswereformarijuanaoffenses.

African-Americanshavebornethebruntofthiswar.From1985to1991,thenumberofwhitedrugoffendersinstateprisonsincreasedby110percent;thenumberofblackdrugoffendersgrewby465percent.TheaveragetimeservedbyAfrican-Americansfordrugcrimesgrewby62percentbetween1994and2003,whilewhitedrugoffendersserved17percentmoretime.Though14percentofmonthlydrugusersareblack,roughlyequaltotheirproportionofthegeneralpopulation,theyarearrestedandimprisonedatvastlydisproportionaterates:37percentofthosearrestedfordrugoffensesareblackaswellas56percentofthoseinstateprisonsfordrugoffenses.Blacksservealmostasmuchtimeinprisonfordrugoffenses(averageof58.7months)aswhitesdoforviolentcrimes(averageof61.7months).

Butisthemajorityreallyoffthehook?Infact,theprisonboomhashighcostsforallofus.AnewprisonopenssomewhereintheUnitedStateseveryweek.Imprisoningahumanbeinginthiscountrycostsaminimumof$20,000ayear,farmorethantuitionatanyofourstateuniversities.Nationalspendingonprisonsandjailswas$7billionin1980;itis$60billiontoday.Severalstatesnowspendmoreonstateprisonsthanstatecolleges.Weliterallycannotaffordourpoliticaladdictiontoincarceration.

Moreover,theincarcerationboommeansthatthereisalsonowaboominprisonersbeingreleased.In2008,approximately700,000prisonerswerereleased.Atcurrentratesofrecidivism,469,000ofthemwillberearrestedwithinthreeyears.Weallhaveaninterestinhelpingthisat-riskpopulationavoidareturntoalifeofcrime.

Thewarondrugshasbymostaccountsbeenafailure,andweareallpayingthebill.In2008,1.7millionpeoplewerearrestedfordrugcrimes.Since1989,morepeoplehavebeenincarceratedfordrugoffensesthanforallviolentcrimescombined.YetmuchlikeProhibition,thewarondrugshasnotendedorevensignificantlydiminisheddruguse.Ithasmadedrugsmoreexpensive,andfosteredamultibillion-dollarcriminalindustryindrugdeliveryandsales.Drugshavebecomemoreconcentratedanddeadly;twiceasmanypeoplediefromdrugstodaythanbeforethewarondrugswasdeclared.Ifanything,thewarondrugshasprobablyincreased

12

theincidenceofcrime;abouthalfofpropertycrime,robberies,andburglariesareattributabletotheinflatedcostofdrugscausedbycriminalizingthem.

Morefundamentally,ascitizensweallhaveastakeinthefairnessandlegitimacyofourcriminaljusticesystemforbothmoralandpragmaticreasons.Thecharacterofournationisdeterminedinsignificantpartbyhowwetreatthecriminallyaccused.ItisnoaccidentthattheBillofRightsconcentratesprimarilyonprotectingtherightsofthosesuspectedofcrime.Theseamendmentsweredeemednecessarypreciselybecausepoliticalmajoritiesarelikelytoseekshortcutsonfairnesswhencrimeisalleged,eventhoughfairnessisfundamentaltotheintegrityofthecriminaljusticesystem.Thelegitimacyofthecriminaljusticesystemisessentialbecauseitencourageslaw-abidingbehavior.Ifpeoplebelieveinthebasiclegitimacyofaleaderorprocedure,theyarefarmorelikelytoabidebytherules.If,ontheotherhand,asystemisseenascorrupt,unfair,orunjust,thosesubjectedtoitwillbelessinclinedtorespectit.Alegalsystemthatrelegatesthemajorityofourmostdisadvantagedpopulationstoincarceration,anddoesnexttonothingtohelpthemavoidprisonortoreintegrateintosocietyuponrelease,invitesdisrespect—andcrime.

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CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?ByDavidCole

Section3

Howdoweescapetheself-defeatingcycleofcrimeandpunishment?AnthonyThompsonsuggeststhatwefocusontheneediest—the700,000orsoprisonerswhoarereleasedeachyear.Beforetheincarcerationboom,theavowedpurposeofcriminalsentencinginAmericawasrehabilitation.Prisonsentenceswereoftenopen-ended,withtheideabeingthatasuccessfulcourseofrehabilitationwouldwarrantanearlierrelease.Inthe1970s,however,thenationbegantosouronrehabilitation,andoverthenexttwodecadesstateandfederalauthoritieseliminatedmosteffortstoeducate,train,andcounselprisonerswithaviewtowardpreparingthemfortheirreturntosociety.

Thompsonarguesthatwhen700,000prisonersarebeingreleasedeachyear,weignoreatourperiltheirreintegrationintooursociety.Astablehome,job,andhealtharestrongpredictorsoflaw-abidingbehavior.Butincarcerationmakesstabilitymuchmoredifficulttoobtaininalltheserespects.Publichousinglawsoftenbaroffenders,andprivatelandlordsroutinelydiscriminateagainstthem.Federalandstatelawsbroadlyprohibitex-offendersfromhundredsofjobs,oftenwithoutanyrationaljustification,andevenwherenobarexists,privateemployersarelessthaneagertohirethem.Prisonerswhoenterprisonwithoutphysicalandmentalillnessesoftendevelopthemwhileinside.YetasThompsondemonstrates,societydoesvirtuallynothingtohelpex-offendersfindhomes,jobs,orhealthcare—therebyvirtuallyguaranteeingacycleofrecidivism.

Thompsonproposesavarietyofsensiblereforms—eliminatinglawsthatirrationallybarex-offendersfromjobsandhousing,providinghealthcareandcounselingtohelpsmooththetransitionbacktolifeoutsideofprison.Butthequestionheleavesunansweredisthemostdifficultone:Whereisthepoliticalimpetusforsuchreform?IfAmericansareskepticalaboutthegovernmentprovidinghealthinsuranceforthelaw-abiding,whatisgoingtomakethemsupportitforex-offenders?Andifwedonotinvestinsufficientjobtrainingorpublichousingforthosewhohaveneverbeenimprisoned,whywouldwedosoforthosewhohaveviolatedcriminallaws?

Butleroffersabroadersetofproposals.Someare,likeThompson's,eminentlysensible.Hecallsfordecriminalizingthepossessionofsmallamountsofdrugsforpersonaluse,forexample.Severalothernations,includingtheNetherlands,Spain,France,andMexico,havedonejustthat,withoutanyevidentriseindruguse.Andherecommendsthatwetreatdrugsasapublichealthissue,adopting"harmreduction"strategiessuchasneedleexchange.

Butleralsosuggeststhatweoffereconomicincentivestoencourageyoungpeopletostayinschool.Inviewofthenumberofhighschooldropoutswholandinprison,ifwecankeepyoungpeopleinschool,wemaybeabletokeepthemoutofprison.Fromapurelyeconomicperspective,ittakesalotlessmoneytoinduceanat-riskyoungmantoremaininschoolthanitdoestolockhimupforayear.Similarly,Butler'sproposalthatweinvestineliminatingsourcesofleadpoisoningmakeseconomicsense,sinceexposuretoleadinchildrenturnsouttobehighlycorrelatedwithcriminalbehaviorsubsequently.Butleralsocallsforageneralreductionincriminalsentences,andfortheearlyreleaseofnonviolentoffenders,manyofwhomshouldneverhavebeenlockedupinthefirstplace.

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CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?ByDavidColeSection4

Itis,afterall,realreformthatweneed.Onthatfront,thebiggestchallengeisthattheverydemographicsthatmakethepatternofcrimeandpunishmentinAmericasoskewedagainstblacksandLatinosalsomakeitalltooeasyforpoliticians,andthemajoritiestheyrepresent,toadheretoanunthinking"toughoncrime"attitude.SenatorJimWebbhasdaredtobuckthattrend,proposinganationalcommissiontostudyinequalityinthecriminaljusticesystem.Suchaneffortwouldbringwelcome,andlongoverdue,attentiontotheissue,andmightimpelustodosomethingabouttheproblemswehavealltoocomplacentlyignored.Recentyearshaveshownsomesofteninginthepoliticsofcrime.Between2004and2006,twenty-twostatesadoptedreformsthatshortenedcriminalsentences.In2004,NewYorkamendeditsnotoriouslydraconianRockefeller-eradruglaws,andrevisedthemagainthisyeartomakelow-leveloffenderseligibleforshortenedsentences,orinsomecasesfortreatmentprogramsinsteadofprisons.In2005,Connecticuteliminatedthedisparityinsentencesforcrackandpowdercocaineunderitsstatelaw,andin2007,theSupremeCourtruledthatfederaljudgescoulddepartfromstrict"sentencingguidelines"andimposemorelenientsentencesbasedonconcernsabouttheracialdisparitiescausedbythedifferenttreatmentofcrackandpowdercocaineunderfederallaw.InApril2009,theObamaadministrationcameoutinfavorofeliminatingthecrack–powderdisparityaltogetherinfederallaw.Severalstateshaveexpandeddrugtreatmentoptionsasalternativestoprisonfordrugoffenses.ARANDCorporationstudyestimatesthattreatmentisfifteentimesmoreeffectiveatreducingdrug-relatedcrimethanincarceration.Anincreasinglypopularwayofdivertingdrugoffenderstotreatmentisthroughtheuseof"drugcourts,"inwhichjudgesoverseetreatmentprogramsanddismisscriminalchargesuponadefendant'ssuccessfulcompletionoftreatment.Thefirstdrugcourtwasintroducedin1989;asof2007,therewere1,662suchcourtsacrossthecountry.Thompson'sargumentthatreformersshouldgivespecialattentiontothosebeingreleasedfromprisonbecausetheyotherwiseposeasignificantriskofrecidivismhasalsogainedadherents.Rehabilitationhashardlybeenrevived,butundertherubricof"re-entry"intosociety,statesandthefederalgovernmentareincreasinglypromotingprogramsthataddresstheseriousproblemsthatex-offendersface.AsHelenEpsteinhasshown,"restorativejustice"efforts,whichseektofacilitatereintegrationthroughcounselingthatencouragesoffenderstotakepersonalresponsibilityfortheirwrongdoing,havedemonstratedpositiveresults.Still,whileacknowledgingpersonalresponsibilityisundoubtedlyimportant,itwon'tdothetrickwithoutaplacetolive,ajob,andstrongfamilyties.Stateshavealsoincreasinglysoughttoamelioratetheeffectsoflawsthatdenyex-felonstherighttovote."Felonydisenfranchisement"lawsrenderlargenumbersofAfrican-Americanmenineligibletovote,andextendtheracialdisparitiesinthecriminaljusticesystemintoelectoralpolitics.Asaresultoftheselaws,oneineightblackmenofvotingageisineligibletovote.Thelawsalsofrustratereintegration,fortheyimplyisthatanex-offendercanneverbeafullcitizen.Since1997,nineteenstateshaveamendedtheirlawstomitigatetheserestrictionsandgiveex-offendersmoreopportunitytoregaintheireligibilitytovote.Withfivemillionpotentialvotersstillaffected,thereismuchmoreworktobedone,butthetrendlineispositive.Finally,severalstates,includingCaliforniaandTexas,havesoughttoreducethedrainontheirbudgetscausedbytheirprisonsbyidentifyingnonviolentoffenderswhocanbereleasedearlywithoutposingathreattothecommunity.Underaprogramcalled"JusticeReinvestment,"spearheadedbytheCouncilofStateandLocal

15

GovernmentsandsupportedbytheUSJusticeDepartment,somestates,includingConnecticut,Kansas,Vermont,andTexas,havealsoredirectedsomeofthemoneysavedbyearlyreleasetothehigh-riskneighborhoodsfromwhichsomuchoftheimprisonedpopulationcomes.Theideaisthatifstatesinvestinthesecommunities,theymaysavemoneyinthelongrunbyreducingthenumbersofcommunitymemberswhocommitcrimes.Theimpetusforthesereformshasmoreoftenthannotbeeneconomic.Statessimplycannotaffordtocontinuedevotinghugeandgrowingportionsoftheirdwindlingbudgetstoprisonsandjails,andareincreasinglyinterestedindeterminingwhethertherearepeopleinprisonwhoneednotbethere.Sincetwothirdsofprisonersareincarceratedfornonviolentoffenses,andmanyofthosefornonviolentdrugoffensesinparticular,thesereformsmakeclearbudgetarysense.Atthesametime,ouraddictiontopunishmentshouldbetroublingnotonlybecauseitiscostlyandoftencounterproductive,butbecauseitsraceandclassdisparitiesaremorallyunacceptable.Themostpromisingargumentsforreform,therefore,mustappealsimultaneouslytoconsiderationsofpragmatismandprinciple.TheveryfactthattheUSrecordissomuchworsethanthatoftherestoftheworldshouldtellusthatwearedoingsomethingwrong,andthesheerwasteofpublicdollarsandhumanlivesshouldimpelustowardreform.Butastheauthorsofthesethreebooksmakeclear,wewillnotunderstandtheproblemfullyuntilwecandidlyconfrontthefactthatourcriminaljusticesystemwouldnotbetolerabletothemajorityifitsimpactwerefeltmorebroadlybythegeneralpopulation,andnotconcentratedonthemostdeprivedamongus.

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Name:_____________________________

CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?

Eachofyourgroupmembershasaseparateexcerptfromthisarticle.Youmustcarefullyreadyourexcerptandbepreparedtosummarizeitforyourgroupmembers.Asyouread,notethemostimportantpointsfromyourarticlebelow:1.2.3.4.5.6.Whatdidyoufindmostinterestingorsurprisingfromyourexcerpt?7.Whatdoyouthinktheauthor’spurposeisinwritingthisarticle?8.Doyouhaveanyquestionsregardingtheinformationyouread?

17

Afterallgroupmembershavesharedtheirsummaries,answerthefollowingquestionstogether:

1. WhydoyouthinktheUnitedStateshasthehighestprisonpopulationintheworld?2. WhatgroupsofpeopledisproportionatelymakeupAmerica’sprisonpopulation?Whydoyouthinkthisis

thecase?

3. Whatstatisticsdoestheauthornotethatevidencethedisparitiesinourprisonsystem?

4. Whydoyouthinkpeopleareopposedtospendingmoneyonprisonereducation,jobtraining,andcounseling?Inyouropinion,whatroleshouldprisonsserveinpreparingprisonersforreturningtosociety?

5. WhateffecthasAmerica’s“toughoncrime”ideologyhadontheprisonpopulation?

6. Howhasthe“warondrugs”affectedAmerica’sprisons?Whatalternativesmightournationexploretoreducetheamountofpeopleimprisonedforminordruginfractions(ifany)?

7. Howmuchdoesitcosttoincarceratesomeoneforayear?Doyoufeelthisisawiseuseoftaxdollars?Whyorwhynot?Whatalternativesshouldourgovernmentconsider?

8. Accordingtotheauthor,whyisitimportantthatourcriminaljusticesystembe“legitimate”andtreateveryonefairly?

9. Whyisthelackofrehabilitationprogramsforprisoners,andassistanceforprisonersreleased,dangeroustooursociety?WhydoyouthinkmanyAmericansdisliketheideaofprovidingsuchservices?

10. AccordingtoAnthonyThompson,howdoweescapetheself-defeatingcycleofcrimeandpunishment?Listtwoofhissuggestedreforms.

11. Theauthornotesthatkeepingyouthinschoolwillkeepthemoutofprison.Doyouagreeordisagreeandwhy?

12. ListtwosuggestionsPaulButlerofferstoreducetheprisonpopulation.

13. Whataresomeproblemswith“nullification?”

14. Listtworeformsstateshavetakentoaddressthisissue.

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CanOurShamefulPrisonsBeReformed?AnswerKey

1. WhydoyouthinktheUnitedStateshasthehighestprisonpopulationintheworld?Answerswillvary

2. WhatgroupsofpeopledisproportionatelymakeupAmerica’sprisonpopulation?Whydoyouthinkthisisthecase?Thepoor,theuneducated,AfricanAmericansandLatinos,AfricanAmericanmales;answerswillvaryregardingwhy

3. Whatstatisticsdoestheauthornotethatevidencethedisparitiesinourprisonsystem?

African-Americansare13percentofthegeneralpopulation,butover50percentoftheprisonpopulation.Blacksareincarceratedatarateeighttimeshigherthanthatofwhites.60percentofblackhighschooldropoutshavespenttimeinprison,butonly5percentofcollege-educatedAfrican-Americanshavedoneso.

4. Whydoyouthinkpeopleareopposedtospendingmoneyonprisonereducation,jobtraining,andcounseling?In

youropinion,whatroleshouldprisonsserveinpreparingprisonersforreturningtosociety?Answerswillvary

5. WhateffecthasAmerica’s“toughoncrime”ideologyhadontheprisonpopulation?Ithasrisendramatically,withmanyprisonersonlyhavingcommittednon-violent,minordruginfractions

6. Howhasthe“warondrugs”affectedAmerica’sprisons?Whatalternativesmightournationexploretoreducethe

amountofpeopleimprisonedforminordruginfractions(ifany)?Answerswillvary7. Howmuchdoesitcosttoincarceratesomeoneforayear?Doyoufeelthisisawiseuseoftaxdollars?Whyorwhy

not?Whatalternativesshouldourgovernmentconsider?Aminimumof$20,000ayearperinmate;answerswillvary

8. Accordingtotheauthor,whyisitimportantthatourcriminaljusticesystembe“legitimate”andtreateveryonefairly?Ifthesystemisunfair,morepeoplearelikelytodisrespectthelaw

9. Whyisthelackofrehabilitationprogramsforprisoners,andassistanceforprisonersreleased,dangeroustooursociety?WhydoyouthinkmanyAmericansdisliketheideaofprovidingsuchservices?Answerswillvary

10. AccordingtoAnthonyThompson,howdoweescapetheself-defeatingcycleofcrimeandpunishment?Listtwoofhissuggestedreforms.Focusonthe700,000prisonersbeingreleasedeachyear.Helpthemgethomes,jobs,andhealthcare.Eliminatelawsthatbarex-offendersfromjobsandhousing.Providehealthcare,counseling,andjobcreation.

11. Theauthornotesthatkeepingyouthinschoolwillkeepthemoutofprison.Doyouagreeordisagreeandwhy?

Answerswillvary.12. ListtwosuggestionsPaulButlerofferstoreducetheprisonpopulation.

Decriminalizationofsmallamountsofdrugs.Offereconomicincentivestoencouragepeopletostayinschool.Earlyreleasefornon-violentoffenders.Jurynullification.

13. Whataresomeproblemswith“nullification?”Juriesacquitincasesregardlessofifthedefendantisinnocentorguilty,butonlyincasesinvolvingvictimlesscrimes.Someproblemsinclude,thelackofgalvanizingeffectsduetosecrecy;ifjurorsadmitthattheywillneverconvict,theywillnotbeabletositonajury;buildingasocialmovementondeceitisn’twise.

14. Listtworeformsstateshavetakentoaddressthisissue.Reformsforshortenedsentences,eliminatingdisparitybetweencrackandcocainesentencing,expandeddrugtreatmentoptions,restorativejusticeefforts–counseling,tryingtoannulfelonydisenfranchisementlaws,directmoneytowardshigh-riskcrimeneighborhoodsinanattempttopreventpeoplefromcommittingcrimes.

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InstructionsfortheHumanRightsCoalition

YouarepartofthecitizenadvocacygroupcalledtheHUMANRIGHTSCOALITION(HRC)whoistestifyingtodayatahearingoftheNCGeneralAssembly’sAppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafety.YourgrouphopestoconvincetheCommitteethattheySHOULDcutfundingtobuildmoreprisons.Yourgroup’smissionistoabolishprisons.Youbelievethattheprisonsystemisbasedonafoundationofexploitation,punishmentandcorruption.Theprisonsystemreflectsalltheothersocialinequalitiesinoursystem,anditdoesnotworkinitscurrentincarnation.Youhopetomakevisibletothepublictheinjusticeandabusethatarecommonpracticethroughoutourjudicialandprisonsystemsacrossthecountry,andeventuallyendthoseabuses.HRCunderstandsthatprisonersarehumanbeingswithproblemsthatneedtobeaddressed.Youfeelthatallpeopleshoulddemandthattheprisonsystemfocusontherehabilitationofprisonerssothattheycanreturntosocietyasproductivecitizenswiththeskillsneededtotakecareoftheirfamilies.Yourorganization’sgoalsare:• Toencouragetherehabilitationofprisoners.HRCunderstandsthatprisonersarehumanbeingswith

problemsthatneedtobeaddressedandmost,intime,willreturntosociety.Themajorityofprisonersaresenttoprisonfordrugchargesandactswhichinvolvenoviolencewhatsoever.

• ToabolishthePrisonIndustrialComplex.Thechargetotaxpayersis$35,000peryeartohousea

prisoner.Thechargeis$65,000peryearforanolderinmate.ItislessexpensivetosendapersontoHarvardforayear.Contractsaresignedwithprivatecompaniestoprovidefoodandclothingtoprisons.Newprisonscontinuetobebuilteveryyearandarefilled.Privateprisons(notstateowned)arenowbeingbuilt.Thesefactsareevidencethattheprisoncomplexisaboomingbusinessdesignedtoconfine"prisoners"forprofit;itisabusinessthatisdisguisedas"gettoughoncrime."

• Toabolishtheprisonsystem.Theprisonsystemisbasedonafoundationofexploitation,punishment

andcorruption.Peopleofcolormakeup70percentoftheprisonpopulation.80percentofprisonersaretherefornon-violentoffenses(thevastmajorityofthesedrug-related),andthecrimeratehasbeendecliningoverthepast20years.Womenarethehighestrisingpopulationinprison,andmostofthemarethereforcrimesofsurvival,committedtofeedthemselvesandtheirfamilies.Mostofthepeopleinprisonsarepoor,brown,urban,functionallyilliterate,unemployedorunder-employedbeforetheywerelockeddown,andaretherefornon-violentcrimes,mostlysellingorusingdrugs.Obviously,theprisonsystemisaboutalltheothersocialinequalitiesinoursystem,anditdoesnotworkinitscurrentincarnation.HRCsupportsitsdismantling,andbuildinginitsplaceasystemofaccountabilitythatistrulybasedinthecommunityandfocusesonhealing,notpunishing.(Source:http://www.hrcoalition.com/)

PrepareYourPresentation

1. Choosewhowillfulfillthedifferentofficesforyourgrouplistedbelow.Name:__________________________1.Director–keepsconversationfocusedandensuresgroupisontaskName:__________________________2.Researcher–usestextbook,internet,andotherresourceswhennecessaryName:__________________________3.Presenter–presentsargumenttocommitteemembers(mayselectoneotherpersonfromyourgrouptoassistyouifneeded

20

Name:__________________________4.Communications–takesnotes;conferswithinstructorifnecessary.2. Developa3–5minutepresentationwiththepurposeofconvincingtheNCstatelegislatorstoCUT

fundingtotheDepartmentofCorrections.Beginbybrainstormingargumentsforyourpresentation.Yourstatementmustincludeatleastonereferencetothestatisticalhandoutsprovided.

3. Makesureyourpresentationincludesconvincingreasonswhylegislatorsshouldseethingsyourway.

Usetheinformationaboveasastartingpointandaddanyotherreasonstoargueyourside.Youshouldalsospendtimeinferringhowotherspecialinterestgroupsmayfeelabouttheissue(seetheprovidedSummaryofSpecialInterestGroups).Iftheyarearguinganoppositeview,thinkaboutthewaystoopposetheirviewpointsinyourpresentation.

4. Whenpresenting,beconsiderate,clear,andconvincing.Afteryourpresentation,thecommittee

memberswillbeabletoaskquestionsofyourentiregroup.(*Questionsshouldbeansweredbyallgroupmembers,includingthosewhodidnotpresenttestimony.)

5. Oncethehearingiscomplete,thepaneloflegislatorswillholdanopendeliberationtodeterminehow

theywillreportbacktotheflooroftheGeneralAssembly.

21

InstructionsfortheCorrectionsCorporationofAmerica

YouarepartofthecitizenadvocacygroupcalledtheCORRECTIONSCORPORATIONOFAMERICA(CCA)whoistestifyingtodayatahearingoftheNorthCarolinaGeneralAssembly’sAppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafety.YourgrouphopestoconvincetheCommitteethattheySHOULDNOTcutfundingtobuildmoreprisons.Yourprivatecorporationistheleadingproviderofcorrectionalsolutionstofederal,state,andlocalgovernments,soacuttofundingwouldnegativelyimpactyourbusiness.Youalsostronglybelieveinyourbusinessmodelandbelievethattheprisonsyouoperatedosocietyawonderfulservice.BackgroundInformation:• TheCorrectionsCorporationofAmerica(CCA),foundedin1983,isapublic-privatepartnershipin

correctionscombinesthecostsavingsandinnovationofbusinesswiththestrictguidelinesandconsistentoversightofgovernment.Thishasproducedprovenresultsformorethanaquarter-century.

• CCAdesigns,builds,managesandoperatescorrectionalfacilitiesanddetentioncenters.Youallclaimthatyourbusinessisaboutprotectingpublicsafety,employingthebestpeopleinsolidcareers,rehabilitatinginmates,givingbacktocommunities,andbringinginnovativesecuritytogovernmentcorrections–allwhileconsistentlysavinghardworkingtaxpayers’dollars.

• Thecompanyisthefourth-largestcorrectionssysteminthenation,behindonlythefederalgovernmentandtwostates.

• CCAhousesapproximately75,000offendersanddetaineesinmorethan60facilities,44ofwhicharecompany-owned,withatotalbedcapacityofmorethan80,000.CCAcurrentlypartnerswithallthreefederalcorrectionsagencies(TheFederalBureauofPrisons,theU.S.MarshalsServiceandImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement),nearlyhalfofallstatesandmorethanadozenlocalmunicipalities.

• Sinceitsinception,CCAhasmaintaineditsmarketleadershippositioninprivatecorrectionsandemploysnearly17,000professionalsnationwideinsecurity,inmateprograms,facilitymaintenance,humanresources,managementandadministration.Thecompanyhasbeennamedamong“America’sBestBigCompanies”byForbesmagazineandrankednumberoneinthepublication’s“BusinessServicesandSupplies”category.G.I.JobsmagazinealsonamedCCAasa“Top50Military-FriendlyEmployer.”

• CCAoffersoffendersavarietyofdynamicrehabilitationandeducationprograms,includingaddictionstreatment,GEDpreparationandtesting,post-secondarystudies,lifeskills,employmenttraining,recreationaloptionsandworkopportunities.

(Source:http://www.correctionscorp.com/)

PrepareYourPresentation1. Choosewhowillfulfillthedifferentofficesforyourgrouplistedbelow.Name:__________________________1.Director–keepsconversationfocusedandensuresgroupisontaskName:__________________________2.Researcher–usestextbook,internet,andotherresourceswhennecessaryName:__________________________3.Presenter–presentsargumenttocommitteemembers(mayselectoneotherpersonfromyourgrouptoassistyouifneededName:__________________________4.Communications–takesnotes;conferswithinstructorifnecessary.2. Developa3–5minutepresentationwiththepurposeofconvincingtheNCstatelegislatorsto

INCREASEfundingtotheDepartmentofCorrections.Beginbybrainstormingargumentsforyourpresentation.Yourstatementmustincludeatleastonereferencetothestatisticalhandoutsprovided.

22

3. Makesureyourpresentationincludesconvincingreasonswhylegislatorsshouldseethingsyourway.Usetheinformationaboveasastartingpointandaddanyotherreasonstoargueyourside.Youshouldalsospendtimeinferringhowotherspecialinterestgroupsmayfeelabouttheissue(seetheprovidedSummaryofSpecialInterestGroups).Iftheyarearguinganoppositeview,thinkaboutthewaystoopposetheirviewpointsinyourpresentation.





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InstructionsforSenatorRichardBurr

YourgrouprepresentsSenatorRICHARDBURRandhislegislativeassistants.SenatorBurristestifyingtodayatahearingoftheNorthCarolinaGeneralAssembly’sAppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafety.YouallhavemadeaspecialtripfromWashingtonDCtotrytoconvincetheCommitteethattheySHOULDNOTcutfundingtobuildmoreprisons.SenatorBurr’sbackgroundinformation:• VotedNOonfundingforalternativesentencinginsteadofmoreprisons:Voteonanamendmentthat

wouldreducethefundingforviolentoffenderimprisonmentbyandtruth-in-sentencingprogramsby$61million.ThemeasurewouldincreasefundingforBoysandGirlsClubsanddrugcourtsbythesameamount.

• VotedYESonmoreprosecutionandsentencingforjuvenilecrime:Votetopassabilltoappropriate$1.5billiontoallofthestatesthatwanttoimprovetheirjuvenilejusticeoperations.Amongotherprovisions,thisbillincludesfundingfordevelopment,implementation,andadministrationofgraduatedsanctionsforjuvenileoffenders,fundsforbuilding,expanding,orrenovatingjuvenilecorrectionsfacilities,hiringjuvenilejudges,probationofficers,andadditionalprosecutorsforjuvenilecases.

• VotedNOonmaintainingrightofhabeascorpusinDeathPenaltyAppeals:Voteonanamendmenttodeleteprovisionsinthebillthatwouldmakeitharderforprisonerswhohavebeengiventhedeathpenaltyinstatecourtstoappealthedecisiononconstitutionalgroundsinthefederalcourts['HabeasCorpus'].

• VotedYESonmakingfederaldeathpenaltyappealsharder:Voteonabilltomakeitharderforprisonerswhohavebeengiventhedeathpenaltyinstatecourtstoappealthedecisiononconstitutionalgroundsinthefederalcourts.

• Rated30%byCURE,indicatinganti-rehabilitationcrimevotes:Burrscores30%byCUREonrehabilitationissues.CURE(CitizensUnitedforRehabilitationofErrants)isamembershiporganizationoffamiliesofprisoners,prisoners,formerprisonersandotherconcernedcitizens.CURE'stwogoalsaretouseprisonsonlyforthosewhohavetobeinthem;andforthosewhohavetobeinthem,toprovidethemalltherehabilitativeopportunitiestheyneedtoturntheirlivesaround.Theratingsindicatethelegislator’spercentagescoreonCURE’spreferredvotes.

• Supportsmoreprisons,moreenforcement,andaneffectivedeathpenaltyinthe“TakingBackOurStreetsAct”:Ananti-crimepackageincludingstrongertruthinsentencing,“goodfaith”exclusionaryruleexemptions,effectivedeathpenaltyprovisions,andcutsinsocialspendingfromthissummer’scrimebilltofundprisonconstructionandadditionallawenforcementtokeeppeoplesecureintheirneighborhoodsandkidssafeintheirschools.

Source:http://www.issues2000.org/domestic/Richard_Burr_Crime.htm

PrepareYourPresentation1. Choosewhowillfulfillthedifferentofficesforyourgrouplistedbelow.Name:__________________________1.Director–keepsconversationfocusedandensuresgroupisontaskName:__________________________2.Researcher–usestextbook,internet,andotherresourceswhennecessaryName:__________________________3.Presenter–presentsargumenttocommitteemembers(mayselectoneotherpersonfromyourgrouptoassistyouifneededName:__________________________4.Communications–takesnotes;conferswithinstructorifnecessary.

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2. Developa3–5minutepresentationwiththepurposeofconvincingtheNCstatelegislatorstoNOTCUT








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InstructionsforCUREYouarepartofthecitizenadvocacygroupcalledCITIZENSUNITEDFORTHEREHABILITATIONOFERRANTS(CURE)whoistestifyingtodayatahearingoftheNorthCarolinaGeneralAssembly’sAppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafety.YourgrouphopestoconvincetheCommitteethattheySHOULDcutfundingtobuildmoreprisons.CUREbelievesthatprisonsshouldbeusedonlyforthosewhoabsolutelymustbeincarceratedandthatthosewhoareincarceratedshouldhavealloftheresourcestheyneedtoturntheirlivesaround.CURE’sAlternativestoIncarceration:1. Statesshoulddevelopcomprehensiveandrestorativesentencingoptions,including,butnotlimitedto:

(1)diversion-from-prisonprograms;(2)community-correctionsprograms-includingresidentialfacilitieswithrehabilitationprograms-suchasalcoholanddrugtreatment,education,mentalhealthservices,job-skillsdevelopmentandjobplacement;and(3)post-releaseassistance.

2. Community-Correctionslegislationshouldbeenactedthatfinanciallysupportssuchaplan,andprovidesincentivestocountiestodivertoffendersfromprisontocommunitycorrections.Localinvolvementincorrectionsshouldbepromotedusingcommunityadvisoryboardswithmembersfromthefollowingcommunities:socialservice,educational,business,religious,andgeneralpublic.Theseadvisoryboardswillhelptodeviseandsupervisetheprograms,andprovideaccesstoresources.

AccordingtothereportoftheNYUnifiedCourtSystem’sprestigiousCommitteeonAlternativeSanctions(including7judgesandothersfromlegislative,legal,andcriminaljusticeareas):2

• "Itisapparentthateachyearthousandsofpersonswhopresentno,oraminimal,threattopublicsafetyarebeingcommittedtostateprison.Andthisisbeingdonedespitetheexorbitantcostsinvolvedanddespitethefactthatcommunity-basedprogramsmaywellbeaseffective,orappreciablymoreeffective,inrehabilitatingtheseoffenders."

• "Obviously,alternativeprograms,particularlythosethatofferlong-termresidentialdrugtreatment,arenotonlyacheaperformofsupervisionbutalsomaydoabetterjobthanincarcerationinrehabilitatingcertainoffenders."

• "Theoverwhelmingpercentageoftrialjudgesconsiderlimitedprogramavailabilitytobeanobstacleinsentencingoffenders."

WhyCUREEndorsesThisPosition1. Suchuseofalternativejusticemethodswillreduceprisonandjailcosts,holdpeopleaccountablefor

theircrimes,and,withoutcompromisingpublicsafety,helpoffenderstosuccessfullyreintegrateintothecommunity.Forexample,theBrooklyn,NYDrugTreatmentAlternativetoPrison(DTAP)programdivertsprison-boundfelonyoffenderstoresidentialdrugtreatmentfor15-24months,the19%recidivismrateforDTAP’sgraduatescontrastswiththe46%rateforsimilardefendantswhodidnotparticipateintheprogram.

2. Also,Connecticut’sLongitudinalStudycomparedarrestratesforgraduatesoftheirAlternativestoIncarcerationProgram(AIP)withtheratesofcomparableoffenderssenttoprison(DOC).Itwasfoundthatthealternativeswere2-5timesmoresuccessfulthanprisonsinreducingcrimeofdrugoffenders!And,ofcourse,theAIPswerefarlessexpensive.

Source:http://www.curenational.org/cms/index.php

PrepareYourPresentation1. Choosewhowillfulfillthedifferentofficesforyourgrouplistedbelow.Name:__________________________1.Director–keepsconversationfocusedandensuresgroupisontaskName:__________________________2.Researcher–usestextbook,internet,andotherresourceswhennecessary

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Name:__________________________3.Presenter–presentsargumenttocommitteemembers(mayselectoneotherpersonfromyourgrouptoassistyouifneeded).Name:__________________________4.Communications–takesnotes;conferswithinstructorifnecessary.2. Developa3–5minutepresentationwiththepurposeofconvincingtheNCstatelegislatorstoCUT








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InstructionsfortheAppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafety

AstheNCSenateAppropriationsSubcommitteeonJusticeandPublicSafety,youandyourfellowlegislatorsareholdingahearingtohelpyoudeterminewhetherornottocutfundingtotheDepartmentofCorrectionstobuildmoreprisons.AsamemberoftheNorthCarolinaGeneralAssembly,yourepresenttheinterestsofyourconstituentsinyourhomedistrictandyourjobasanappointedmemberoftheSubcommitteeistodetermineiffundingtobuildmoreprisonsshouldbecutandifso,whatalternativepunishmentsshouldbeimplemented.YouhavethechoiceofreportingbacktotheGeneralAssemblyinfavorofbudgetcutsfornewprisons,oropposedtobudgetcutsfornewprisons.Forbothopinions,youmustsuggestwhatmeasurescanbeexercisedtoreducetheprisonpopulation.Thefollowinggroups/peoplewilltestifybeforeyoutodayinhopestoinfluenceyouropinionregardingthisbill:• TheHumanRightsCoalition• SenatorRichardBurr• CitizensfortheRehabilitationofErrants(CURE)• CorrectionsCorporationofAmericaYourjob:TheCommitteeiscomposedofthefollowingSenators:

• Co-ChairmanSen.WarrenDaniel• Co-ChairmanSen.ShirleyB.Randleman• Co-ChairmanSen.NormanW.Sanderson• MembersSen.DanBlue,Sen.DannyEarlBritt,Jr.,Sen.ValerieP.Foushee

Thethreeco-chairsarealwayspresentatthemeetings,butsometimesduetootherconflicts,notalltheothermembersarepresent.Onceyouhavedeterminedwhoispresent,createanametentforthemeetingthatidentifieswhoyouareandstatesyourroleonthecommittee.1.UndertheleadershipoftheChair,reviewtheactionofcuttingfundingfornewprisonsasagroup.Eachofyoushouldexpressyourinitialopinionsofthemeasure.Createalistthathighlightswhatyouthinkthenegativesandpositivesofcuttingfundingfornewprisonswouldbe.2.PrepareforthegroupswhowillbetestifyinginfrontofyoutodaybyreviewingtheSummaryofSpecialInterestGroups.Discussthepositionthateachgrouphastakenontheproposedbill,andinferwhattypesofthingstheymightsayintheirtestimonytoyou.Create2-3questionsforeachgroup,whichwillhelpyougainfurtherdetailsontheirpositionorperhapsevenchallengetheirviews.3.Onceitistimeforthemeetingtobegin,theChairwillwelcomeeveryonethencallupeachpresentinggrouptotestify(upto3minutesisallowed.)Listencarefullytotheirposition,opinion,andrequest.4.Aftereachgroup’spresentation,theChairwillopenthefloorforquestions.Youmayrefertothequestionsthatyoupreviouslycreatedorasknewquestionsbasedoninformationyouhearinthegroups’testimonies.Remember,youneedtogatheralloftheinformationyoucaninordertomakeaninformeddecision.5.Oncethetestimoniesarecomplete,theChairwillleadtheCommitteeinanopendeliberation;atthistime,youwillexpresswhereyounowstand.Rememberingthatthegroupsthatpresentedtoyoutodaywillhavearoleineithersupportingornotsupportingyouinyourreelection,youandyourfellowlegislatorsshouldattempttocometoaconsensusregardingthemeasurethroughaprocessofdialogue,debate,andcompromise.6.Attheendofthemeeting,youwillholdanopendeliberationanddecidewhetherornotprisonsshouldlosefundingandwhatalternativesshouldbeused.

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SummaryofSpecialInterestGroups&LobbyistsHumanRightsCoalition:Theirmissionistoabolishprisons.Theybelievethattheprisonsystemisbasedonafoundationofexploitation,punishmentandcorruption.Mostofthepeopleinprisonsarepoor,brown,urban,functionallyilliterate,unemployedorunder-employedbeforetheywerelockeddown,andaretherefornon-violentcrimes.Theprisonsystemreflectsalltheothersocialinequalitiesinoursystem,anditdoesnotworkinitscurrentincarnation.Anothergoalistomakevisibletothepublictheinjusticeandabusethatarecommonpracticethroughoutourjudicialandprisonsystemsacrossthecountry,andeventuallyendthoseabuses.Theyalsoworktoencouragetherehabilitationofprisoners.HRCunderstandsthatprisonersarehumanbeingswithproblemsthatneedtobeaddressed.Manyprisonershaveledhorrendouslivesofdrugabuse,childabuse,orneglect,inadditiontoimpactsofracism,sexism,classismandhomophobia.Theybelievethatweascitizensshoulddemandthattheprisonsystemfocusontherehabilitationofprisonerssothattheycanreturntosocietyasproductivecitizenswiththeskillsneededtotakecareoftheirfamilies.CorrectionsCorporationofAmerica:TheCorrectionsCorporationofAmerica(CCA),isthenation’sleadingproviderofcorrectionalsolutionstofederal,stateandlocalgovernment.Ourcompany–thefirstofitskind–wasfoundedin1983.Ourapproachtopublic-privatepartnershipincorrectionscombinesthecostsavingsandinnovationofbusinesswiththestrictguidelinesandconsistentoversightofgovernment.Thishasproducedprovenresultsformorethanaquarter-century.CCAdesigns,builds,managesandoperatescorrectionalfacilitiesanddetentioncentersonbehalfoftheFederalBureauofPrisons,ImmigrationandCustomsEnforcement,theUnitedStatesMarshalsService,nearlyhalfofallstatesandnearlyadozencountiesacrossthecountry.CCAbenefitsAmericabyprotectingpublicsafety,employingthebestpeopleinsolidcareers,rehabilitatinginmates,givingbacktocommunities,andbringinginnovativesecuritytogovernmentcorrections–allwhileconsistentlysavinghardworkingtaxpayers’dollars.SenatorRichardBurr:SenatorBurrisa“toughoncrimesenatorwhovotedNOonfundingforalternativesentencinginsteadofmoreprisons;YESonmoreprosecutionandsentencingforjuvenilecrime;NOonmaintainingrightofhabeascorpusinDeathPenaltyAppeals;andYESonmakingfederaldeathpenaltyappealsharder.Rated30%byCURE,indicatinganti-rehabilitationcrimevotes.CitizensUnitedFortheRehabilitationofErrants(CURE):Webelievethatprisonsshouldbeusedonlyforthosewhoabsolutelymustbeincarceratedandthatthosewhoareincarceratedshouldhavealloftheresourcestheyneedtoturntheirlivesaround.Wealsobelievethathumanrightsdocumentsprovideasoundbasisforensuringthatcriminaljusticesystemsmeetthesegoals.

Documents

Incarcerated America Overview North Carolina Standard ...civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/IncarceratedAmerica.pdf · through a Power Point presentation and discussion. (The PPT