Prison Rehabilitation may no Longer be an Option.

There are over 2.3 million incarcerated individuals in the United States.  The U.S. has the worlds largest prison population.  Being that many state budgets are low and lack funding, several prison facilities throughout the country are looking to provide an early release to some nonviolent and less violent inmates.  With the implementation of early prison release programs, what course of action are the states doing to ensure that these inmates are rehabilitated and will no longer pose a threat once released back into society?  In addition, is rehabilitation even possible for some of these convicts?

According to psychiatrist James Gilligan, prisons evoke violence.  A nonviolent offender will more than likely participate in violence once they are in prison.  Gilligan believes that mental health care within the prison system is a necessity in treating the inmate population.   Mental health care recipients should be treated and separated from the rest of the prison population.  Gilligan conducted a mini research that showed that over 60% of treated mental health care recipients were less likely to re-offend once they were released from prison.  By offering these rehabilitation services, inmates can treat their illness and be able to function efficiently within society.

With state facility budgets being cut, what other options are available to assist inmates with rehabilitation.  For example, in 2016, Oklahoma’s budgets were dramatically reduced.  The lack of funding has the inmates in Oklahoma dangerously outnumbering the guards, and there is no longer mental health nor drug rehabilitation available in the penitentiaries.  Therefore, with rehabilitation programs within the prison system diminishing, will the early release program be doomed to fail….not to mention a public safety issue now jeopardized.

References

Gentzler, R. (2016, May 19). The effects of budget cuts on Oklahoma prisons are hidden but dangerous. Retrieved from http://okpolicy.org/effects-budget-cuts-oklahoma-prisons-hidden-dangerous/

McCray, R. (2016, September 19). Rehabilitating Violent Offenders Is Possible. Why Aren’t We Doing It? Retrieved from http://www.takepart.com/feature/2016/09/19/violence-and-redemption-rehabilitation/index.htmlViolence and Redemption. (2016, September 19). Retrieved from http://www.takepart.com/violence-and-redemption/index.html

Violence and Redemption. (2016, September 19). Retrieved from http://www.takepart.com/violence-and-redemption/index.html