Operation Imprisonment
Our correctional system not only faces overcrowding and high staff turnover, it has also become the gatekeeper for the mentally ill and housing for illegal immigrants. Dwindling subsidized mental health facilities and growing immigrant problems add to the burden of an already compromised environment.
Statistically, recidivism highlights the imperative need for reform. Although percentage figures are not available, in 2005, a study of 30 states revealed a recidivism rate of 67.8% in the first 3 years of release and 76.6% in the 5 years after release.
According to the Program Diagnostic Center of the US Department of Justice, the suicide rate of correctional officers is much higher than in other occupations and a large percentage suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. However, they are not recognized as vital participants in our social order. Stress has been labeled the silent killer among correctional officers. Metaphorically, they are positioned right in the middle where dragons can approach from all angles. Administration demands forcing them to work shifts that extend far beyond their reflexes, coupled with manipulating angry inmates, keep them in constant first aid mode. Admitting that they may need help managing stress is interpreted as weakness, which is a forbidden trait within the culture.
Strong and dedicated staff to oversee rehabilitation and reentry programs should be a priority. We failed miserably (according to recidivism statistics) to prepare inmates to assume a responsible position in society upon release. We fail to recognize and treat the symptoms of PTSD in our correctional staff. We failed to provide makeshift facilities to reintroduce prisoners to the daily requirements of life.
With the United States ranking among the highest per capita for incarceration, the need for reform at all levels is evident. The debate on privatization continues. Some believe that unleashing our government in favor of corporate incarceration is the answer. The immediate red flag for privatization is constitutional. The delegation of discretionary government functions to private entities that have financial interests would be directly reflected in the power of discretion. Full beds and profit margins would determine schedules. The government is subject to due process, corporations are subject to profit percentages.
It is possible to have a criminal justice system that really works, but it would require personnel who are authorized to do so. Learning new skills, receiving counseling, and holding a position of responsibility in the respective units should be mandatory for inmates and should not be offered as a reduction in time. We need to stop the storage and start the correction.