Posted: April 20th, 2022

Issues Facing Jails in the Modern Era

Issues Facing Jails in the Modern Era
One of the major issues facing jails in the modern era is overcrowding. It is approximated that there are more than eight million individuals in correctional control, and that the number does not appear to be subsiding (Lee & Joo, 2020). Overcrowding is a result of criminal justice policy and not necessarily due to increasing rates of crime, and it undermines the ability of correctional systems to meet fundamental human needs like food, healthcare, and accommodation. It also interferes with the ability of jails to provide effective rehabilitation programs, educational and vocational training, and recreational activities. The excessive utilization of pre-trial detention and the utilization of prison for petty, minor offences are vital drivers of increasing jail population rates (Lee & Joo, 2020).
Another major issue facing jails is mental health disorders. During the last three decades, people with mental disorders have been increasingly imprisoned possibly as a consequence of the deinstitutionalization of the state mental health system. Jails have become the de facto state hospitals, and there are more seriously and constantly mentally ill people in prisons compared to state hospitals in the United States. More people with psychotic illnesses, depression, personality disorders, post-traumatic disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorders, and suicidal behaviors are entering jails more than ever before (Henry, 2020). Approximately 50% of these individuals reenter prisons within 3 years of being released (a phenomenon referred to as recycling), due to insufficient treatment and rehabilitation in the community.
Underfunding is yet another major issue facing jails in the modern era. Jails in the US are generally underfunded, and prison overcrowding has served to exacerbate this problem. Underfunding has made it nearly impossible for these correctional facilities to employ adequate staff. As a consequence, the jails are manned by officers who normally do not last long at the jail prior to quitting because of burnout, poor wages, and forced overtime (Lewandowski & Bumgarner, 2020). Also, it is important to note that jails hardly see an increase in funding. In fact, when budget cuts are needed, jails are perceived as a prime source for saving money. Understandably, it is challenging to make the argument in the current society that sufficient funding to run prisons is as vital as the education of children or support for the needy.
Several solutions are available to address the problems facing prisons. When it comes to overcrowding, the solution lies in finding alternatives to incarceration, and one such alternative is community service. This should particularly be applied petty offenders. Community service generally entails public service for not-for profit organizations. As such, rather than going to jail the offender is required to perform an unpaid labor in the community in an endeavor to pay a debt to society. This solution is feasible as it does not require any additional spending. With regard to the mental health issue problem, the solution lies in investing more in diversion programs. People identified to have mental health issues should be redirected from jails to the mental health treatment systems (Henry, 2020). Such systems are equipped to handle the unique needs of the mentally ill. As such, there is the need to create more of these systems/facilities to meet needs of the increasing numbers of offenders with mental health issues. However, there may be a challenge in increasing these facilities due to budgetary constraints; as such, this solution may be feasible when the current facilities are used. Regarding underfunding, the solution is to increase funding for jails so as to enable them to carry out their functions effectively. However, budgetary constraints make this a challenge.

References
Henry, B. F. (2020). Adversity, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorders as Predictors
and Mediators of Rule Violations in US Prisons. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 47(3), 271-289.
Lee, C. C., & Joo, S. J. (2020). Measuring the Performance of the US Correctional Systems at
the State Level. Journal of Applied Business & Economics, 22(5).
Lewandowski, C., & Bumgarner, J. (2020). Criminal justice in America: The Encyclopedia
of crime, law enforcement, courts, and corrections [2 volumes]. ABC-CLIO.