Reading Questions

Institution

Course

Professor

Date
 Reading Questions

Victoria Law, “Chapter 1: The system of mass incarceration is flawed and not

working as designed (or, A brief history)”

1. What was the Philadelphia Walnut Street Jail Penitentiary House and what was it

designed to do?

The Philadelphia Walnut Street Jail Penitentiary House, often known as Walnut Street

Prison, was founded in 1790. People were confined in utter isolation. It introduced a new model:

incarceration as penitence. The prison, named for its aim, was meant to instill penitence in

lawbreakers. For 24 hours a day, prisoners were isolated in cells without human contact to

ponder on and repent for their crimes (Law, 2021). It was meant to rehabilitate criminals by

seclusion and thought, not punishment. The correctional system gave offenders alone to

contemplate religion and morality, rehabilitating them. It broke with physical punishment and

public humiliation and established contemporary penitentiaries that emphasize penance and

individual rehabilitation.

2. Describe the Pennsylvania Eastern State Penitentiary.

One of the earliest US penitentiaries, the Pennsylvania Eastern State Penitentiary near

Philadelphia, was built in 1829. Pennsylvania founded the 250-cell Eastern State Penitentiary

near Philadelphia in 1829 to isolate prisoners. Stone barriers and the tongue-tearing Iron Gag

prevented communication. Physical punishments included cold water baths and wall-chaining

(Law, 2021). Its innovative Pennsylvania System-based design was by architect John Haviland.

Each detainee was isolated in a high-walled cell with no interaction. To help prisoners recover,
penitence and spiritual meditation were encouraged. This pioneering design inspired other 19th-

century jails to use isolation to rehabilitate.

Section 2 : Victoria Law, “Chapter 2: We need prisons to make us safer”

1. In what ways can prison further damage people?

Prison may harm people in many ways. First, offenders may acquire new criminal habits

and affiliations while in prison, perpetuating a cycle of crime. Second, the harsh atmosphere and

absence of rehabilitation programs may aggravate mental health difficulties, increasing

melancholy and anxiety. The stigma of a criminal record may also inhibit employment and

reintegration. Prisons may continue the cycle of deprivation that led to imprisonment.

2. How does the War on Terror manufacture crime?

The post-9/11 War on Terror has been criticized for creating crime in numerous ways.

Due to increased monitoring and profiling, many neighborhoods are overpoliced, possibly

trapping innocent people. Civil rights erosion, jail radicalization, and unproductive foreign

policies may also create new security risks and criminal activity, thereby worsening the problems

it seeks to address. Critics say a more balanced strategy is required to combat terrorism without

violating civil rights or inciting unrest.

Section 3: Victoria Law, “Chapter 3: Prisons are places of rehabilitation”

1. Why did Kamadia find self-help programs in prison useless?

Kamadia said jail self-help programs were pointless since they didn't provide real

assistance or apply to his life. Without specialized care and assistance, he may have struggled to

handle his needs and concerns. Thus, such programs may have failed because they generally
emphasize personal growth and self-improvement, which is difficult in a jail. Kamadia may have

thought jail self-help programs were ineffectual due to limited resources, support, and the prison

atmosphere. Also she avoided commiserating since she knew her previous challenges, regarded

as weaknesses by people in jail, and would be used against her in near future interactions (Law,

2021).

2. Discuss the barriers that incarcerated people face accessing programming in

prison.

Incarcerated people face several obstacles to prison programming. Overcrowding and

resource constraints limit program availability. Second, security considerations sometimes

require rigid scheduling, restricting participant freedom. Additionally, a lack of skilled teachers

and resources might limit program quality and diversity. Parole and sentence duration may also

restrict inmates' long-term program access. Finally, programme selection bias might affect fair

access. These impediments prevent jailed people from fully benefitting from rehabilitation and

reintegration programs.

Section 4 : Prison Comix, Prisoners of a Hard Life: Women & Their Children

1. How did being convicted of drug crimes impact women’s access to resources?

In numerous ways, drug convictions have disproportionately damaged women's

resources. Incarceration separates people from their family and disrupts their support networks.

They may lose custody of their children, restricting their capacity to give stability. Drug

convictions may also make it hard for women to get work and housing and access education and

healthcare. Drug offense stigma worsens these issues, continuing a cycle of disadvantage for

women in the criminal justice system.

 2. Discuss some of the changes suggested for families, drug policy, and women back

home.

Several adjustments have been proposed to address how drug convictions affect families,

drug policy, and women at home. Rehabilitation programs are proposed as criminal justice

system improvements to help afflicted families. Drug rules now prioritize treatment over

punishment, which may ease the burden on women. Reentry programs and policies that help

women obtain secure housing and work after release are also supported. These reforms seek to

help women and their families recover from drug convictions and reintegrate into society.

3. How can the money spent on jails and prisons be better redirected?

The money spent on jails and prisons should be better spent on crime prevention and

community well-being. To prevent people from resorting to crime owing to a lack of

possibilities, invest in education and job training. Many inmates struggle with mental health and

addiction, therefore funds may be given to these treatments. Community-based conflict

resolution, restorative justice, and social assistance programs may decrease recidivism. This

resource reallocation may make communities safer and more inclusive while lowering

imprisonment as the main answer to social issues.

.
 References

Law, V. (2021). “Prisons make us safer” : and 20 other myths about mass incarceration. Beacon

Press.