pumpkineater

hypothesis:
prisons do not rehabilitate lawbreakers.

procedures:
unfair, immoral, unlawful, unhumane, blind, overreaching lockup of urban city dwellers.

materrials:
handcuffs, policemen, ignorance, inedible DOC food

data:
from the Bureau of Justice Statistics:

the US prison population: 2.1 million - thats 1 in every 138 americans.

thats also 900 new inmates every week.

thats also 48,000 more a year than in 2003, a 2.3% increase.

the number of females increased 2.9% from 2004....working out to 103 inmates per 100,000 women.

men were 11x more likely to be incarcerated.

the # prisoners intake > the # prisoners released

analysis/results:
prison population on the increase indicating numerous factors, the most important that prisons are attracting far too many repeat offenders.

conclusion:
hypothesis proven true. so why the increases? some point to the "three strikes" policy and "truth in sentencing" (law prohibiting early release).
others point to giuliani-esque tactics (broken windows). clearly the system doesnt work. consult foucault's views on crime, punishment, and fear. rehabilitation does not take place in d-block. more should be looked into on non-violent offenders and interesting gender factors.