Prison Overcrowding - Essay Example

It is not just the problem of a country. Rather, it is an international phenomenon. In this context, the present essay is an attempt to report the mounting problem of overcrowding in prisons in general. The essay takes an argumentative approach wherein an attempt is made to suggest solutions to the problem of overcrowding. The essay also throws lights on the causes of overcrowding such as increased crime rates. The inmates of a prison might be either pre-trail detainees or convicted/sentenced offenders.

Irrespective of the type of offence and length of punishment, inmates are accommodated almost alike. Consequently, when the problem of overcrowding arises, it is likely to affect all the inmates more or less in the same manner. Overcrowding will result in serious repercussions which adversely affect the smooth running of the correction centres and the very purpose of judiciary. According to an earlier research in the area, three effects have been identified owing to overcrowding (John Howard Society of Alberta 2002).

The first and foremost problem is that there is less of everything to go around; which eventually contributes to same spaces and resources will have to be shared among the inmates; that reduces the opportunities for prisoners to correct themselves by reducing the chances of self-improvement and rehabilitative programs, such as and vocational and academic training, employment etc. Moreover, this will lead to the deprivation of inmates from work or work opportunities, as a result of which they will exhibit discontent and disruptive behaviour (Cox et al. 1984). Overcrowding can also creates behavioral problems such as stress, fear, noise, and even some violent outburst (Johnston 1991).

Stress may lead to aggression or depression. These psychological problems may have impact upon the social relationship and interaction among the inmates (Smith 1982). The third implication is that the inmates may be classified on the basis of the spaces they have been allotted rather than measure like security reasons and the like. It has been observed that any attempt to adjust with the limited space and the resulting overcrowding can only bring misclassification of prisoners (Cox et al. 1984).

"The effects of misclassifying offenders due to overcrowding extend beyond the immediate consideration of there being too little space and too few resources. It also leads to slow progress through the corrections system and consequently to slow exit, which in turn perpetuates or increases the overcrowding problem" (John Howard Society of Alberta 2002).In a nut shell, over population in prison provides no way for offenders to be rehabilitated, the correction of criminal behavior, to avail human dignity.

It may also cause outbreak of certain epidemic diseases such as AIDS. Causes of OvercrowdingThe root cause for over population in prison is the increased crime rates and punishment rates. Moreover, the length of punishment and reduced parole has compounded the rate of prison population. Overcrowding may cause many threats to the inhabitants; which result in further offences happen inside the correction centres. However, there has been slight decrease in the crime rates in country like United Kingdom.

The problem of overcrowding can be attributed to the reasons listed below (Factors Impacting Prison Overcrowding 2000):There has been an increase due to the "war on drugs", high recidivism