Us Prison Conditions 4-5 Pgs

Us Prison Conditions 4-5 Pgs

Prison conditions in the United States are horrid. Prisoners suffer above and beyond their sentence by living in such conditions. This being said, many Americans are left wondering, would better or worst prison conditions help the United States? The answer to this question is a much debated one between the American people. Depending upon the facts, and the opinions of the American citizens, is what is causing this debate this is the debate of our time, our prison conditions. This can affect people in many ways. Whither they are in prison, have a friend or relative in a prison, or just plain care for the welfare and the good of our people.

The thought of a prison, and/or the penal system, was first developed as a way to punish criminals who could get away with just about anything. Also, it was developed as a way to keep things in order without the risk of chaos breaking out among the people. The first penal code ever developed was Hammurabi's code (1795 B.C.). Basically this code was designed around the idea, "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth". This meaning whatever crime you were to commit (no matter how stupid or severe) on another, that crime would be done to you (www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/CODE.HTM).

Prisons were originally founded as a way to detain, punish and/or keep committers of dangerous crimes away form the innocent people. In the United States, the foundation of our penal system had begun to be built in the 1700's when civilized people began to move to the "New World". As its start, this system was way worse than it is today. Things such as public whipping were common. Prisons were way over crowded, unsanitary, and many prisoners were worked to death (www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/wha/830.htm). As people began to speak out about these conditions, things somewhat began to improve. By the 1900's, overcrowding was still a problem, as well the unsanitary living conditions. Though these issues had been overlooked,...

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