Neo-Prison+Reformaldahyde

= toc = **Modern Prison Reform** Prisons are being reformed due to its horrible conditions like torture, injustice and overcrowding. = __Driving Questions__ =

** 1) What historical forces led to the rise of the movement? 2) What methods/tactics were used to lead the movement? 3) What major figures involved in the movement? 4) Was/Is the movement successful in achieving its goals? **



__Introduction/Historical Info:__ Prisons have been implemented to execute punishment on criminals in America for 200 years. Prison reform in the 1800's developed most of the prison system that we see in America today. Instead of the whippings, floggings, and executions that were given to criminals before, a sophisticated prison system arose. However, this system was not perfect. More recently, a series of riots and other issues that arose pushed towards a second reform in our most crucial protection of American's rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.


 * __What historical forces led to the rise of the movement?__ **



Since California's prison is overcrowded, it is is not healthy. It is unsafe to the prisoners and the workers in the prisons. There is a greater chance of spreading diseases and increase violence. There was an incident in which a prisoner was dead but the staff did not learn about it for hours. They could not even provide emergency car. This happened due to the crowded prison. Also, the healthcare facilities in California prisons were poor. This violated the 8th amendment of cruel and unusual punishment in the constitution. Coleman vs. Wilson is a courtcase held in federal court in 1995 about many prisoners who suffered mental illness and was left untreated. Plata vs. Davis in 2000 revealed that California neglected the medical care of prisoners on purpose. To ensure a prisoner's safety, the Congress passed the Prison Litigation Reform Act (PLRA), which enabled them to file lawsuits as long as they fulfill the requirements to file it.

__Reasons for Reform:__

 * __Overcrowding__: All state and federal prisons deal with this issue. All are beyond their capacity and are beyond their ability to maintain suitable conditions. No matter how many new prisons may be built, there is always overcrowding, because inmates are let in easily, and rarely let out ahead of their time. Overcrowding causes problems like the inability of prisons to maintain a humane environment for the inmates as well as a cut on rehabilitation programs. Overcrowding also causes increased acts of aggression, violence, gangs, rape, and even the misclassification of certain inmates.
 * __Inhumane Conditions__: In addition to severe overcrowding, prisons cut corners in suppling their inmates with proper everyday necessities. Many prisons are inadequate in terms of air conditioning, heating, hot and cold water, proper plumbing, blankets, clean sheets, and sanitary conditions. Maximum security prisons employ isolation in tiny cells, which have and may lead to mental and sanity degradation (Solitary Confinement). Many prisoners were tortured or treated unfairly. They have poor healthcare.
 * __Cost:__ The massive population and low release rate as opposed to the incarceration rate created a heavy demand for taxpayer's dollars in order to fund new prisons in futility or try and care for a rapidly expanding prison population. The cost of maintaining a prison is highly expensive. Ex: To imprison 2.2 million people, Americans spend $60 billion a year.



The cell in a solitary confinement is very small. It is isolated and can get eerily quite. Prisoners could go months without talking to someone and lose track of time. There are no visitors. It could damage a person psychologically. Anyone could become insane from it. It is like a torture chambers This is one of the leading causes for prison reform movements.

**What method or tactics were used to lead the movement?**

__Attica Prison Riot:__
On September 13, 1971, the Attica prison in Attica, New York suffered a pivotal and eye-opening riot which acted as a powerful catalyst to a newfound prison reform movement. Due to faulty equipment and the anger induced by the punishment of prisoners for an earlier fight, inmates were able to break free and take control of the facility. The inmates were able to take 40 staff members hostage. The prisoners demanded for a new prisoner's superintendent, government control of the prison, better living conditions, and amnesty from any punishment that might have resulted from their revolt. The prisoner's requests were Negotiators refused, and a standoff between officials and the prisoners lasted before four days before permission for forceful repossession ensued. In the ensuing struggle, officials unloaded tear gas and showered bullets into the compound, killing 29 inmates, 10 hostages, and injuring many more. The conditions in the Attica prison that led to this riot were documented and known by officials to be awful. The facility was outdated at the time, already 50 years old, and overcrowded. Inmates wanted to change food quality, sanitation conditions, cooling, bedding, and better "slave's wages" to be paid for the work they did in prison. This event, full of bloodshed contributed greatly to the awareness of the need which prisons needed this second reform. The Attica prison riot was a megaphone for the voices of inmates who wanted change in America.

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On February 2nd 1980, the New Mexico State Penitentiary Riot broke out in a massive display of violence and carnage. 33 inmates died at the hands of other prisoners in the riot, and more than 200 more had to receive medical attention for injuries. 12 hostages were taken in the event, and some had to be treated for injuries as well. The riot was fueled again by severely compromised living conditions for the inmates. Over 1100 inmates were packed into the facility designed for only 900 prisoners. Prisoners were neither adequately separated nor provided with adequate sanitary facilities, food, and personal hygienics. Recreational and educational programs were shut down in 1975, which led to extended periods of isolation for the inmates, and a restless prison population which harbored feelings of discontent and deprivation. Prison officers also employed a cruel social mentality game which led to factions among the inmates by bringing them to "snitch" on one another and lose trust of both officers and other inmates. media type="youtube" key="yHXJzRfrXCM" height="385" width="480"

__Court Cases:__

 * __Armstrong v. Davis, Armstrong v. Wilson__: These two cases aided the reform movement toward better treatment of the disabled and mentally ill prison population, who at the time were ridiculously mistreated in defiance to Americans with Disabilities Act.
 * __Clark v. California__: This case also aided the reform movement toward better treatment of the disabled and mentally ill by providing the developmentally disabled with safe housing and supportive services.
 * __Madrid v. Gomez__: This case helped to eliminate excess force, improving healthcare, and separating the mentally ill in maximum security prisons.
 * __Plata v. Davis/Schwarzenegger__: This major court case in California argued that by being indifferent to inmate's medical needs, they were executing cruel and unusual judgement. This case improved medical and health conditions in California prisons

What major figures were involved in your reform movement?
David Ruiz- He filed a lawsuit in 1972 aginst the prison system of Texas. He was even offered freedom by the system if he dropped th lawsuit. In 1978, 110 prisoners came and testified with him about the crowded prisons, no healthcare facilities, no legal access, and the cruelty of the guards. The judge ruled in favor of Ruiz and the prisoners in 1980, when the trial ended in 1979. Texas was ordered to change the conditions of prisons.

James A. Johnston- He was the Warden of San Quentin Prison in 1913. He was well known for the programs he set up for prison reform in Folsom prison. In San Quentine Prison, prisoners who put effort in their work and do a good job at it were awarded with sentence reductions. He also set up many educational programs, which were successful to many inmates in prison. He was nicknamed the "Golden Rule Warden" in the San Quentine prison.

Thomas Mott Osborne- He becomes a prison reformer in 1913 after he becomes a prisoner for a week to determine their conditions. He wrote Within Prisons Walls (his diary), talking about his experiences in prison. After his publication, he attempted to prepare them for returning to society and self- government, along with another prisoner, Jack Murphy. Under his reform, inmates got more freedom than being locked up in their cells. He founded the Welfare League Association in 1915, for the prisoners who were let go. He provided them with food, money and clothing.

=** Was the Prison Reform of the 20th century successful? **= ** This reform movement could be seen as both successful and unsuccessful. It could be seen as successful in that changes have been made to improve the conditions of living for the prison population in America and that awareness has been raised. However, it could also be seen as unsuccessful in that not enough has yet been changed. This reform movement is still happening, and is hard to tell how far it will go. **

=__Works Cited :__=

"Alcatraz - James A. Johnston Gallery." //Alsirat.com//. Web. 03 June 2010. .

"Everything Revolves Around Overcrowding: The State of California's Prisons." //Donald Specter//. Web. 03 June 2010. < [] .>.

"High Cost of Prisons Not Paying Off, Report Finds." //Common Dreams | News & Views//. Web. 03 June 2010. . "Know Your Rights: The Prison Litigation Reform Act, American Civil Liberties Union | The Center for HIV Law and Policy." //Home | The Center for HIV Law and Policy//. Web. 03 June 2010. . "NYCHS Excerpts from Thomas Mott Osborne's Within Prison Walls -- Introduction." //NY Correction History Society//. Web. 03 June 2010. . "Prison Reforms in American History." //Google//. Web. 03 June 2010. . Rubac, Gloria. "Historic Prison Activist David Ruiz Dies." //Workers World//. Web. 03 June 2010. . = = = =