atorshave over inmates. Prisons have become much more violent because the control of theprisons has changed from the staff to inmate gangs. Riots have broken out in someprisons including New York and New Mexico. It also seems that many methods to rehabilitation have failed. The idea thatprisoners are seen as “sick people” that need to be treated has not been proved. Treatment does not “cure” these people. The idea of reintegration have not been highlysuccessful either. Rehabilitation centers thought that allowing criminals to participate inwork release would help them reintegrate themselves back into the community. Butcrimes committed by those criminals that were on work release made this theory veryunpopular. One method has been the main stay though. The Bifurcated CorrectionalPolicy has those criminals that are dangerous and violent put in prisons for long periods oftime. Supporters believe that prison are places for control, incarceration, andincapacitation. On the other hand, those that are not violent are kept out of thecorrectional system as long as possible. They go through community based programsinstead of incarceration. Now what is the difference between jails and prisons. Jails are used for holding acriminal before their trial and/or sentencing. Jails hold those that violate their parole orprobation requirements. Not only that they hold prisoners that come form overcrowdedprisons. About half of a jail’s population is people awaiting their trials. Some are waitingto be transferred to a prison. About 20 million criminals go through jail in a one yearperiod. Most jail inmates are young, single males. They tend to be undereducated andearn low income. Fifty-seven percent of jail inmates are minorities. Many come fromsingle parent households and are drug or alcohol users. A majority of them are alsoarrested for property crimes. The condition of US jails are generally very poor....
