Seven Keys to US Prisons

National Religious Campaign Against Torture

November 2009

Corey Weinstein, MD, CCHP

US Loves Prisons 5% of population, 25% of prisoners Rate 726/100,000 (AF-AM 4,630/) EU = prisons used as last resort UK 125, Italy 40 Africa = prisons from old colonial

days East Europe = from occupation days

Punishment doesn’t deter crime Less than 50% even reported – car

theft 90% because of insurance 1-2.5% result in conviction in

property crimes 15-40% for violent In prison for “pleading guilty”

Crime Rate Determinants Number of men between ages of

14-26 Unemployment rate Length of sentences Ghetto despair Criminal subculture

Mass Incarceration Works Just Fine Removal of the urban poor IDs problem as individual failure of

morals, rather than poverty and isolation

Incapacitates the waste population through prison and long sentences

Supermax Does What it is Supposed to Do Prisons create there own trouble

with overcrowding and idleness Underground economy, violence

and gangs are required No data that Supermax decreases

violence among prisoners, some data that it decreases assaults on staff

Prison Industrial Complex $40 billion per year industry Employer of millions: guards,

doctors, nurses, teachers, counselors Suppliers, builders, maintenance and

repair, architects, etc. Lobbyists, guards unions, real-estate

sellers, etc.

What to Do? Decrease length of sentences Fight racism Vitalize poor communities Prisoner created and led programs Better support on release