What would be your opinion about these commenta?

1. The problem with prison gangs and violence is that there is no control inside those prisons. Corrections and jail wardens have a hard time controlling the violence mostly because they out numbered. New inmates that comes in are mostly forced to join a gang for protection purposes because they are vulnerable and scared. It makes non-violent offenders become violent and it makes violent offenders even more dangerous.

It's expected but that's not what happens usually. There are educational opportunities available like libraries to study law and colleges where you can get degrees and certificates. There are also counseling and therapy services available to help those with mental health or anger issues. But even when you participate in these programs you still have to deal with the everyday violence that occurs, you still have to protect yourself even if you are involved in gangs or not. Very few people wind up not going back to prison because the conditions were so bad and traumatizing that they never want to experience going to jail again. Some people spent so many years in violent prisons that they become messed up mentally, so when they return home they commit violent crimes again because that's all they know and what they are used to. This is why the recidivism rate is so high.

The advantages outweigh because it's best to keep criminals separated. If they are out in the streets they will just commit more crimes and hurt innocent people. A program isn't going to teach a violent criminal a lesson and sentencing them to something like that will feel like they got away with the crime. Although sitting in jail cell can cause one to develop mental issues in the future I feel there's no other punishment option for a criminal who committed serious or violent crimes. Jails are mostly violent because they are overcrowded. If there were enough room to have their own cells and separate inmates into their own sections there will be less chances of violent encounters while they are serving time.

2. The problem with prison gangs is that is it rampant. Prisons are designed to hold some unpleasant individuals, prison is not a safe place despite the present of correction officers and that's where prison gangs come in to provide protection (p. 154). People associating themselves with gangs while incarcerated ultimately are released back to society at some point and sent back to prison which is a cause for concern in the court system (p. 154 & 158). By being a recidivist, the overworked court system once again must handle the case of the same individual taking away time and resources for antoher. Inmates who are neutral or unnaffiliated are open to acts of violence such as sexual assaults, extortion, physical violence etc (p. 154). Pressures mounts to join a gang just to survive in an unpleasant environment is reported that over 90% of inmates are introduced and affiliate themselves with a gang (p. 154).

We are absolutely in danger of a system with good intentions to fail if the number of inmates are recruited into gangs and continue their criminal activities in society, The Blood in, blood out oath means loyalty inside and outside the walls of a correctional institution (p. 158). Inmates who are recruited in gangs are introduced new skills, most likely illegal, to commit crimes will be arrested again. If the population in prison and jails continue to increase, the more gang members society will have.

I wouldn't say the advantages of keeping criminals locked up outweighs the disadvantages of the prison experience. Both sides has its issues. Although I think it's safe to say violent criminals should stay incarcerated for the benefit of society. The textbook however discusses particulary the negative effects of being arrested, lack of employment opportunities, recidivism, hopelessness are just a few to name (p. 158). Perhaps it is better to keep inmates incarcerated so they don;t commit anymore crimes since they will end up returning with a rate of 67.5% within a short period of three years (p. 157).