Final answer:
Society attempts to address prison overcrowding through policy reforms, such as reducing mandatory minimum sentences, rehabilitation programs, and early parole; however, factors like racism, poverty, and the prison industry's influence complicate the issue. Despite efforts, the U.S. maintains a high incarceration rate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Society addresses the issue of overcrowding in our prison system through various methods, but the problem persists due to systemic issues like racism and poverty. Federal statistics indicate a significant rise in the prison population from 1970 to 2010, increasing from 200,000 to 2.2 million inmates.
This growth reflects not just improved law enforcement but also the degree of surveillance on certain demographics and a tendency to use incarceration as a blanket solution for complex social issues.
Furthermore, the lobbying power of the prison industry, akin to the military-industrial complex, significantly influences the perpetuation of high incarceration rates.
The U.S. criminal justice system has historically been burdened by racial discrimination, impacting how criminal activity is addressed. The 'get tough on crime' approach and policies like mandatory minimums and 'three strikes' laws have further contributed to prison overcrowding, resulting in an aging inmate population as many older individuals remain incarcerated due to long-term sentences given decades ago.
In response, alternative options have been explored, such as reducing mandatory minimum sentences, developing rehabilitation programs, and considering the use of private prisons and early parole to mitigate overcrowding.
However, the effectiveness of these strategies is still debated, and they often intersect with the cultural politics of the U.S., such as the 'war on drugs', which ironically heightened incarceration rates.
Efforts to decriminalize certain offenses and implement smarter justice reforms have led to a gradual decrease in the correctional population in recent years, yet the U.S. still has the largest number of prisoners globally.