Policies Behind Bars: Prison Conditions in the U.S.

This brief delves into the pressing challenges and conditions faced by incarcerated individuals in U.S. prisons and jails. Highlighting concerns from inadequate nutrition and healthcare to issues of overcrowding and violence, it underscores the urgent need for policy reforms, including measures like the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act and the PREP Act.

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June 5, 2023

Inquiry-driven, this project may reflect personal views, aiming to enrich problem-related discourse.

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This brief delves into the pressing challenges and conditions faced by incarcerated individuals in U.S. prisons and jails. Highlighting concerns from inadequate nutrition and healthcare to issues of overcrowding and violence, it underscores the urgent need for policy reforms, including measures like the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act and the PREP Act.

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Booker, C., & Blumenthal , R. (2019, May). S.1557 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Reverse Mass Incarceration Act of 2019. U.S. Congress.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/1557/text/is
Carns, J., & Weaver, S. (2023, February). Two Cups of Broth and Rotting Sandwiches: The Reality of Mealtime in Prisons and Jails: ACLU. American Civil Liberties Union.
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general%20population.
Dean, M., Mfume, K., & Jones, M. (2021, October). H.R.5676 - 117th Congress (2021-2022): PREP Act. U.S. Congress.
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Equal Justice Initiative. (2021, March ). Prison Conditions. EJI. https://eji.org/issues/prison-conditions/#Escalating_Violence
Gibson, T. (n.d.). Reasons for Increased Violence in Jails/Prisons. Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
https://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FCJEI/Programs/SLP/Documents/Full-Text/Gibson,-Trenten-paper.aspx
Horvath, G. J. (1982). Issues in Correctional Education: A Conundrum of Conflict. Journal of Correctional Education, 33(3), 8–15. http://www.jstor.org/stable/41970667
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https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2019/06/18/air-conditioning/
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Center for Justice. https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/policy-solutions/federal-agenda-criminal-justice-reform
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Widra, E. (2020, December). No escape: The trauma of witnessing violence in prison. Prison Policy Initiative.
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2020/12/02/witnessing-prison-violence/
Widra, E. (2020, December). Since you asked: Just how overcrowded were prisons before the pandemic, and at this time of social distancing, how overcrowded are they now?. Prison
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Caroline Healy

2023 Cohort B Fellow

Hi! my name is Caroline and I'm a student at the University of Florida majoring in Political Science with a minor in English! I am especially passionate about mass incarceration in the U.S., but am also interested in education opportunities, political parties, and Russian politics.

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