A Lack of Foreign Influence in the Criminal Justice System

BY EMILY SUSE

Statistically, the U.S. incarcerates more people than any other country in the world. The American Psychological Association reports that “[w]hile the United States has only 5 percent of the world's population, it has nearly 25 percent of its prisoners — about 2.2 million people”. Prisoners are often given excessively long sentences due to mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Unfortunately, these practices don’t make our society any safer. Instead, law-abiding citizens are burdened with the economic implications of high levels of incarceration, which has contributed to our mounting national debt. Reforms are necessary because the U.S. spends approximately $1.2 trillion per year on incarceration costs. The Brennan Center for Justice found that reforms that save our country $20 billion a year could hire 270,000 police officers, 327,000 teachers, or even 360,000 probation officers.

In our increasingly interdependent society, countries regularly help each other and exchange new ideas. Unfortunately, the U.S. has yet to absorb foreign influence in the criminal justice system. Across the globe, various countries have implemented policies that have drastically revitalized their justice systems. CityLab discusses the idea that German prisons have a “goal oriented” mindset. The purpose of incarceration is rehabilitation, not punishment. Former inmates are welcomed back into society because people want them to succeed.

According to digital news and lifestyle magazine, TakePart, some inmates in Slovenia are even allowed to work outside of the prison during the week and report back for the weekend. The Slovenian government ensures that each prison facility has an open, a semi-open, and a closed unit for prisoners, depending on the circumstances surrounding the crime. This policy creates a more individualized approach to incarceration than is seen in the United States. Many inmates continue to maintain their personal and working relationships in order to ease their transition out of prison. This integration into society allows inmates to get the correction they need, without the repercussions of an isolated lifestyle.

The United States would be wise to observe international practices, and adopt them domestically. The issue of mass incarceration and overcrowding has created a toxic environment in the U.S. that is not found anywhere else in the world. Not only could reform decrease the economic pressure on taxpayers to financially support prisons and prisoners, it could potentially give hope to hundreds of thousands of Americans in prison.

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