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Breaking The Cycle

Jacob Myers Shadow Ridge High School AP English Language and Composition Mrs. Mason March 8, 2024

Breaking The Cycle Kevin Hott was 18 years old when he was arrested for selling crack cocaine to an undercover officer. He had no prior criminal record, but under the mandatory minimum sentencing laws, he was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. He spent a decade behind bars, where he received no education, training, or counseling. He was released at the age of 28 with no skills, no support, and no prospects. He struggled to find a job, a place to live, and a way to reintegrate into society. He felt hopeless, angry, and isolated. Within a year, he was arrested again for a drug-related offense. He was sent back to prison, where he joined a gang for protection and survival. He became a hardened criminal with no hope of ever escaping the cycle of incarceration. Kevin's story is not unique. It is one of the many tragic consequences of the war on drugs, which has resulted in mass incarceration, racial disparities, and human rights violations in the United States. The war on drugs, launched in the 1970s, has been a costly and ineffective policy that has failed to reduce drug use, addiction, and crime. Instead, it has created a punitive and oppressive system that targets low-income and minority communities and imposes harsh and disproportionate penalties for nonviolent drug offenses. According to the documentary "The House I Live In" (2012), the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, with more than 2.3 million people behind bars, more than half of them for drug-related crimes. The United States Justice system is ultimately responsible for punishing and providing a rehabilitation process for criminals. In a perfect world, this system would make certain that people not only serve sentences proportionate to the circumstances, but that they receive the resources necessary to successfully reintegrate into society. However, the reality is quite the opposite. Measures like mandatory minimum sentencing often lead to disproportionately harsh punishments for their offenses, ignoring the individual circumstances. With the lack of job opportunities these criminals are left with no other options leaving many former inmates to re-offend. One of the main causes of recidivism is the lack of rehabilitation and reentry programs for prisoners and ex-prisoners. Both rehabilitation and reentry are essential for reducing recidivism and promoting public safety. However, the current justice system does not prioritize or invest in these programs and instead focuses on punishment and deterrence. As a result, many prisoners and ex-prisoners are left without the skills, tools, and guidance they need to overcome the challenges and barriers they face after incarceration. These systemic issues contribute to high rates of recidivism and hinder the successful reintegration of ex-convicts into their communities allowing for this cycle of repeated jailing to continue. The most significant issues facing the legal system stem from recidivism, lack of available resources for the incarcerated, and mandatory minimum sentencing. The high rates of recidivism show that the system is unsuccessful in its attempts to rehabilitate criminals and assist them with integrating back into society. The system doesn't address the underlying causes of criminal behavior, nor does it provide sufficient support for their reintegration. After an inmate is released from the correctional system, they are faced with the difficult task to overcome the incredibly lacking pool of resources and support which only further alienates them. This makes it nearly impossible for many of them to find their footing in a world that appears to have moved on without them. But arguably the greatest threat to the justice system is mandatory minimums. These requirements eliminate the judge's ability to pass a fair sentence deemed by the individual's circumstances. This frequently results in sentences that are excessively harsh and serve more to punish than to rehabilitate.

Breaking The Cycle: Annotated Bibliography Bunker, E. (1974). Nation, 218(7), 205-207. Edward Bunker, a convict-writer serving time at McNeil Island Penitentiary, faces censorship and lack of support from the Bureau of Prisons. Despite past criminality, Bunker views writing as a chance for redemption, but encounters obstacles such as content restrictions and limited communication. He advocates for reform to enable inmates to contribute positively to society through writing. Crelin, J. (2023). Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentences for Drug Offenders: Overview. Points of View: Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentences for Drug Offenders, 1-6 Mandatory minimum sentences for drug crimes fluctuated throughout the 20th century. Initially rare, they became more common with the Boggs Act in 1951 targeting marijuana. The 1980s saw a resurgence, especially with the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. Over time, concerns about fairness and effectiveness led to reforms like the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 and the First Step Act of 2018. Despite ongoing debates, mandatory minimums for drug offenses remain a contentious issue. Jarecki, E. (2012). The House I Live In. Abramorama. For over 40 years, the War on Drugs has accounted for more than 45 million arrests, made America the world's largest jailer, and damaged poor communities. Yet for all that, drugs are cheaper, purer, and more available today than ever before. Filmed in more than 20 states, it captures heart-wrenching stories from individuals at all levels, the dealer to grieving mother, the narcotics officer to the senator, the inmate to the federal judge, revealing profound human rights implications. Jarecki demonstrates how the War on Drugs has been more detrimental to communities, and what once started with race discrimination in mind, has spread to all communities.