Understanding the Evolution and Challenges of the American Correctional System

The video discusses the evolution of incarceration in the U.S., highlighting the shift from rehabilitation to incapacitation over the past 40 years. It critiques the current system's inefficacy and high costs, linking it to historical racial control practices. The need for comprehensive reform, including better defense, fairer trials, and a shift in addiction treatment, is emphasized. The video calls for leadership to address these issues on par with major national reforms.

What was the original stated purpose of incarceration in the northeastern Penitentiary?

• To punish offenders

• To deter crime

• To rehabilitate offenders

• To incapacitate offenders

What has been the focus of the correctional system over the last 40 years?

• Education

• Community service

• Incapacitation

• Rehabilitation

What has the collapse of the rehabilitative model in corrections highlighted?

• A focus on community service

• An alternative tradition of punishment

• A focus on rehabilitation

• A new model of deterrence

What historical elements does the alternative tradition of punishment trace back to?

• The Civil Rights Movement

• Slavery and segregation

• The Industrial Revolution

• The Enlightenment

What is a major criticism of the current correctional system?

• It is expensive and ineffective

• It is driven by effective public policy

• It focuses too much on rehabilitation

• It is too lenient

What has driven the legislation of the correctional system in recent decades?

• Community feedback

• Fear and partisanship

• Scientific research

• International standards

What is one of the proposed reforms for the criminal justice system?

• Eliminate parole

• Focus on punitive measures

• Increase incarceration rates

• Create a national Criminal Justice Commission

What is a key area that needs reform in the criminal justice system?

• More prisons

• Better indigent defense

• Stricter parole conditions

• Increased sentencing

What is emphasized as necessary for addressing systemic issues in the criminal justice system?

• Focus on minor reforms

• Increased funding for prisons

• Leadership and comprehensive reform

• More punitive laws

What does the current state of the criminal justice system undermine?

• Cultural diversity

• Economic growth

• Democratic leadership

• Technological advancement