The U.S. Prison System: Pseudoscience in an Empirical World.

This paper reflects on and acknowledges current issues within the U.S. prison system and discusses the feasibility of solutions that can be implemented to reduce the rate at which individuals reoffend, often referred to as the recidivism rate. While other countries are working to increase normalcy in prisons and decrease sentence lengths, the U.S. builds maximum security facilities and sentences individuals to an extraordinary amount of time. Although the U.S.' approach is outdated, many people have been working to improve the system and reduce the recidivism rate. The U.S. will be compared to other countries to show key differences that correlate to the U.S.' increased incarcerated population and recidivism. Multiple implementation ideas, such as post-secondary education, will be offered to show ways that the U.S. can reduce the recidivism rate and the number of individuals behind prison walls. In no way should this paper be taken as slander towards current policy makers, police officers, or correctional officers. The purpose of this paper is to look at some major issues and discuss solutions in the big picture. It is not being used to point out flaws of individuals. At the end of this paper, ideas of implementation will be discussed to show how change in the U.S. is possible. Change does not have to be big or take place inside of prison walls to be effective. Implementation of a new approach is necessary in the U.S. to reduce recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]