Mass Incarceration in the United States

 

The United States has one of the biggest mass incarceration problems in the world. This is because a considerable part of its population, about 2.4 million are in federal, state, or local incarceration facilities (Wagner and Sakala). A consequence has been that the large population of incarcerated individuals has led to a situation where it has become the backbone of the prison industrial complex. Over the last three decades, there has been a quadrupling of the prison population of the country, and this is mainly because of the get tough on crime policy that has essentially gotten even individuals with petty crimes imprisoned. The draconian war on drugs has also contributed significantly to mass incarceration, and this has been disproportionately focused on minority and poor populations in the country. Mass incarceration has become a hallmark of the United States justice system and it has come about because of such instances as the war on drugs, and the central role of states. Furthermore, it has had a social and cultural impact on minority communities, while at the same time increasing state budgets considerably.

The war on drugs has had a significant impact in the United States because it has led to an increase in its prison population. This is especially considering that one in every a hundred American is in a prison facility (Chapman, Carey and Ben-Moshe). The prison population in this country is quite considerable and it has far exceeded those countries that have an actual drug war with cartels. The prison population of Mexico, for example, is three times less than that of the United States; a sign that the latter may have gone overboard when it comes to the enforcement of justice in society. The United States accounts for about a quarter of the world’s prison population and this is a significant status because it shows that despite the level of crimes having gone down over the years, the prison population is still on the rise. It also shows that the United States has failed to bring about reforms in its justice system to ensure that individuals who have committed petty crimes are given lighter sentences such as community service rather than being incarcerated.

American states have also played a central role in the development of mass incarceration in the country. States have for the most part been resistant to federal interference in their justice systems and this has been to such an extent that they have for the most part kept federal authorities from investigating the conditions in their prisons. A result is that states account for the majority of individuals who have been incarcerated in the country and this shows the considerable role that they have played in ensuring that individuals are incarcerated for longer periods (Campbell, Vogel and Williams 181). The establishment of policies such as mandatory minimum sentences as well as putting more people in prison for longer periods has led to a situation where the prison population has become higher than anticipated. It has also allowed for the creation of a situation where it has become difficult for proper reforms to be undertaken so that the disproportionate incarceration rate can be reduced. States have essentially failed to undertake the reforms necessary to ensure that rather than putting people away, they should be provided an opportunity for rehabilitation so that the social and economic impacts can be significantly reduced.

The cultural impact of mass incarceration on minority communities in the United States cannot be underestimated. This is because a disproportionate number of members of these communities have been incarcerated; resulting in a situation where a considerable number of these communities have been negatively affected. Some families have ended up growing up without one or both parents, and the lack of role models has led some individuals to end up dropping out of school and getting into a life of crime (Osler and Bennett 127). In addition, there have been situations where members of minority communities affected have been caught up in the cycle of endless poverty to such an extent that they do not know any other type of life. The latter situation often comes about because a majority of the most active members of the community have been incarcerated; leading these communities not to have individuals who can work and bring in stable incomes for their families. The failure by the justice system as well as the proponents of the war on drugs to consider these factors has led to an increase of the problem rather than its reduction, hence the high incarceration rate.

The increasing costs of mass incarceration have led to a situation where states are encountering tighter budgets. Governors and lawmakers have ended up in a situation where, despite their hard stance when it comes to crime, they have been forced towards promoting an increase in reforms within the criminal justice system (Mitchell and Leachman 8). This is an important step because it allows for more investment to be put in such programs as drug treatment and parole so that there can be a reduction of the number of individuals who are incarcerated for lesser crimes. Such individuals as nonviolent drug offenders should not be in prison because they only increase the burden on taxpayers. It is important that more reforms are undertaken in the criminal justice system so that it can be possible to end the problem of mass incarceration to be brought to an end. However, there is currently considerable resistance at the state level for these reforms to be undertaken and it will be a while before the idea is accepted as inevitable.

Mass incarceration is a problem in the United States that has to be tackled as soon as possible to avert a social and economic crisis. The prison industrial complex has grown considerably over the decades and it has led to special interests having a stake in it. The result is that these special interests are the ones that are resistant to much needed reforms. It is therefore important for all levels of government to consider alternative options when it comes to dealing with offenders that focus on rehabilitation rather than mass incarceration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Campbell, Michael C, Matt Vogel, and Joshua Williams. "Historical Contingencies and the Evolving Importance of Race, Violent Crime, and Region in Explaining Mass Incarceration in the United States." Criminology 53.2 (2015): 180-203. Print.

Chapman, Chris, Allison C Carey, and Liat Ben-Moshe. "Reconsidering Confinement: Interlocking Locations and Logics of Incarceration." Disability Incarcerated. Springer, 2014. 3-24. Web.

Mitchell, Michael, and Michael Leachman. "Changing Priorities: State Criminal Justice Reforms and Investments in Education." Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. October  (2014). Print.

Osler, Mark William, and Mark W Bennett. "A'holocaust in Slow Motion?'America's Mass Incarceration and the Role of Discretion."  (2014). Print.

Wagner, Peter, and Leah Sakala. "Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie." Northampton, MA: Prison Policy Initiative  (2014). Web.

 

Vladimir Putin's Leadership in Times of Crisis

Vladimir Putin is one of the most prominent leaders in the world and has been in power for the last 18 years. As the leader of the government of Russia since 2000, he has presided over several crises as well as successes that have affected his country. A consequence has been that he has been seen as an individual that works well under crisis and seems to always have a solution that makes it possible for him to achieve his objectives. This paper will make an analysis of the Georgian, Ukrainian, and Syrian crises, as well as the Russian economic crisis, in order to show the manner through which Putin has handled all of them to attain his objectives.

The Georgian crisis came about in 2008 as a result of the actions of Mikhail Saakashvili’s, the Georgian president at the time, decision to forcefully reintegrate the province of South Ossetia into Georgia. This incident took place despite the fact that there were Russian peacekeeping troops stationed in South Ossetia when the Georgian attack took place (Friedman, 2008). The action taken by President Saakashvili seems to have been aimed at ensuring that the territorial integrity of Georgia was secured so that it could more easily become a part of NATO. Becoming a part of NATO would have essentially meant that this military alliance got closer to Russian borders; a situation that Russia has been against almost since immediately following the fall of the Soviet Union. As a response, Putin, who was then prime minister of Russia, ordered the employment of Russian forces into Georgia, with the aim of preventing the reintegration of South Ossetia into Georgia. The operation was a success because not only did Russia push Georgian forces out of South Ossetia, but they did it decisively. Not only was Georgia prevented from joining NATO, but Russia provided its support for South Ossetia’s declaration of independence from Georgia (Tuathail, 2008).

Another incident that proved Putin’s leadership in times of crisis was the Ukrainian crisis and the following civil war that came about following the overthrow of the democratically elected President Viktor Yanukovych. This situation developed following Yanukovych’s decision to reject an EU Association Agreement in favor of joining the Russian-led Customs Union. A consequence was that Ukraine’s legitimate government was overthrown and while this situation came as a surprise, Putin responded swiftly, first by protecting Russian military interests in the Crimean Peninsula by annexing this territory, and later through arming rebels in Eastern Ukraine, many of whom are ethnically Russian (Treisman, 2016). These moves, while condemned as being acts of aggression by Russia as well as being an attempt to redraw the map of Europe, were actually quite brilliant because they ensured that there was the advancement of Russian interests especially in preventing Ukraine from immediately joining NATO (Kunz, 2014). Therefore, while Russia was essentially isolated following this incident and sanctions placed on it, Putin was able to make sure that the security of his country from an aggressive alliance was achieved.

While the considerable isolation that Russia faced as a result of its actions in Ukraine was significant, Putin countered it with his decision to support Russia’s ally, President Bashar Al Assad of Syria in the Syrian Civil War. The direct Russian intervention essentially ended the crisis that had arisen because of its isolation and it ensured that western countries that had sought to isolate Putin and Russia were suddenly forced to engage with him (Ibryamova and Kara, 2017). Therefore, while the sanctions remained in place, the Russian international isolation effectively ended and suddenly, it had become one of the big players in the Middle East. This situation can be considered to be highly significant because it shows that Putin is essentially able to undertake problems, and handle crises well under a lot of pressure. The Syrian intervention was a bold stroke that not only ended the isolation imposed by the west, but also ensured that Russia’s longtime ally was plucked away from imminent defeat (Kaplan, 2016). Furthermore, this act also made it possible for Russia to undertake to fight terrorist groups in Syria to such an extent that their capabilities were significantly eroded. Therefore, not only did Putin manage to increase Russia’s international stature, but he also showed that his country was determined to directly confront terrorism.

One of the most significant results of the Ukraine crisis is that tough sanctions were imposed on Russia by the West. These sanctions are responsible for the current Russian economic crisis because they came at a time when the country was just recovering from the 2008 Financial Crisis that affected many countries across the globe. Despite the considerable pressure that came about as a result, President Putin has been able to handle the situation in an exemplary manner because rather than undertaking a program aimed at shoring up the local currency by using the country’s foreign currency reserves, he has presided over letting the currency float (Dreger et al., 2016). A consequence has been that Russia has maintained its foreign currency reserves at more or less the same level it was pre-crisis. This is at the same as making sure that there is a level of stability brought about by a ban on European exports that has sparked domestic production of those goods and services that were imported prior to the sanctions (Tuzova and Qayum, 2016). The iron-fisted manner through which Putin has presided over the economy since the imposition of western sanctions can be considered the primary reason why the Russian economy, despite being badly hit, has maintained a level of stability and has not experienced an absolute collapse.

In conclusion, President Putin has been able to display considerable leadership in times of crisis, and this has ensured that he has maintained a level of popularity that his colleagues across the world can only envy. He has not only come up with the means to ensure that his country avoids political isolation, but he has also helped his allies, such as President Assad in Syria, and the leaders of South Ossetia and Abkhazia  turn the tables over their enemies; achieving a level of stability in their countries.

The Concept of Emotional Intelligence

 

One of the biggest attributes that individuals in the business and social world can have is emotional intelligence. This is the ability of individuals to ensure that they not only have control over their emotions, but are able to make sure that they make rational decisions. Emotional intelligence allows individuals to ensure that they are able to handle a diversity of situation without losing control of their emotions. It also enhances their capability of better understanding the viewpoints of others in such a way that allows them to make better decisions than in situations where they do not have any control over their emotions and act impulsively. Leaders need this form of intelligence to enhance their capabilities as well as their effectiveness and this is to such an extent that it allows them to achieve success in areas where they would otherwise have failed. In this paper, there is an analysis of the manner through which the presence of emotional intelligence allows individuals to achieve good interpersonal communication.

The presence of emotional intelligence is an extremely important attribute when it comes to matters concerning interpersonal communication. This is especially considering that it allows individuals to better understand each other in such a way that ensures that there is the advancement of the interests of both parties. In interpersonal communication, it is important for individuals to make decisions and hold discussions in as rational a manner as possible and this means that emotional intelligence has a powerful role to play in the process (Petrovici & Dobrescu, 2014). It is also an essential means of making sure that individuals get to view the positions of their counterparts from the latter’s perspective so that when they communicate with them, they do so in a way that is not only rational, but also effective. Emotional intelligence is also essential when it comes to the achievement of positive emotions and this is in such a way that prevents negative emotions from influencing the direction of the conversation. The achievement of good interpersonal communication can only come about through the presence of emotional intelligence and this is in such a way that makes it possible for individuals to come to terms with their own emotions and have the presence of mind to make rational remarks and decisions. Therefore, the presence of emotional intelligence ensures that interpersonal communication is not only enhanced, but also brings about better results than in a situation where there is a lack of emotional intelligence.

The absence of emotional intelligence in interpersonal communication is often marked by emotional chaos. This is because individuals do not take the time to empathize and understand the people with who they are communicating. A significance of such a situation is that they end up in a situation where there is a total lack of interpersonal understanding and decisions are often made based on what individuals are feeling at the time rather than being based on an understanding that can help them enhance their communication and come up with rational decisions (Choi, et al., 2015). In most instances, individuals do not have emotional intelligence because it has not been made an essential part of their lives. A consequence is that when it comes to interpersonal communication, individuals end up losing control over their emotions and come to irrational conclusions that do not weigh the opinions of those with whom they are communicating. This is especially the case considering that individuals have the potential of better developing their emotional intelligence from a young age in a school and home environment that encourages it. However, there is often a failure to advance these initiatives and this is to such an extent that in their communication, individuals tend to be governed by uncontrolled emotions rather than constructively being able to control them. Therefore, the absence of emotional intelligence has the potential of leading to a breakdown of interpersonal communication and this is to such an extent that it might end up ruining relationships.

The past century has seen a considerable increase in the level of intelligence of individuals when compared to previous centuries. This has come about mainly because of the rapid advancements in technology that have forced individuals to adapt to them more effectively. In addition, individuals, especially children, are increasingly encountering a more sophisticated target environment, which is forcing them towards becoming more intelligent. However, the increase in the levels of IQ does not seem to have had a positive effect on emotional intelligence. On the contrary, individuals are increasingly being seen to be getting lower on emotional intelligence and this is to such an extent that they are essentially being governed by emotional chaos (McCleskey, 2014). Therefore, emotional intelligence and IQ are not mutually exclusive because the former is still quite deficient in certain societies and individuals. This is exemplified by the manner through which individuals respond to others who are not of the same race, religion, or culture as themselves. The lack of emotional intelligence has made it difficult for individuals to empathize with one another and has instead made them come to make decisions based on uncontrolled emotions. The latter decisions tend to end up having very bad results because they bring out the worst in individuals while preventing the intelligent conclusion of crises that affect individuals from day to day, especially in an increasingly multi-ethnic setting in a world that has become globalized.

In conclusion, emotional intelligence is a pertinent feature when it comes to interpersonal communication as well as the daily interactions between different individuals. It allows them to come to terms with each other in such a way that helps them empathize and understand the reasons behind why they act as they do. Through this process, individuals have a means of making their decisions rationally, and with absolute control over their emotions so that they are better able to have good relationships, while at the same time allowing them to work better together for the sake of achieving common goals. Thus, emotional intelligence is a pertinent means of making sure that individuals act rationally and work together as a team rather than being ruled by their emotions and leading to the loss of overall focus.