Incarceration in the United States

Incarceration in the United States
In the United States (US), incarceration rates have dramatically increased over the years despite the rate of crime declining. Enns et al. (2019) state that when compared to other countries in the world, the US has higher rates of incarceration. The high prevalence of incarceration in the US has been linked to several factors. The most prominent cause of high imprisonment is policies in the criminal justice system. According to Griffin (2017), one of the country's major causes of high incarceration rates is policy decisions aimed at maintaining law and order. Policymakers have created stringent sentencing laws for a wide array of crimes. In addition, policymakers have increased policing powers, thus increasing the rates of arrests and prosecution. Also, high incarceration rates have racial implications. Enns et al. (2019) reveal that more black people are incarcerated than their white counterparts. Incarceration has detrimental emotional, financial, and health effects on individuals, families, and society. It must end because it negatively affects families, society, and the health of affected individuals/families.
Effects on Family
Incarceration has significant adverse effects on families. DeHart et al. (2018) indicate that it separates an individual from their family, contributing to the disruption of family relationships. When a family member is incarcerated, it strains the relationship with other family members. Specifically, the effects of incarceration on family communication significantly impact families. DeHart et al. (2018) state that the imprisonment of a family member reduces communication frequency, limits information-sharing, and increases the dissolution of relationships and conflict. All these issues, coupled with increased physical distance, fragment family relationships.
In addition, incarceration contributes to economic hardships for the family. DeHart et al. (2018) reveal that financial hardships are experienced almost immediately after imprisonment when the incarcerated person is the family's primary breadwinner. Families also experience economic difficulties because of the expenses involved in travel to visit the inmate, the cost of legal representation, and the high cost of collect calls from the inmate. Further, incarceration affects employment opportunities for inmates, even after they are released from prison. According to Harper et al. (2021), people who have been incarcerated experience difficulties in getting a job. They also accrue significant debt from their legal, financial obligations, and living expenses. This further puts them into economic hardships because they cannot financially support themselves and their families or pay the accrued debt without a source of income.
Effects on Society
Incarceration has negatively affected society by reducing people’s rights and benefits and threatening their safety. For instance, it reduces the employability of people (Harper et al., 2021), thus denying them the benefits of employment. Ultimately, low employability affects the productivity of people and increases unproductivity in society. Stemen (2017) also reveals that incarceration reduces people's economic mobility and earning capacity. While this can be view...