Effects of the justice system

The effects of our justice system trickles down to many aspects of everyday life, leaving a lasting impact. Mass incarceration being one of the most pressing issues for our generation, shown in statistics saying that the prison population has increased by 700% by 2010. To put this statistic in context, the US has more jails and prisons then we do degree granting colleges and universities. The justice system is designed to punish people for their crimes, to prevent them from following the same footsteps. Yet with 68% of prisoners being re arrested within 3 years, and 77% within 5 it goes to show the system has them walking in circles, working as nothing more than a revolving door for many criminals. With so many behind bars, its important to emphasize the impact on the children and loved ones of these inmates. Incarceration touches more than just the lives inside the cells. Research estimates that over 5 million children have experienced incarcerated parents, a vast majority watching their own mother or father leave the house to go behind bars and are left behind with the emptiness. At least 32,000 incarcerated parents have their children permanently taken away from them without evidence abuse, and another 5,000+ have lost their parental rights because of imprisonment alone. Meaning some young child watched their parents walk out the door in handcuffs and never saw them come back. This is a heavy burden to carry throughout your life, causing children with incarcerated parents to be more likely to experience mental health issues and difficulty performing well in school. Because of the emotional distress that comes with watching someone you love be locked up in a cage, these children are more likely to have disciplinary issues in school. Zero tolerance policies that push these children out of school only perpetuates the cycle of imprisonment. The systems strive for punishment has a ripple effect on children, communities, and families. Setting sights on individuals causes their children to be collateral damage. This calls to question the intentions behind these mass incarcerations, is throwing away the key really in the best interest of the public?