In the article “Prison Without Walls” by Graeme Wood, the author believes that criminals should be equipped with tracking devices and sent back into the world instead of being sent to jail because “the potential upside is enormous. Not only might such a system save billions of dollars annually, it could theoretically produce far better outcomes, training convicts to become law abiders rather than more ruthless lawbreakers”. Wood describes the monitor as an ankle strap and a waist clip that monitors your location through a GPS tracking device. The system is used mostly for paroled sex offenders in order for authorities to follow where they are, making sure they stay away from places that are filled with children.
Wood argues that putting criminals in jail is “ineffective” and a “national disgrace”. Attributing to his main point of reducing costs to the state and the taxpayers, he states that cost of keeping criminals in jail is costing approximately $68.7 million, with the cost per inmate reaching $50,000 a year in California. He also says that even though crime has actually gone down in the country, the sentences are getting longer. This increases the cost and has also proven to have little effect on the criminals, most of them being repeat offenders.
The author realizes this system will not serve well for every person behind bars. But if we put tracking devices on every nonviolent offender and let them free, half of the country’s prisons would be empty. This would substantially reduce costs because the tracking systems only cost a few dollars a day. He also realizes that some of the people that are let free will end up breaking the law again, but argues that a lot of criminals who serve their sentencing also end up back in jail for another offense.
Wood brings up those on parole or probation because of drug use; they know that if they violate parole, chances are they won’t get caught. They violate their parole slowly and cautiously at first, to test the water so to speak, and then violate it more frequently and aggressively. He see’s this tracking device as a way to prevent these people from violating parole.
Judge Alm also had a plan to stop criminals from violating parole. Instead of being warned of drug testing a month in advance, offenders had to call the court everyday to see if they had been selected to submit a urine sample that day. If drugs were found in their urine, they are sentenced to two days in prison as well as a court appearance to decide whether a longer sentence is needed. The judge saw a huge decrease in the number of failed tests and said that there were almost no second offences after spending two days in jail. However, this program is only in effect in Hawaii. The author feels that the downfall of Judge Alm’s program is how much it takes over the violators lives.
Although the tracking systems has its pros and cons, Wood feels that it is the first step towards fewer crime and, more importantly, reduced prison costs.
Well done! I think you covered most of the important points here in clear fashion. A few minor points: rather than "believes" in first sentence, I'd use something stronger, like "argues." The transition to Judge Wood's plan is a little weak (the "also" helps, but maybe something a little stronger? how does this tie to electronic monitoring, or do you think it's a major break and not really connected?) Overall, though, good job!!
ReplyDelete