Residents of the United States themselves do not fully understand how many fellow citizens are in prison. Some may have heard that 2.3 million people are imprisoned, but this is only part of the statistics. About how many prisoners are in US prisons, what conditions of their detention, as well as other interesting facts are described in this article.
Number of Prisons in the USA
The United States has one of the world's largest correctional systems. It contains:
- 1719 state prisons;
- 102 federal prisons;
- 901 juvenile correctional facility ;
- 3163 local prisons in various states.
In addition to the above institutions, you need to add immigration, military prisons in the United States. In addition to those in custody, an additional 8.4 million Americans are on remand. Another 3.7 million people are under trial surveillance.
Private prisons
The commercial use of prison labor is a phenomenon inherent in American society. Despite the fact that it is forbidden at the legislative level to use forced labor, the constitution has an amendment stating that slavery and forced labor are prohibited in the United States, with the exception of prison sentences.
Based on this amendment, successful businesses emerged, generating trillions of dollars per year in profit.
Private prisons in the United States contain about 220 thousand people. State correctional institutions also attract prisoners to work, but in the case of commercial prisons, this labor is used by private capital for profit.
Use of cheap prison labor
In America, the exploitation of the labor of people in prison took two forms:
- Leasing of prisoners by the state to business representatives. On the basis of this agreement, prisoners work in private enterprises or are involved in agriculture. Remuneration is made at the lowest tariff rates that exist in the country. This is about $ 2 per hour. But in fact, about 50 cents is paid to the employee.
- Privatization of prisons. In this case, a prison in the United States becomes a form of private property, on the basis of which a commercial enterprise is opened. This form of legal slavery arose under President Reagan, and the first privatization of the prison was made by Massey Burch Investment in Tennessee in 1983.
In addition to low wages, a system of incentives was introduced in commercial prisons in the form of a reduction in the term of imprisonment for exemplary behavior and fulfillment of labor obligations. However, there is a system of fines that extends the term, up to life imprisonment.
Arrest
When making an arrest, they take fingerprints, take photographs and take away all the objects that are detained, including valuables and money. Things are stacked in special containers, an inventory is made.
Then prison clothes are issued, which differs in color depending on the severity of the crime committed by a person. Newly arrived prisoners are given an orange robe, white socks, rubber slates.
Prisoners under investigation are often read out the verdict online without delivering them to the place of the trial. The prisoner is sitting on a chair in front of the monitor, and on the sides are representatives of the authorities.
Prison Conditions
After the sentencing, the person is taken to the place of detention. There he is changed again. Persons who have committed crimes of minor severity are given blue clothes. For serious violations of the law - a green robe. And finally, yellow clothing is given to especially dangerous criminals.
The prison is divided into several departments, in which there are prisoners who have committed crimes of varying severity. The cameras are designed to hold two people. All furniture: beds, chairs, tables - are made of metal and screwed to the floor and walls.
3 meals a day are strictly scheduled. The menu is very diverse, but the amount of food is enough only to maintain the functions of the body. Once a day they give fresh fruit. Prisoners held in the dangerous criminal unit are brought directly to their cells.
In each branch, there are telephone booths from which you can call relatives or friends. Calls are paid by the receiving party. There is a shower for general use and a separate one for those infected with AIDS.
A lot of films have been shot about US prisons, in which opposition from various groups is shown, but in fact the bulk of the prisoners are for domestic crimes. They are friendly and do not go to conflict. Clashes on the basis of clan and racial affiliation also exist. But this happens in maximum security prisons, where they serve time for serious crimes.
Strange punishment in the female zone
Prisons in the United States use different methods of re-educating their wards. In the state of Arizona, in the city of Phoenix, there is a female correctional institution called Estrella. An interesting way to punish in this institution. It may seem wild to modern people, but prisoners choose it voluntarily.
This method is called Chain Gang, which can be translated as "a chain gang." The prisoners are sent to do dirty and unskilled work, during which they are chained to each other by a long chain.
This type of punishment was not uncommon and was applied everywhere, from the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century. Then it was canceled as inhumane.
In 1995, this type of punishment was again introduced in men's prisons, but Estrella decided to apply it to women, logically reasoning that in the age of emancipation and equality, women should be punished on equal terms with men.
The program under which prisoners undergo punishment is called “Last Chance” and applies to women who have committed minor crimes:
- theft at the supermarket;
- drunk driving;
- petty hooliganism;
- crimes that involve up to 1 year imprisonment as punishment.
Why do women volunteer for such a punishment? The fact is that prison conditions in a women's prison in the United States are pretty strict. They are limited in movement, nutrition, in the ability to purchase coffee, cigarettes.
The work that they will have to do is to clean roadsides, bury homeless people, mow down weeds. Women are shackled together for 5 people.
However, after practicing the punishment in a chain-bound form for a month, the conditions of detention of prisoners change significantly for the better. They are transferred to a lightweight camp until the end of their term.
American celebrities who have been imprisoned
From sumy and prison do not renounce. Blind Themis can throw both a commoner and a celebrity on the bunks. How many famous prisons have been in US prisons? Here is some of them:
- Robert Downey Jr., known for his lead role in the Iron Man trilogy. From a young age he was under police surveillance because of his addiction to alcohol and drugs. In 1996, he received a suspended sentence for illegal possession of weapons and drugs. After the sentence, he was obliged to undergo treatment and regularly take drug tests. Ignoring the court decision, Robert Downey was imprisoned for a period of one year.
- Mark Wahlberg, nominee for the Golden Globe Award, Oscar, starring in the films Transformers, Planet of the Apes, was a regular at the police station as a young man. He often participated in fights and committed hooligan acts. Under the influence of narcotic intoxication, he robbed a pharmacy, simultaneously beating up 2 Vietnamese, one of whom lost his eyesight. Mark was sentenced to 2 years in prison. After serving 45 days, he went free.
- Mike Tyson. The infamous world boxing star. Got 6 years in prison, of which he served 3 years, marrying exemplary behavior. Mike was charged with raping 18-year-old Miss Black America - Desiree Washington. He himself never confessed to violence, saying that everything happened by mutual agreement.
Imprisonment from which it is impossible to escape
There is one prison in the United States, the existence of which has provided food for the creation of many films. It is located on the island of Alcatraz near San Francisco and is known for the fact that it did not make successful escape.
Prior to the founding of the prison, the island of Alcatraz was used as a defensive fort. At the beginning of the 20th century, military prisoners were sent here, but during the Great Depression, the prison received federal status, and especially notorious criminals such as Al Capone began to serve their sentences in it.
She was also known because of the strict detention of prisoners. Violators were punished by hard work, strict isolation, meager food, consisting of bread and water.
The building was rebuilt several times, but one thing remained unchanged - the impossibility of escaping from a US prison. The distance to the mainland was 2 miles, and it was not possible to overcome them while in cold water. 15 escape attempts were made, but there is no mention of their successful outcome.
Museum from prison
Now the institution, located on the island of Alcatraz, has moved into the category of former US prisons. Lack of funds to finance a correctional facility located far from the mainland led to its closure. Now at this place is a museum that anyone can visit.
This fact once again confirms the ability of Americans to make money on everything.