Why do we need prison reform? 

Let’s rewind and bring back some evidence from my very first blog: “Prison Reform is: an effort to improve the conditions of what inmates go through, provide different aspects of rehabilitation, and it’s able to benefit the criminal justice system. When speaking on terms of the criminal justice system, most of the  public witnesses that justice is never on the side of those who are behind bars.” I would like to discuss in today’s blog about what happens when prisoners do not receive the aid and assistance they need. Prison riots are rarely talked about until one occurs. Before researching prison reform and the significance, I never realized that prison riots are the outcomes of the lack of reform prisoners are searching for, pleading for through these acts (in most cases). Prison riots are meant to force change within prison walls. 

Prison riots can occur for various reasons which include: 

• Failure to control contraband
• Gang rivals
• Effects of overcrowding
• Lack of programs, necessities, etc.

Now taking a dive into history, let’s discuss the 1980 New Mexico State Penitentiary Riot. It was a disaster that had been predicted to happen years before it had occurred. The inmates of the Penitentiary of New Mexico had suffered years of neglect. The issues of having lack of space, inadequate programs, and understaffing. Officials turned their attention to the ugly problems when it was too late, the institution had erupted in violence and destruction. It resulted in the deaths of 33 inmates and surprisingly no correctional officers died. However, many officers had been brutally beaten and/or sodomized.  Dwight Duran, who was an inmate, had filed a lawsuit in 1977 that claimed the penitentiary had violated prisoners’ constitutional right, specifically the 8th Amendment- to be free from cruel and unusual punishment.

Throughout the years, even in today’s society, we still see prisoners being treated horribly. When will America learn? How many of these riots have to occur for change to happen? If the needs of inmates are not met, or if policies are not put in place, these sorts of riots will continue to take place. The New Mexico riot is just one example of many others. This is why prison reform is needed, so it can prevent future riots from occurring. More programs, listening to prisoners when they have a problem, having compassion, and better policies have to be set in place. If not, America is looking into a future of chaos and disruption of law and order.