After reading the essays in America Now, chapter 8 (“Prisons, Police, Punishment: Is Our Criminal Justice System Broken?” pages 275-302), choose one (and only one) of the topics below:
1. At some point our prisons will be so full that they cannot hold more inmates—something must be done to stop the overwhelming numbers of people being locked up. Describe some of the suggestions made by authors in this chapter. Which do you agree with, and why?
2. Who is the police officer, the correctional guard? What sort of portraits are given in this chapter? In a short essay, write a sketch of the people who enforce the law. Who is in charge of the prisoner and how humane is the system? 3. What do you think of Chandra Bozelko’s idea for the prison system (“Give Every Inmate the Daily Newspaper,” America Now, p. 280)? Does anyone else consider the life and mind of the prisoner in this chapter? Write a response to her suggestion and show how one of the other essays complements her idea to improve the system
