In what ways have correctional policies reflected changes in the social, economic, and political environments of society?

Michael Koren

Correctional policies have reflected changes in social, political, and economic
environments throughout the years. The United States imprisons far more people than other
industrialized countries do. One factor for this is that a political environment to get tough on
crime developed, which was related to the war on drugs. As drug trafficking and drug usage rose,
a demand for stiffer penalties increased. These penalties involved jail time for those convicted
of these crimes. People also demanded minimum sentencing requirements for people with multiple
felony convictions. With the elimination of the federal parole system in 1987, people who were
given life sentences would no longer be eligible for parole.

Another factor
impacting correctional policies was economic. Private companies made big profits building
prisons. Companies that provide services to prisons, such as providing meals to prisoners or
providing prison guards, have also benefitted as the prison population has increased.
Some...

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