Last Solution for Outbreak of Gangs? :: essays research papers

Last Solution For Outbreak of Gangs?   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Currently being discussed in Congress is the Anti-gang Bill, also known as the â€Å"Gangbusters Bill†. This bill would turn gang-related violent offenses into federal crimes punishable by mandatory sentences of at least ten years, expand the range of crimes punishable by death, and allow U.S. prosecutors to try 16 and 17 year old gang members as adults in federal courts.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  One unfortunate effect of this new bill will be the progressing overcrowding of federal prisons. On June 30, 2004, a study was taken of the United States Federal Prisons and 2,131,180 prisoners were detained in federal or state prisons or local jails, an increase of 2.3% from midyear 2003 statistics, and an estimated 486 prison inmates per 100,000 U.S. residents went up from the previous 411 at the end of 1995. Between 1995 and 2001 alone, violent offenders accounted for 63% while drug offenders contributed 15% of the total growth of the state prison population. Even with population disputes aside, this political decision will only further persuade our more enlightened citizens of our government officials’ gullibility, to truly believe cement walls and bars will stop gangs and gang-related violence. All this â€Å"Gangbusters Bill† will do is round them up possibly making it easier for them, given the then closer proximity.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Another topic giving reason to throw up red flags on this government issue is the fact that the bill will help bring the United States further indebt. In 1992, Federal and State prisons reached a record high of 883,593 prisoners and it was estimated that approximately 1,143 prison bed spaces were needed per week due to overcrowding. On an economic prospect, on average each prisoner costs $22,000 per year and the 883,593 prisoners were costing American taxpayers approximately $19.4 billion, not to mention another $61.7 million for the construction of the 1,143 spaces needed. Do these numbers throw your mind for a loop?