Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Conservative agenda will 'stuff prisons,' advocates say

The article that I read is titled “Conservative agenda will ‘stuff prisons’, advocates say”. In the article, emphasis is placed on how the conservative government proposes to overpopulate the prisons with mentally ill people in hopes of reducing crime rates.

In the Mullaly text, a neoconservative view on society, society is based upon only individuals. Society is made up of individuals and there is no such thing as society (Mullaly, 2007, p. 79). Neo-conservatism bases society on a series of individual contracts that free individuals enter into with one another.  Based upon the article, crime is a community issue. A neoconservatist government agrees upon values of individualism and inequality. I believe the most positive way to improve the crime rate in Canada is to attack it with a community based perspective.  Our prison system has become a place to train men in the art of violence and warehouse the mentally ill individuals. The Conservative party believes that by incarcerating the mentally ill and violent individuals of society it will decrease our crime rate. This does not only overpopulate the prisons all over Canada but it also does not help the mentally ill or violent to become an asset to society. In a sense, the conservative government would only be shielding the outside world from the mentally ill and hindering the mentally ill from receiving medical and / or social assistance required.

Based upon the concept of human nature, the neoconservative government views individuals as selfish and isolated and their behaviours are determined only by pleasure and pain. (Mullaly, 2007) By isolating the mentally ill individuals in a prison setting, it isolates them and it does now allow them to function in society. It will only hinder their self-worth. It is selfish of us to try to hide the problems in our society.

The article refers to the U.S. crime rate not decreasing but in fact increasing due to incarceration. It strongly urges the Canadian government to not make the same mistake the U.S. has done. According to Mullaly, a neoconservative view of social justice includes that there are no social problems only individual problems that occur when the individual does not continue to look after themselves. (Mullaly, 2007) Not all of the mentally ill are violent, but many violent mentally ill individuals need assistance and by only incarcerating them and not providing the assistance they require day to day may increase some of their individual violent behaviour. Not all mentally ill are violent but some are and the article states that by incarcerating those who are mentally ill over and over again will only recycle the individuals through the system.

When addressing the problem of the overpopulation in prisons the Conservative government proposed to eliminate early parole for offenders. The article states that the only result of this proposition would be releasing more and more people with into the community with serious mental illnesses without support or supervision. This in turn will not fix the problem, it will only allow the mentally ill into the community without the assets and provisions for a community supported life they deserve and require. Neoconservatives are often content with the way things are and defend reformed institutions. The article emphasizes the fact that the neoconservative government as declaring its crime agenda will not be influenced by evidence of what it is that does and does not actually reduce crime and create safer communities.

Mentally ill individuals are stuck with the stigma that they are people who are having done this to themselves or have done something to deserve it. They are seen as deserving.  This stigma comes from the very top of our society; the neoconservative government. Without the help and assistance, either socially or support the mentally ill will be placed back into society with no changes. Chances are they will continue to re-offend and will be placed back in the system over and over again. The stigma attached to the mentally ill needs to be removed and the only way that can happen is for the government to lead the community so the social change that is helpful to everyone it affects.

The article also cites statistics by the federal commissioner of correction. These statistics state that 80% of federal offenders have drug or alcohol abuse problems or both, as well as approximately 12% that have been diagnosed with mental disorders. Social change to a neoconservative government should be slow and evolutionary. Neoconservative government intervention can sometimes be seen as interference but without the intervention there will not be a social change. The mentally ill will have difficulty with thriving in the community without a support based system for improvement.

The government hopes to better the crime rates in and out of the prison system but along with that, recognition of the needs for the mentally ill inside the prison walls needs to be recognized. The family is needed for support, resources and assistance for these individuals. Individuals create our society but our society helps to shape our views and values.


Bibliography
MacCharles, T,  (2009, October 27).  Conservative Agenda Will 'Stuff' Prisons, Toronto Star, Retrieved October 19, 2010, from http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/716944--conservative-agenda-will-stuff-prisons-advocates-say 

Mullaly, B. (2007). The New Structural Social Work (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press

Dana W

3 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. “The Conservatives believe that by incarcerating the mentally ill and violent individuals of society it will decrease our crime rate. This does not only over populate the prisons all over Canada but it also does not help the mentally ill or violent to become an asset to society.”

    Since the Conservative government has overpopulated Canadian prisons, I believe that one way to help reduce the amount of prisoners, or potential prisoners, is to have plenty of mental health services available to all who require them. If these services were free, and one could attend them as frequently as needed, I believe we could truly help the mentally ill and the violent. By helping them, those individuals would feel as though they belong to society, and would therefore be less likely to commit crime. Although this will not help all, it would definitely help most or at least some individuals. Since the majority of prisoners have alcohol and/or drug related problems, I believe that all prisons should offer group sessions so they could overcome these harsh addictions. As for the other prisoners who are mentally ill, or who have a tendency to be violent, they should also have the right to receive the type of therapy or mental health service they need. Overall, these changes would help reduce: the amount of crimes, the type of crimes, and the amount of criminals in Canada; as well society would feel and be a lot safer.
    Ashley

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  3. Wow. This post and article protrays a very frightening picture of the policies of our conservative government.

    "The article emphasizes the fact that the neoconservative government as declaring its crime agenda will not be influenced by evidence of what it is that does and does not actually reduce crime and create safer communities."

    It appears that the problem is only going to get worse before it gets better. I really hope that many more people begin to see the adverse effects of "stuffing our prisons" so the problem is effectively addressed. I found it interesting and not innaccurate that the author compared our system to the U.S. system.
    -Crystal M.

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