The Case for Building More Prisons

The argument for constructing more prisons is rooted in the belief that the current American criminal justice system is inadequate in addressing the high levels of crime, especially compared to other developed nations. Proponents argue that the United States has a significantly higher rate of violent crime, necessitating a different scale of responses than those used in countries with lower crime rates. Despite debates around excessive incarceration, it is suggested that prisons represent one of the few effective solutions for crime control, particularly through incapacitation, which prevents individuals from committing crimes while incarcerated. Given the evidence supporting the effectiveness of prison as a crime control measure, advocates argue that the focus should shift from merely reducing incarceration numbers to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the prison system itself.