Prompt Cast
The State of Prisons in the United States: High Incarceration Rates and Disparities in Sentencing
TLDR This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" explores the current state of prisons in the United States, including the high number of people incarcerated and the disparities in sentencing. It discusses the conditions inside prisons, such as overcrowding, transportation procedures, access to commissary and visitation, as well as the issues of prison rape, violence, and the need for prison reform.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
This episode of "Stuff You Should Know" discusses the state of prisons in the United States, including the high number of people incarcerated and the disparities in sentencing.
04:30
In Georgia, one in 13 adults is in the correctional system, and there are three types of security levels for prisons in the US: minimum, medium, and maximum security, with maximum security being the most interesting and only 25% of the prison population being in max.
09:06
Supermax prisons in the US were filled with relatively minor offenders or convicts who then killed themselves in horrific ways, leading to a trend of downgrading supermaxes to regular maximum security prisons.
14:08
Prisoners are often transported to prison in cramped and smelly conditions, making multiple stops at sheriff's departments along the way, and upon arrival, their belongings are taken away and they are given a new name and assigned to the fish tank for about 30 days before being assigned a cell and a job.
18:08
Prison cells are typically small and overcrowded, with some designed to accommodate multiple inmates, and there are specific procedures in place to prevent escapes and ensure that inmates are in the right place at all times.
22:30
Prisoners have access to a commissary where they can buy approved items using their prison money, and there is also a black market for trading goods; visitation hours are like business hours and prisoners are assigned a set number of visits per month, with strict rules and procedures in place for both prisoners and visitors.
27:02
Conjugal visitation in prisons originated in 1918 as a reward for hard work on chain gangs, but now it is seen as a way to maintain family bonds and is defended as a basic human right, although it is not commonly used and only allowed in six states.
32:10
Prison rape is a serious issue, with an estimated 13% of prisoners being raped during their incarceration, and it often goes unreported due to fear of retaliation or being labeled a snitch.
36:55
Prisoners often face physical violence from guards, including being shot at, and the fear of retaliation or being labeled a snitch prevents many incidents from being reported.
41:20
Prison reform has been a movement since 1790, with the goal of treating prisoners in a way that allows for potential rehabilitation and reduces recidivism rates.
46:03
The hosts briefly discuss various movies about prisons and mention that there is much more to cover on the topic of prisons in future podcasts.
Categories:
Society & Culture
